Couples slowly and quietly drift apart, or are being torn apart by terrible words and actions. Are you frustrated, hurt, angry? Does talking about it only make it worse? The Retrouvaille program offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse, and a loving relationship in your marriage. The next Retrouvaille Weekend will be September 10-12.

Richard and Debbie are Retrouvaille participants who spoke with the Southern Cross.

Listen to the conversation here.

 Brief excerpts are posted below.  

How did you meet and how long have you been married? We were both out of college and living independently. A mutual friend of ours from church suggested that Richard stop by the bookstore and meet me. He did, and asked me out to dinner. We dated for a year, and then we got married. We celebrated our 25th anniversary in May. We have two children.

When did the difficulties in your marriage begin? About 7 years ago. We didn’t really have difficulties until our opinions on some major issues were in conflict. Independently we did our jobs well, but drifted apart from the intimate relationship that marriage was meant to be. Then Richard decided to retire after 29 years with the same company to pursue a new career. We completely disagreed on this decision, but it happened anyway . . . the new career path did not pan out. The trust in our relationship was gone and our marriage was dying.

How did you discover Retrouvaille?I had read about Retrouvaille in our Sunday bulletin and felt we needed that help for our marriage, however Richard did not want marriage counseling, so I was not too hopeful that he’d agree to this. Then I read the series of articles in the Southern Cross that further explained what it was about, and I was convinced enough to bring it up to Richard. We were desperate, and to my surprise, he agreed.

How did it heal your marriage?

The Retrouvaille weekend helped us to refocus on our marriage, despite our difficulties, and gave us the tools we needed to restore communication and trust. We have learned to respect each other’s feelings and acknowledge that love is a decision and a commitment to our spouse.

How might you sum up the benefits of Retrouvaille?
Retrouvaille is the life line that the Catholic Church offers to help couples who are struggling to stay true to their marriage vows. During the weekend couples are given the opportunity to rediscover the love that was present when they were were first married, to experience forgiveness and to renew a commitment to their marriage. The weekend provides skills to work through your difficulties.

Reach for the Retrouvaille Lifeline. The next Retrouvaille Weekend will be September 10-12 in an Augusta Hotel. Space limited. Register early.

For additional information or to register call (800) 470-2230. If calling from outside the Savannah Diocese call (706) 863-1465. More info at www.retrouvaille.org.