March 2025

    

    We are so grateful St. Catherine's has partnered with Willwoods Community to provide retreat experiences for married couples in our parish. Spending time with each other on this retreat provided an intentional way to reflect on our relationship journey together. Having dedicated time to talk, walk, reflect, pray, and just spend time with each other was food for the soul that filled our hearts with renewed devotion to each other and God. The retreat not only taught us new and practical ways to grow in holiness together on a daily basis, but also reinvigorated our celebration of our Catholic faith through the sacraments. St. Joseph Abbey Retreat Center was clean, comfortable, accommodating, and the extensive grounds were beautiful. We encourage our fellow SCS couples to consider a marriage retreat like this one to reaffirm your vocation and receive God's abundant graces.

     We had the pleasure of attending the Willwoods Married Couples Retreat. This was our first retreat together, and we are so glad we took the time to do this for ourselves. The speakers were top-notch and the topics very relatable. The entire program allowed for us to focus on our marriage and communication. With two young kids and busy schedules, we felt we were treading water as a couple and just focusing on surviving the day. The retreat allowed us to reconnect with each other and with God. The weekend left us refreshed and energized to not just survive but thrive! 

The theme of the Willwoods Married Couples Retreat this February 2025 was "It's Worth It," and it sure was!  SSt. Joseph's Abbey Retreat Center in Covington was a beautiful host site.  Enriching our marriage against the back drop of being surrounded by nature was such a beautiful experience.  Whether you have been married for 5 months or over 50 years, this retreat is for you! Whether your marriage is blossoming or you fear it may be withering, this retreat is for you.  You will be closer to Christ and to your spouse at its conclusion.  We were treated to the witness of three Christ-centered marriages from which we learned what patience, faithfulness, kindness and joy look like in the wild of real life and how necessary fostering all the fruits of the Holy Spirit are in such a sacred union.  
     The opportunities for community and fellowship were most joyful.  We shared meals together and played a game which resulted in raucous laughter for all.  Many shared in an organic gathering around the fireplace at the end of one evening which turned into a relaxed question and answer session with our pastor, Fr. Tim.
     Most importantly, we as a retreat community came together for worship.  We attended Mass and adoration in the chapel right in the middle of the retreat center.  The sacrament of reconciliation was made available by the graciousness of several priests.  We were all invited to participate in vespers with the St. Joseph's Abbey religious and seminarians in their breath-taking church. Afterwards, all of us were treated to a close-up tour.
     What we took away most from this retreat was the iimportance of planning daily prayer and communication as well as fostering friendships with other Christ-centered couples.  We feel certain these practices will help us to keep Jesus as the focus of our marriage.