Church wants to help strengthen marriage

Published: February 7, 2020

En Español

In February, the Catholic Church in the United States partners with other organizations to celebrate National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Day (Feb. 9) to give us "an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family." Find resources to celebrate these events at For Your Marriage, a website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In the Diocese of Little Rock, Worldwide Marriage Encounter is available to help married couples spend a weekend away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, where they can focus on each other and their relationship. The next weekend is Feb. 14-16 at Coury House Retreat Center on the grounds of Subiaco Abbey.

These weekends are led by couples and a priest who help participants learn a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. Space is limited. A $100 nonrefundable application fee is required. Apply online. For more information, call Ben and Leah Brewer at (501) 733-1235 or e-mail apply@arkansaswwme.org. Married couples with good marriages are encouraged to apply. If you are struggling in your marriage, try Retrouvaille instead. 

Encuentro Matrimonial, the Spanish-language version of this program, will be held Feb. 28 to March 1 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. Register online. For more information, contact Elizabeth Reha, director of the Family Life Office, at (501) 664-0340, ext. 373. Worldwide Marriage Encounter is offered twice a year in English and Spanish in Arkansas. It is just one of the many programs sponsored by the Family Life Office to honor and strengthen marriage in the Diocese of Little Rock.