Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

The Couples for Christ organization held a Marriage Enrichment Retreat from August 31 to September 1, 2024, at St. Stephen Diocesan Center in Hawaii. The event was attended by 13 couples, including participants from Maui, with a service team traveling from Canada and California.

The retreat aimed to help couples renew and recommit to their marriages through various activities such as praise and worship, prayers, scripture readings, talks, couple discussions, fellowship, the Celebration of the Holy Mass, and blessings for the couples.

One of the key topics discussed was "Serving God Through our Christian Marriages." This talk emphasized God's plan for marriage as a union where partners love and serve each other and their families. Another talk titled "The Christian Couple as a Pastoral Team" highlighted the importance of husband and wife working together as one unit to serve their family.

Roles within marriage were also explored. Husbands were encouraged to embrace their roles as providers, protectors, and pastors in "The Role of a Christian Husband," while wives were reminded of their role as a "help mate" in "The Role of a Christian Wife." The importance of mutual submission was stressed.

Effective communication was another focal point with suggestions for improving marital relationships through openness and regular conversations. The retreat also addressed healing within marriages by encouraging couples to pray for inner healing.

Lastly, "Building our Homes for God" challenged attendees to make God central in their homes and families. The presence of young couples with children added a communal atmosphere to the event.

For more information about the Couples for Christ Weekend, interested individuals can contact Immaculate Conception Church via email at iccewa@rcchawaii.org or phone at (808) 681-3701.