Official Website of the
Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
Church wants to help strengthen marriage
Published: February 1, 2018
The Catholic Church in the United States wants Valentine's Day to be about more than candy and flowers. It wants to offer couples support and encouragement for building strong and lasting marriages. In February, the Church partners with other organizations to celebrate National Marriage Week, Feb. 7-14, an event that concludes with World Marriage Day on Feb. 14.
These events provide an opportunity "to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family," wrote Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth in a letter to his brother bishops.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops offers a variety of resources for couples as well as pastors in supporting marriage. These include: a daily virtual marriage retreat for couples and a rosary for engaged and married couples and for families in need of healing, which will be live-streamed via Facebook on Friday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. (central time). For pastors there is a bulletin insert, homily ideas, prayer cards, prayer intentions and more.
Marriage Events in Arkansas
The Family Life Office for the Diocese of Little Rock sponsors several events to provide marriage enrichment, support for troubled marriages and education for couples preparing for marriage. See list of events with registration details below. For more information, contact Elizabeth Reha at (501) 664-0340, ext. 373.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a weekend experience designed to build communication and allow couples to spend time together, away from the tensions of everyday life, will be held Feb. 9-11 at Coury House Retreat Center in Subiaco. For more information or to apply, visit arkansaswwme.org/apply, call Ben and Leah Brewer at (501) 733-1235 or e-mail apply@arkansaswwme.org. Visit our calendar to see all weekends scheduled.
Encuentro Matrimonial (Marriage Encounter), a weekend retreat presented in Spanish for couples seeking to enrich their marriages, will be held Oct. 12-14 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. For more information, contact Elizabeth Reha at (501) 664-0340, ext. 373.. Visit our calendar to see all weekends scheduled.
Retrouvaille, a program designed to help heal and renew troubled and hurting marriages, will be held Feb. 23-25 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. To register, visit www.retrouvaille.org. For more information, contact the Family Life Office. Visit our calendar to see all weekends scheduled.
Convalidation Class, a daylong marriage education program for couples who are married civilly and wish to have a sacramental marriage within the Catholic Church, will be held Feb. 24 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. Register online or contact Elizabeth Reha at (501) 664-0340, ext. 373. Visit our calendar to see all classes scheduled. There are also classes for Spanish-speaking couples, visit our calendar for details.
Pre-Cana Day, a one-day retreat for engaged couples who wish to be married in the Catholic Church, will be held March 17 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock Register online or contact Elizabeth Reha at (501) 664-0340, ext. 373. This event is held several times a year. Visit our calendar to find a complete schedule. There are also classes for Spanish-speaking couples, visit our calendar for details.
