Where is God throughout marriage? As highlighted by two programs being offered in separate Ontario dioceses, God is present in the beginning, middle and end of relationships. 

Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) is offering its first fall weekend program from Sept. 20-22 at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga, Ont. There, married couples are invited to undergo a weekend full of practical and private exercises aimed at recentring their relationship in the Catholic faith. 

The weekend program has been a recurring staple in Toronto as far back as the early 1970s for WWME, which began in 1952 when Fr. Gabriel Calvo, a Spanish diocesan priest developed a series of conferences for married couples looking to ground their relationship in faith together. 

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Christian and Elizabeth Arroba are the interim coordinators of the ecclesial team for Worldwide Marriage Encounter. They found themselves taking on the role together after both experienced the program firsthand when they attended as a couple more than two decades ago.

“Our journey with Worldwide Marriage Encounter began in 2001 when we were blessed to participate in our first weekend experience, one that marked a turning point in our lives both as a couple and as a family,” the couple responded in an email interview. “The experience was transformative, opening our eyes to the profound impact that open communication and shared faith can have on a relationship.” 

After experiencing the profound impact of the weekend themselves, the two now coordinate the same program for other couples who are interested in fostering stronger marriages. 

The Arrobas credit open dialogue and personal reflection as one of the most reaffirming aspects of the retreats. By focusing on the transformative power of love and faith, the encounters set out to help couples discover the joy and fulfillment that comes from living out Catholic values in their marriage.

“Our WWME weekends are all about communication. We provide the opportunity to listen to other couples and a Catholic priest share their experiences before providing tools and ideas on how attendees can enrich our lives and keep the flame of their marriage going. We often encounter couples who struggle with understanding how these values apply to their everyday lives. However, we encourage them to see their marriage as a journey toward holiness and a way to experience God's love more fully.” 

In the Hamilton diocese, a program known as ReStart is being offered by the Family Ministry Office. It's a 10-week initiative that supports those moving forward following separation or divorce. 

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Running once a week Sept. 30 through Dec. 2, ReStart is a faith-based healing opportunity for individuals who, whether due to abuse or other circumstances, have come to the end of their marriages.

“The program is very much about helping people heal from the pain of having their marriages end and understanding that the Church cares for them and wants to support them through this process,” said Teresa Hartnett, director of family ministry. “We find that people often misunderstand the Catholic Church's teachings around separation and divorce and so when we share with them that if they are still living in communion with the Church they can still go and receive communion, we see people cry.” 

Across the 10 weeks, topics are broken down sequentially with each meeting building on the last. Attendees are helped through grief cycles, self-care, life balance, moving past anger, coping with fear, establishing healthy boundaries, avoiding post-separation depression, loneliness, forgiveness and how to best move forward. These themes are approached through group discussions, journaling, self-reflection and prayer. 

Hartnett said facilitators of ReStart are all divorced or separated, as well as having been through the program themselves. This adds to the level of personal connection attendees experience. 

“(Participants) clearly understand that the Catholic Church is putting this on to help support them and many of them who stopped going to church returned following the program because they understand that the Church truly cares about them,” Hartnett said. 

ReStart programs see an average of 15-20 people attend each biannual intake, with a ZOOM option for those outside of the Hamilton region offered as well. 

Regardless of the size or recency of the program, its importance isn’t lost on fellow organizations that serve similar needs such as Worldwide Marriage Encounter. 

“While the WWME focuses on enriching and strengthening healthy marriages by helping couples grow in love and understanding, we deeply respect and appreciate the Church's commitment to ministering to those who have experienced separation and divorce,” the Arrobas said. “God's love is unconditional and extends to everyone regardless of their relationship status and the Church's support for those who have faced the pain of separation or divorce reflects this love.” 

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Whether it be a healthy marriage, one in distress or one that has come to the end of its road, God remains a constant and unwavering presence that provides solace and hope through every stage and circumstance.

“Much like Jesus on the road to Emmaus, we are walking alongside people and helping them walk from this deep pain to where they can go on and have the joy of their lives, that is something essential in helping people feel the love of the Catholic Church,” Hartnett said. “We are here as God's eyes, ears, mouth, feet and hands and through that, we can show people that God is there with them too.”