The diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and St. Anthony Retreat Center in Kalihi are sponsoring a Valentine’s Day special retreat for young couples married one to five years.
The “Mutual Loving” retreat, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Feb. 13 at St. Anthony will feature quiet time, talks, interactive games and end with pupus and dancing to romantic music.
This retreat is based on the theology of St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 5:21-32, which speaks of the mutual love and commitment of married couples. Canon law describes it as a “partnership of the whole of life … which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses.”
The speakers, experienced married couples, will offer advice to help couples respond to the gift of grace to love each other with the joy that God desires them to have.
The presenters are Deacon Mike and Cecelia Weaver, Edward and Nora Barinque and David and Sarah Herrmann. Deacon and professional counselor Tom Miyashiro will speak on the couple’s relationship with God and will also offer five-to-ten-minute “chats” with participants for questions or marital concerns.
The retreat supports the diocese’s new pastoral plan, “Stewards of the Gospel: Diocesan Pastoral Plan for 2016-2020,” in its goal of strengthening marriage and family. It is designed to help couples raise their young children and nurture the faith in the home.
This retreat evolved through discussion and collaboration between St. Anthony Retreat Center and the Youth and Young Adult Ministry office, with support from young adult ministry coordinator Makana Aiona.
The day targets couples in their first five years of marriage, a challenging group to reach because they are busy building their families. Organizers are asking for broad community support by spreading the word about the retreat, offering babysitting so that couples can attend or sponsoring a couple.
