At one point in their nearly 38-year marriage, Andy and Deirdre Jameson sought help from Twin Cities Retrouvaille, which helps couples in struggling marriages. Today, as co-community coordinators at Retrouvaille, they help other couples who need assistance with their marriages.
“Retrouvaille is a lifeline for troubled marriages,” Deirdre said during an interview that airs at 9 p.m. Jan. 22 on the “Practicing Catholic” radio show on Relevant Radio 1330 AM. “People who end up going to Retrouvaille — often it’s the last chance to fix their marriage and prevent divorce.”
Deirdre thought the most important thing she learned at her own retreat weekend was how much in common she had with Andy. “It … helped me remember who it was I fell in love with. Time and work and raising kids was pulling us apart a little. But the Retrouvaille weekend really was a blessing to find that we do have a lot in common and we do have similar thoughts and feelings on things.”
Andy said one of his revelations was that the initial falling in love and infatuation was wonderful, but couples have to make decisions every day to keep their marriage going.
Participants start with a Friday to Sunday program, including lodging and meals, and continue with 12 follow-up, midday sessions over six weekends. Couples learn ways to help strengthen their marriage the first weekend, Deirdre said, and the follow-up sessions go more in depth about using the tools they’ve been given.
The next weekend retreat in Minneapolis is scheduled for Feb. 5-7. Attendance will be kept smaller than usual, Andy said, to keep participants safely distanced due to COVID-19.
The weekends “are all about the couple,” as they complete answers to questions and discuss them with each other, Andy said. “But it’s guided and we give a lot of tools along the way for improving couples’ communication, which we think is the heart of everything.”
The only sharing that happens is between husband and wife, he said.
Couples with strong marriages who desire some enrichment could choose a different program, such as Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Deirdre said. But for those in marriages that are troubled, lack communication or face “some kind of larger issue,” Deirdre suggests Retrouvaille.
The weekend program is hosted by a priest and three presenting couples who share their stories. It is based on Catholic marriage principles, Deirdre said, but anyone is welcome. The priest provides some Scriptural references and is available to do Mass Saturday and Sunday, and hears confession.
To learn more about Twin Cities Retrouvaille and the upcoming session, visit helpourmarriage.org.
“Practicing Catholic” is produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Other guest interviews on the Jan. 22 “Practicing Catholic” show are Catherine and Dave Deavel, who discuss their upcoming Faith and Culture Series presentation on sexual morality, and Catherine Patros and Steven Lang, who share their experiences as Totus Tuus missionaries.
Listen to their interviews after they have aired:
