17 couples, 3 priests and 2 nuns participated in the 1st Marriage Retorno Weekend Retreat
in the Philippines held on March 21-23, 2003 at PACEM Seminary, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City
It was conducted by the Singapore MR Committee composed of Fr. Johnson Fernandez,
Peter & Cecilia Wong and Stanley & Esme Teo


 Click here for the MR Retreat Schedules

What is Marriage Retorno?

Marriage Retorno is a weekend experience focused on the spirituality of the couple by encountering each person of the Holy Trinity as a married couple.

In doing this, we become more conscious of God's presence within us. God is for us and works through us as a married couple. That as sacramental couples of matrimony we have a mission to bear witness to the Good News in our ordinary every lives--- not just as individuals, but as married couples.

During the weekend, the couple will approach God in three phases. Each phase will address one of the persons of the Trinity.

  • God The Father, as Creator, to search for His will for us as a married couple.
  • God the Son, as Jesus of Nazareth, to see how to live his gospel as an individual and together as a married couple
  • God the Holy Spirit, the Giver of life and love, to acknowledge and receive as a married couple or individual, the grace to commit ourselves to put into action the will of the Father and the Gospel of Jesus.

This experience compliments the other spiritual experiences like the Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS), Growth in the Spirit Seminar (GSS), Life in the Eucharist Seminar (LITES), Spiritual Deepening Retreat (SDR), Parish Renewal Experience (PREX) and other seminars/retreats which deepens our individual and personal relationship with God, focusing on the particular charism of one of the persons of the Holy Trinity.

Marriage Retorno was developed by Fr. Gabriel Calvo with the help of spirit and prayer-filled couples, as the second step of Marriage Encounter.

Is Marriage Retorno Based in the Scripture?

One of the primary ways, God communicates with us is through the Bible. It is His love letter to us. Some examples are;
Matthew (Ch 19), we are told "Man must not separate what God has joined together." In these words, Jesus reveals that God joins a couple and wants them to experience married love and unity with each other and with Him.
Matthew (Ch 5), Jesus tells us that before we approach the altar of God, we must "First go and be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gifts." For married couples the most significant brother is often their spouse. Intimate reconciliation with our spouse, and even our brother or sister is the key to being able to experience God in our lives.
And again in Matthew (Ch 18), Jesus tells us that "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.." When couples marry in the Church, they are asking God to be within their marriage. These words affirm His presence within a sacramental couple. A question we might ask ourselves is; Does our behavior with each other and with others give witness to Jesus within our relationship?

"Amen I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
- Matthew 18:19-20

Steps in encountering each Person of God

  • DISCOVERING (a self examination) Is our awareness of the presence of God in our lives through written reflection.
  • DISCERNING (listening and internalizing ) This is the scripture step. We will listen as individuals and as a couple to God who is revealed to us through His Word. This is the real heart of Marriage Retorno.
  • ACTING (our response) We will have an opportunity to respond as a couple to what God is revealing through His Word through intimate couple prayer.

The Marriage Retorno Weekend Retreat Rhythm

  • INTRODUCTION: a short explanation about the phase
  • TEAM SHARING: personal sharing of the individual team lived experience Father Calvo calls this "vivencia."
  • PERSONAL REFLECTION: reflection alone on specific handout questions
  • COUPLE DIALOGUE: a private sharing of experiences between husband and wife or between prayer partners
  • PERSONAL PRAYER: is time alone to absorb the inspired WORD of Scripture and to listen to the Lord's personal revelation to each one of us.
  • COUPLE OR "CONJUGAL or INTIMATE" PRAYER: sharing our discoveries from the Scripture with one another and RESPONDING to God as a couple in a spontaneous intimate way. Prayer partners will also have an opportunity for spontaneous prayer with each other and to God.
  • GROUP REVIEW: an opportunity for voluntary sharing within the group of how or what God is revealing to you. This is an important part the weekend because the Body of Christ speaks to us through one another

Website courtesy of
Kairos M.E. Community
www.kairoscenter.com
@2003