When twenty two couples gathered at St Josephs spirituality centre inSydneyfor a retreat called ‘Passionate Love’, they weren’t quite sure what to expect. Having all previously attended a Celebrate Love seminar (some as long as 13 years ago), they knew it would be both relatable and motivational.

Facilitators, Byron &Francine Pirolapresented a programme that incorporated explanation Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body with practical discussion of how the theology applies to married life. Each session included input on a Theology of the Body topic, reflection questions and practical exercises designed to help couples not just understand the teaching, but actually experience it, in and through their bodies.

“There are some excellent authors and speakers on the Theology of the Body”, noted Byron, “but what still under developed, is an integrated approach of what it means for our day-to-day living. We have taken the insights of the Theology of the Body and packaged them in a practical and relatable format which is not only easily understood, but ties into the lived experienced of a couple’s lifestyle.”

“Our mission”, added Francine, “is to take this magnificent insights and teachings of the Catholic Church, together with the many insights provided from the sciences and contemporary psychology, and package them together. This helps couples to experience the Church’s teaching as vibrant and relevant. It’s a very powerful combination.”

At the closing mass celebrated by Chatswood parish priest Fr Vince Casey, a number of pertinent reflections were made by several couples.
“Just as Isaiah predicted that the ‘mountains will be made low and the valleys lifted’ in the reading today, what we have learned this weekend will make the mountains and valleys that challenge our marriage much more surmountable.”

“I have come to appreciate this weekend, that my faith is not something separate from my marriage. Just as in our intimacy we offer ourselves to each other, so also does Jesus offer himself to us when we come to communion.”

Many of the couples on the Passionate Love Weekend were inspired to undertake the ministry of marriage preparation, and will be training to be ‘mentor couples’ for ‘Embrace’. This new course for engaged couples was created by the authors of the Celebrate Love seminar (for married couples) and is grounded in the Theology of the Body. Like the Celebrate Love Seminar, it integrates the teachings of the Church with contemporary research in relationship for a dynamic and relatable programme. What distinguishes Embrace from other courses is the Mentoring format. Each engaged couple meets with a trainedMentor couple who personally coaches them throughout six sessions. Each session has DVD based input, couple exercises, practical relationship tools, Theology of the Body insights related to the topic, facilitated discussion, and take home exercises. Early piloting of the course have been met with enthusiasm from both Mentors and the engaged.

Mike & Lisa Humphrys of Brisbane, who attended Celebrate Love in early 2005 were one of the Mentorcouples piloting Embrace. “This is an innovative and exciting course for both the mentor and engaged couple”, noted Mike. “It draws upon the best of relationship education, the profound insights of John Paul’s theology and practical tools that turn key concepts into everyday actions that impact on your marriage immediately.”

“Embrace provides a strong foundation for couples to build a marriage with a mission to love each other” said Lisa. “It challenged us to go deeper in our relationship as we shared our experiences with the engaged couples, who valued the mix of prayer, theology, relationship insights and practical tools for making their marriage a sign of God’s presence in the world.”

“We have set ourselves the goal of training one thousand Mentorcouples over the next three years” said Byron. “What is really exciting about this format” said Francine, “is that every parish can now offer marriage preparation within the parish. Today many engaged couples book to marry in a church, but have little or no contact with any parishioners. With Embrace, those couples can sit in the lounge room with a parish couple (their Mentors), who can offer them, not only instruction in the course, but support and encouragement throughout the early years of marriage. TheMentor couple provide an important, living link with the parish community, and with them, the invitation to be part of that community.”