CFC's Marriage Enrichment Retreat (MER)
In response to the need for a better understanding and appreciation of God's plan for marriage and family life, the Marriage Enrichment retreat was evolved and is now part of the program of Couples for Christ. For couples to discover more clearly and intimately God's plan, there is a need to spend time in an atmosphere where God's word can be studied, understood and meditated on; where couples can have an opportunity to come before the Lord and present themselves as living oblation. A time is needed where couples can take stock and assess themselves, their relationship, their family life and their roles within the context of God's plan. Couples need time to know God's vision and take practical steps in order to attain the goal God is calling to.
In order to respond to the need of knowing God's vision and to be able to take practical steps to move forward towards God's call, this retreat is structured as follows:
Phase 1 - UNDERSTANDING GOD'S CALL. This phase focuses in elucidating God's call for married couples and as a result enable couples to formulate in more concrete terms the direction God is calling them to.
Phase 2 - LEARNING TO LIVE GOD'S CALL EFFECTIVELY. This phase of the program will present to the couples in a more direct and specific way how they can live and enjoy more fully God's call. The couples will also be able to examine themselves and be able to identify areas they need to have specific improvements and/or changes.
Phase 3 - PLANNING TO LIVE GOD'S CALL MORE EFFECTIVELY. This phase of the program shall propel couples to establish specific action plans which translate in concrete terms the changes/improvements they need to work on after the retreat in order to truly live God's call to the full.
The elements of the retreat are Prayer, Teachings (7 talks), Couple Discussion, Action Planning, Fellowship and Eucharistic Celebration. The MER is structured in such a way that couples can listen to practical talks from couples and be able to discus the talk as it applies to them as individual couple. Time for prayer and meditation will also be adequately provided. Sharing among the couples is emphasized to encourage/facilitate openness, honesty, sincerity and humility between the two. The retreat is climaxed by an action-planning per couple which they will pursue after the retreat.
MER in 2007