RETROUVAILLE IS A LIFELINE FOR MARRIED COUPLES

WHAT IS RETROUVAILLE?

Retrouvaille is a program started by Catholic Marriage Encounter in Hull, Quebec, in 1977 in the French language. It was taken to Toronto and translated into English in 1978. From there, it has spread to more than 130 communities in 30 countries, has been translated into 7 languages and continues to grow.
Even though Retrouvaille is Catholic in origin it is ecumenical in nature. Couples of all faiths are welcome, including those who do not follow a traditional faith system. No attempt is made to convert anyone to a religion. We are all about relationship building, and saving your marriage is our focus.
All program-facilitating couples have experienced pain and misery in their marriages. Retrouvaille has not only saved their marriages but helped rebuild the love, trust and forgiveness that had eroded from their relationships. Retrouvaille couples offer hope to hurting couples as they share their personal stories of struggle, reconciliation and healing. Facilitating couples talk about the very intimate and deep hurts they have experienced. Hurting couples see how listening, forgiveness, communication and even fighting (fairly) are healthy tools for building a stable relationship.
Every couple working in the Retrouvaille program is a volunteer. Our facilitators are not counsellors. Counselling is a problem-solving pursuit whereas Retrouvaille is a relationship-building pursuit. Many counsellors recommend Retrouvaille to their clients and we recommend counselling to couples that require such professional guidance.
The goal of Retrouvaille is solely to help save marriages!

WHO IS RETROUVAILLE FOR?

Most couples coming to Retrouvaille have trouble communicating. They may also be drifting apart. These two characteristics alone are identified in an Associated Press poll of divorce lawyers as being the primary causes of divorce. As a result of these two problems, many couples start searching for answers and help for their marriage. That’s when Retrouvaille can be your lifeline! We can help provide marriage communication tools to couples who are looking for ways to better their marriage.
Many couples come to Retrouvaille during the initial signs of marital problems. Other couples are in a state of despair and hopelessness when they attend the program. These latter couples often consider the Retrouvaille program their final option. Retrouvaille is for couples who feel alone and distant – for couples living in an unloving, uncaring relationship – for couples lacking healthy communication – and yes, even for couples who are considering marriage separation and those who are already separated or divorced.

OUR MISSION

Retrouvaille is an International community of disciples committed to the continued healing of their marriages and, empowered by the Holy Spirit, sharing their stories, talents and gifts to promote and spread the healing ministry of Retrouvaille.

OUR VISION

We believe that every marriage, a union of one man and one woman, deserves the opportunity to survive, be mended, healed and subsequently thrive as a covenant of life and love. Retrouvaille is the place where we, as hurting couples, found hope and so we are passionately committed to dramatically increasing the number of couples served in both new and existing communities worldwide.