Retrouvaille Bound!!! (time for a new thread! )

[25yearsmlc]

RE: RETROVAILLE...

though it was started by Catholics in Canada, they offer non-denominational ones as well.

Also, my h is not Catholic (although he's not bigoted against the Church I knew he would not be in the mood to hear any dogma and frankly, I wasn't either).

Our Retrovaille was technically Catholic. You could NOT tell that at all. There were four guide couples who told us their stories and how they worked things out...They do this in pieces and you get exercises too.

There's no public disclosure needed, shared, or expected and there is no shaming. A lot of the work is done as a couple in private after a topic is discussed and you do follow up.

BTW there was a retired priest in the background who said if anyone felt harmed by the Church or organized religion, he was available to discuss that. I thought that was sort of brave. He may have lead a prayer or two but the only feeling I got was pretty generic. No dogma was presented and it's hardly a place for converting.

I think an adamant atheist would be uncomfortable b/c they do discuss a "spiritual connection" between spouses and the word "God" too. But at least at ours, in this area, the religious aspects were extremely generic.

We felt very comfortable and my h isn't a church goer atm.

If you can get a spouse there you won't be harmed and the marriage may get a victorious miracle or a second chance.

I have heard of rare occasions where a spouse left but that is NOT Retrovaille's issue or fault. It's the spouse who left. If an affair or guilt inducing event is going on, that's a separate issue.

They interview you on the phone before coming to get you to "buy into" working on the marriage and NOT an OP while you attend...which makes sense.

Good luck, feel free to ask more if you want

I HIGHLY recommend it and felt got us from "piecing" to a "restored marriage"...

although in truth I also think "Piecing" is a life long process...