MARRIAGE RETREAT | RENOVACIÓN CONYUGAL| PARISH OPPORTUNITIES | JUBILEE MASS | THEOLOGY OF THE BODY | USCCB

DIOCESAN MARRIAGE RETREAT

The Diocesan Marriage Retreat is a weekend for married couples to spend quality time with one another and the Lord Jesus. Engaging talks, Mass, Adoration, availability of Confession, small group, and one on one time move couples to a deeper recognition of the centrality of Christ in their marriage.  Each year the marriage reterat is held in a peaceful, natural setting where couples can enjoy glory of God's creation together. Apart from sessions and sacramental experiences, there is ample time built into the weekend for rest and recreation.

2025 Diocesean Marriage Retreat

*Registration closed due to reaching capacity*

• $375 per couple for personal cabin
• $225 per couple if willing to share cabin with one other couple

ANNUAL JUBILEE MASS

Each year during National Marriage Week our diocese has a special liturgy for married couples celebrating significant anniversaries called the Jubilee Mass. Bishop Wack leads participants in a special commemoration of vows, prayers of blessing, and public recognition of individual couples during this liturgy. Sacramentally married couples celebrating their 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th or any anniversary beyond 50 years, are invited along with any guests who wish to support them.

2026 Jubilee Mass Dates

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT AROUND THE DIOCESE

A number of our parishes offer ministries specifically geared to enrich Catholic marriage and family life. Please refer below to various resources, programs, and contact names throughout our diocese to become involved in such efforts:

Adventures in Marriage

Adventures in Marriage is a highly interactive program that teaches couples the practical “hands on” skills essential to build a healthy, thriving marriage that can go the distance.  AIM helps couples discover better ways to meet one another’s needs, communicate, resolve conflicts, express anger, avoid dirty fighting, and understand how their personality styles impact relationships for better or worse.

Click here to sign up for a class and see a list of dates and parish locations!

Couple Prayer Series

In January and February 2025 the diocese hosted a special workshop called "Together with Jesus: Couple Prayer Series." More than 40 couples in the Pensacola and Tallahassee areas participated in the special 6-week workshop in order to explore the depths of their sacrament through an intentional commitment to praying together. This series will be offered at various parishes later in 2025. Please check back here for a list of dates and locations as they are announced!

Domestic Church Families

Married couples in the Panama City area are joining together to take part in a special movement called Domestic Church Families. Circles of 4-6 couples commit to meeting in a couple's home on a regular basis to share a meal, pray together, and grow in their faith. Couples also partake in yearly retreats and make committments to daily prayer as spouses, Scripture study, and maintaing a rule of life. Recommended for couples of all ages looking to deepen their relationship with the Lord through community and their own marriage.

For a list of Domestic Church Evangelization and Oasis retreats please click here.

Panama City Contact: Melissa and Jake Cornman at [email protected]

RENOVACIÓN CONYUGAL

Renovación conyugal es un grupo de matrimonios voluntarios 
que acompañamos en el proceso de sanar y fortalecer
la experiencia conyugal. Ofrecemos herramientas que ayudan
en la relación de pareja, compartimos vivencias y conocimiento
a través de talleres a parejas heterosexuales, talleres de preparación para el matrimonio, talleres para padres y talleres de sanación personal, entre otros.

Lugar: Magnuson Hotel Wildwood Inn 3896 Coastal Hwy Crawfordville, FL 32327
Informes y Inscripciones: Tony y Sharon Mendez (850) 819-0549 o Eduardo y Nora Cornejo (954) 536-7313

Tiene un costo de $300.00 por pareja, lo cual incluye: estancia, comidas y los materiales necesarios para el taller.

Curso Matrimonial del P. Ignacio Larrañaga Para todas aquellas parejas que quieran enriquecer su vinculo matrimonial por medio de la oración, los invitamos a este Taller de Oración y Vida dirigido por Maricarmen Fernández. Lugar: Iglesia Católica St. Sylvester (6464 Gulf Breeze Pwky., Gulf Breeze) Para mas información e inscripciones puede comunicarse con Maricarmen Fernández al (678) 382-9575 Retiro de Emaús Para Mujeres Este retiro ofrece a las participantes renovarse espiritualmente permitiendo el encuentro con Jesús vivo, quien siempre camina a nuestro lado. El retiro tendrá lugar en el Monasterio de la Visitación en Alabama. Transporte incluido ida y vuelta desde la Iglesia de St. Sylvester. 646 Gulf Breeze Pwky. Gulf Brezee, Fl. 32563 Para inscripciones y mas información para el retiro de mujeres comunicarse con Claudia Fernandez al (459) 767-0660 o Kenia Redondo al (850) 218-9358.

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY

What is the Theology of the Body? 

It is true sexual identity as explained in a series of talks by Pope St. John Paul II from 1979-1984. Primarily it stems from the pope's reflections on the Creation stories of Genesis 1-3, Jesus' teaching on marriage and divorce in the Gospels, and Jesus' and St. Paul's teaching on the resurrection of the body throughout the New Testament.

Theology of the Body (TOB) is the term used to describe the theological nature of our bodies, in that since we are made in the 'image and likeness of God' an honest reflection on our human body will lead us to a deeper understanding of God. Our bodies reveal that we are persons made for communion with others in the image of God who is a Trinity of Divine Persons.

The vast majority of these lectures were delivered at the normal Wednesday catecheses (teaching sessions) which popes deliver to the thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Although the material is quite heavy at times and deepy theological, John Paul II intended for the Theology of the Body to be understood by all the Catholic faithful. Click here for a compilation of all 129 of the pope's lectures.

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