Ordinary Love, Extraordinary Grace

We are halfway through the season of Lent, and the Church in her wisdom gives us a family to reflect on in the remaining weeks of this holy season. The solemnities of St. Joseph (March 19) and the Annunciation (March 25) remind us that God, who is Love, chose to live among us in a family—witnessing the sacrificial married love of Joseph and Mary.

As we journey with Jesus to Calvary, let us also remember that the Blessed Mother and her Most Chaste Spouse walk with us. Our prayers go out to all the mentor couples who become a little "holy family" for the engaged and civilly married couples they accompany.

At Witness to Love, we are continually inspired by the way God uses the ordinary—our homes, vocations, and relationships—to do something extraordinary.

This Month’s Updates from Witness to Love

Our First Ever Valentine's Day Retreat

The historic Jesuit Mission at Grand Coteau, Louisiana, was the beautiful setting for an unforgettable married couples retreat over Valentine’s Day weekend!

It had long been the dream of Mary-Rose and Ryan to welcome couples from across the U.S. to Louisiana—not only to spend time together in prayer and deepen their understanding of the Sacrament of Matrimony but also to form lasting friendships in Christ. This retreat provided a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded families who share a passion for marriage and family life.

Check out our post for more photos and stay tuned for more opportunities like this retreat from Ryan and Mary-Rose! 

Witness to Love at Notre Dame Seminary

Earlier this month, Ryan had the privilege of presenting Witness to Love to 20 third-year seminarians at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. These future priests are preparing to walk with couples and families in their ministry, and it was a joy to share how Witness to Love equips parishes to support marriage in a transformative way.

Please keep these seminarians in your prayers as they continue their formation and prepare for a lifetime of service to the Church.

Interested in bringing Witness to Love to a seminary in your diocese? Let us know here.

Welcome to Our New WTL Parish Families

We are excited to welcome several new parishes into the Witness to Love community this month:

• St. Theresa and St. Benedict – Duson, LA

• Cathedral of St. Mary – Cheyenne, WY

• Our Lady of the Falls Catholic Community – Chippewa Falls, WI

Thank you for your commitment to strengthening marriages in your communities. We are honored to support you.

Love Stories in Action

“I saw that any remaining walls broke down, and we were able to fully let each other know who we are all the way... It has improved our conversation and made us realize the importance of constant communication. We plan to go back through the book every year or so to remind ourselves of the key aspects of marriage.” – Anonymous Couple, Diocese of Saskatoon

Featured Article

Thank you to our friends at OSV for this beautifully written article featuring the Witness to Love marriage catechumenate. We loved Stacy Golden's take on the WTL model: "Even though it may seem like you don’t have enough control, if you go with something like this — a more evangelizing model — I would say that God is always in control. So get out of the way of the Holy Spirit, and let the Lord work.” Click the photo to read more!

With mentors and the Holy Spirit, the Marriage Catechumenate model bears fruit

Thank you for being a part of this mission to renew the Church through the renewal of marriage. Your prayers, support, and partnership make this work possible.

May God richly bless you and your family,

The Witness to Love Team

P.S. Share this newsletter with your parish or an engaged couple to spread the joy of the Gospel!