• Are you feeling judged or blamed in your marriage relationship?

• Do you believe that saving your marriage is too late or impossible?

Then Retrouvaille may just be the answer for you.

On a Retrouvaille weekend you are not asked any questions about you or your marriage. There is no counseling, finger pointing or advice given.

We encourage you to come on a Retrouvaille weekend and listen to three married couples and a priest share their life stories and how Retrouvaille gave them the tools to communicate in a respectful and effective manner.

If you have tried everything else to save your marriage and you feel helpless, Retrouvaille is worth experiencing. It is possible for you and your spouse to rediscover the love you once had for each other.

RETROUVAILLE CAN HELP

If you are thinking of separation or divorce or you are already separated, but want to try again then we believe Toronto Retrouvaille can help. If you and your spouse want your marriage to work and are willing to put in a full weekend of hard work and your best effort - then we invite you, even urge you, to attend a Retrouvaille Weekend. Do you know of a couple who might need help? Please tell them about Retrouvaille and encourage them to contact us. They are probably desperately looking for help and don't know where to turn to find it. Although Retrouvaille follows the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church we do extend a warm welcome to couples of other faith expressions.

REGISTRATION CRITERIA

The Retrouvaille process is specifically designed to heal and renew the marriage of one man and one woman. For that reason, only those in such marriages will be registered. Furthermore, we are unable to register persons who are single and living together. If this is your case we suggest you seek help through Catholic Engaged Encounter, Catholic Family Services or other support groups found in the Resource Links button to the left.

Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi) began in 1977 as a French language weekend for hurting marriages in the City of Hull, Quebec, Canada. A year later it was adapted into English by the community in Toronto, Ontario who also revised and strengthened the contents of the weekend and developed the post-weekend process. The first Toronto presentation was in October 1978. Toronto Retrouvaille is part of Retrouvaille International which is very active in many countries throughout the world.

THE RETROUVAILLE PROCESS - Weekend and Post Weekend Sessions

Retrouvaille is not a spiritual retreat, marriage counseling, a social gathering nor a sensitivity group. There are neither group dynamics nor group discussions on the weekend. It is a hard working weekend. It begins with a live-in weekend, followed by 6 Saturday POST sessions that take place over a 2 to 3-month period.  The emphasis is on a technique of communication between a husband and wife. During the weekend, a series of in-depth presentations are given to you and other couples like yourselves.

Each presentation, given by one of three married couples and a Roman Catholic priest, focuses on a specific area of a marriage relationship.  After each presentation, you will have a chance to reflect on it by yourself, and then discuss it with your spouse in complete privacy.  

The degree of disappointment, hurt, deterioration and often despair prior to the weekend cannot possibly be treated and completely healed in that one weekend. The damage occurs over an extended period of time, and the restoration process likewise needs time. Almost all couples leave the weekend with a feeling of hope. At the same time, most also realize that time is needed for forgiveness and healing.

The weekend is not a 'miracle cure'; therefore, post-weekend sessions have been designed to continue the marriage renewal begun on the weekend.  These follow-ups review earlier concepts in greater depth, present new ones and help you apply these concepts to your own marriage.

To see the 2011 Toronto Weekend dates click Weekend Dates in the left menu