Vol 2 Issue 2

Read the Spring issue of JOYFUL! Stories of Hope, Inspiration, Healing, and news on Marriage Retreats, new Leader Couple Training Course, upcoming events, and more!

Praised be Jesus Christ now and forever! It is only God’s grace that can take the measly loaves and fish of those here at the WCI and feed the multitude. What a wonderful God we have! Perhaps you do not know all that has been happening within the WCI, so let us explain.

My wife and I were excited to be attending the Archdiocesan Newly Married Retreat Day (Archdiocese of Saint Paul/ Minneapolis) on February 1st where Peter & Theresa Martin were the main speakers. Jordan and Alli Malikowski, WCI Leader Couple, also spoke. It is always nice to spend some intentional time on retreat. The speakers were enjoyable and informative.

...While some leader couples’ first big hurdle is actually finding members for their new married couples group, we didn’t seem to have any trouble there. We prayed for a few weeks and then extended an invitation to the four couples that came to mind; two couples made the commitment and two ...

​Theology of the Body (TOB) and the teachings of St. John Paul II have played a foundational role in our story—often without us even realizing it. Much of our formation and understanding of the call to live in communion with others was nurtured by TOB insights shared by friends, mentors, and speakers

This mission began when I was handed the Italian copy of the Rule for Married Couple Groups by St. John Paul II (when he was Cardinal Wojtyła) in the book Bellezza e spiritualità dell’amore coniugale, and the director said to me as she handed me this book: “this has been waiting for you.”

¡Hola! Somos Daniel y María Cabrera, de Indiana, y estamos muy felices de ser parte de esta familia. ​Hello! We are Daniel and Maria Cabrera from Indiana, and we are thrilled to be part of this family.

In Chapter 49 of St. Benedict’s Rule, he says “the life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent.” If you’re like me, you cringe at the idea because, let’s face it, we “give up” the things we enjoy… to think we can never enjoy those things again is too much!

. . . After my brother gave me a life-changing challenge to read Pope John Paul II’s letter, “On the Dignity and Vocation of Women” my junior year in college, I made some major shifts in my life’s direction.

Learn more about how WCI leader couples have encountered The Rule, and how their groups are spreading the JOY of this way of life to their communities.

The Duc in Altum – Into the Deep marriage retreat in Winona, MN February 28th to March 2nd was an incredibly blessed weekend! 34 couples came from 12 different dioceses to spend time soaking their marriage in God’s grace and merciful love for the weekend, going into the deep with Christ!

Megan shares a bit about her story, including how she was led to the WCI, and what it has meant to her to be part of this community.