SEREMBAN – The Archdiocesan Family Life Commission (AFLC) of Kuala Lumpur held its sixth Retrouvaille weekend recently, bringing together 10 couples seeking healing, renewal and hope in their marriages.
Retrouvaille is a Catholic live in program designed for couples experiencing serious marital difficulties. Held annually at a confidential location to safeguard participants’ privacy, the weekend is led by a priest and three married couples who share their own journeys of overcoming challenges through faith, forgiveness and commitment.
This year’s program marked a significant milestone. For the first time since Retrouvaille Malaysia began in 2017, the entire presenting team comprised Malaysians: Fr Edwin Peter, parish priest of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, and couples Francis and Angeline Chang, Canute and Lourett Magimay, and Joseph and Anita Pragasam. In previous years, the ministry relied on experienced presenters from Singapore, India and the Philippines while its local team was being formed.
Preparations for the weekend began months in advance under the leadership of coordinating couple Francis and Angeline Chang. Awareness was promoted through parish bulletins, posters, brochures, announcements and personal invitations across the archdiocese, with confidential conversations offered to couples seeking more information.
Held in the peaceful surroundings of Port Dickson, the weekend provided participants with the space to step away from the demands of daily life and focus on rebuilding their relationships.
Through personal testimonies, guided reflection and practical communication exercises, couples were encouraged to understand one another more deeply, forgive past hurts and rediscover the love that first brought them together. The honest sharing by the presenting couples reassured participants that they were not alone in their struggles and that God never abandons couples united in the Sacrament of Matrimony.
One participant shared that she came to understand that beneath her husband’s seemingly domineering manner was a genuine desire to care for her and their family. Many also found the communication tools introduced during the weekend both practical and transformative.
Fr Edwin was available throughout the weekend to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the program concluded with Sunday Mass. Participants were reminded that healing is a journey, rather than a single event.
The Retrouvaille experience extends beyond the weekend through six follow-up sessions that provide continued support and encouragement for couples on their journey of healing and renewal.
For more information, contact Francis at 016-3330660, Angeline at 012-2072150, or email retrouvaille@familylife.archkl.org. All enquiries are treated with the strictest confidence. – Herald Malaysia
