When I started my role with the diocese last year, my very first project was to organise a retreat for married couples in Rockhampton. Unfortunately, this retreat, along with much of 2020, was cancelled due to COVID.

This year a COVID-proof plan was hatched to run a marriage enrichment course online, using the Marriage Kit, produced by Smart Loving. The online format allowed us to welcome couples from around Australia, so twelve couples from our diocese were joined by sixteen other couples, including couples from the Tiwi Islands and Perth. There was also a couple from New Zealand who inquired but decided that the time zone difference was too much of a hurdle, saving everyone in the course from having to hear about how the All Blacks are the greatest sports team of all time.

After an introductory zoom meeting, couples went through the 5 lessons of the course online in their own time. Then all the couples met again fortnightly on Zoom to recap the lessons, hear personal reflections from the group leaders and split into smaller discussion groups. The meetings ended with a scripture reading and praying together for our spouses.

At the final zoom meeting, we were joined by Byron and Francine Pirola, the founders and directors of Smart Loving. The Pirolas delved deeper into some of the points from the course and delivered a very open, humorous and knowledgeable presentation on living out the vocation of marriage, which was greatly appreciated by all. We were also joined by Bishop Michael who gave his blessing and encouragement to all couples who were present.

The course content consisted of a lot of helpful practical skills (especially around communication) that were based in the Catholic understanding of marriage and vocation. I personally found the course very beneficial for my own marriage, and many of couples who attended seemed to share this sentiment. One couple shared their experience saying,

“Although we've been married for over 45 years, we both found the content of the course to be very appropriate. It took us back to our courting days and, although our marriage has always been good, it rekindled the passion we used to have for each other, and which can become a bit dulled by life and circumstances.

As well as the content itself, it was also great to have the opportunity to meet and connect with other couples from around the diocese and the rest of Australia. One couple commented that “it was very encouraging to see the faces of our fellow companions who journeyed with us during these weeks.”

While running a course like this was a bit of an experiment, it turned out to be very fruitful and worthwhile, so I hope to offer similar opportunities in the future. If you’d like to be informed of future marriage enrichment opportunities in the diocese, let me know at marriage@rok.catholic.net.au or 0433 897 973. 

Michael Otto

Executive Officer - Vocations, Youth & Family Life