Virtual ICM Meeting/Regional Retreat - Marywood Retreat Center, Jacksonville, FL Sep. 20-22, 2024
2024 Southeastern Regional
Virtual ICM Meeting & Regional Leadership Retreat
Marywood Retreat Center - September 20-22, 2024
235 Marywood Drive, St. Johns, Florida
Virtual ICM Enrichment Schedule
Friday September 20 – Travel Day
Travel Day Drive or Flight into (JAX) – Jacksonville, FL - Shuttle or Uber to
Marywood Retreat Center - 235 Marywood Drive St. Johns, FL 32259
Check in 3:00 pm
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm - Welcome Wine & Cheese
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Regional Meet and Greet
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm Dinner and Enrichment Activity
Saturday, September 21
7:15 am to 7:45 am Mass
7:45 am to 8:30 am Breakfast
8:30 am to 9:00 am Regional Leadership Meeting
9:00 am to 1 pm International ICM Meeting/Breakout Sessions
9:00 am Welcome to ICM 2024 from International Coordinating Couple John & Donna Bigler
9:15 am Diocese of Enid OK Musical Prayer Litany with Father Mark Mason
9:45 am Insights from Archbishop Richard W Smith
Archbishop Richard W. Smith of the Catholic Diocese of Edmonton serves as the President of the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. He is also the principal signer of, and was instrumental in getting Letters of Canonical Recognition from the Roman Catholic Church, granted to Retrouvaille International. 9:50 am The State of Retrouvaille with International Coordinating Couple; John & Donna Bigler
10:40 am The Grand Procession of Nations Flag Ceremony
11:00 am
Track A:
An Open-Hearted Look at the Deep and Lasting Effects of Divorce on Children
(Dr. Daniel & Bethany Meola)
The authors of Life-Giving Wound and the Natl ministry of the same name will give an overview of the wounds commonly experienced by children of divorce, including the wound of silence, wound to faith, wound to identity, wound to vision of marriage,
and more. Their goal is to help couples considering divorce or experiencing a
tough time in their marriage to look with clear and open hearts at the ways that
parental break-ups affect children far into the future.
Track B:
How to Solve Your Biggest Problem (Steve & Leigh Baumann)
This workshop addresses why couples might avoid addressing their biggest marital conflicts and introduces key techniques to improve conflict management skills.
To foster collaboration and promote growth in the relationship, techniques such as truth journaling, root cause review, scenario analysis, and brainstorming for creative solutions will be explored. These methods are essential for tackling challenging marital conflicts effectively, fostering collaboration, and promoting growth within the relationship. Think of this workshop as a turbocharged version of the Retrouvaille Conflict Management Process!
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Luncheon - These tracks will be held during our lunch period.
12:00 pm
Track A
The Warm Hug: FNC Journey From Info Request to Friday Night Check- In
(Frank & Marci VanPelt)
First impressions are everything. Your couples look to you for a steady hand, a warm voice, and need to see you as a trusted friend on their journey from brokenness to
reawakening. Frank & Marci will walk you through crucial conversation best practices,
techniques, and tips detailing Info Request guidelines, registration calls, donation expectations, couple interviews, regular “touch bases”, timelines and utilizing database and SMS technology to keep help your couples feel loved and cared for.
Track B
12:00 pm
Surviving Spouse- Finding Our Way in a Community of Disciples (Jeanne Botz)
This workshop will focus on the continued journey of the Surviving spouse in the
Retrouvaille Ministry. We will discuss the munique gifts of the surviving spouses, and
various roles we can do to support our communities. We will discuss the Surviving
Spouse Circle and expanding this to our International Community of surviving Spouses.
1 pm to 6:00 pm International ICM Meeting/Breakout Sessions
1:00 pm
Track A
How to Win at Family (Don & Suzanne Manning)
Don Manning, founder with his wife Suzanne of Crazy Cool Family, is excited to share with you how to win at family! Don and Suzanne have raised seven Kids of their own, authored seven parenting books, and have taught thousands of parents how to build
their best family, a family that follows the Lord and loves each other deeply. Don is passionate about equipping parents with the inspiration, vision, and strategies needed for parents to be their best for their kids. Get ready to be inspired and challenged! Don will also introduce you to a host of resources available for every stage of your family journeys.
Track B
Healthy Leadership (FR. David Camacho Villarreal) ESPANOL
Healthy leadership in the communities of Retrouvaille; Biblically speaking, we can
understand that there is only one model of leadership. And it is Christian leadership,
which is of service, and we will learn to be leaders having Christ as a teacher and as a writing textbook to achieve unity in our communities. We need a healthy community strengthened by the testimony of leaders.
2:00 pm
Track A
Living Your Best Life Outside of Heaven (Bonnie Langmeyer)
I’m Bonnie Langmeyer, Widow of my beloved Scott Langmeyer who passed away 11/9/2022. For a month after his passing, I reflected on the 40 years we had been together, the struggles that we had in our marriage,and the 20 beautiful years that we had been involved in Retrouvaille. God had put it on my heart to share with you all just what these 20 years had looked like and why everyone in Retrouvaille
needs to say YES to this ministry. Scott and I lived our best life…. This side of heaven. Tomorrow is not promised and we need to live our best life with our spouse today.
Track B
Shattered but Whole: Getting to the Other Side: Widow to Widow (Jeanne Botz)
This workshop will focus specifically on the loss of our spouse and the grief we
experience that has shattered our life.The grieving process that is unique to the
loss of a spouse, feelings of guilt concerning loss of spouse and the changes in our life journey.
3:00 PM
Track A
Community Coordinator Reflections (Mike & Ann Cerney)
When you do 6 weekends a year, like the Twin Cities does, people want to
know what’s in your “sauce”. It does take some logistic maneuvering, some cat herding patience and A LOT of prayer, but mostly it takes the ability to have faith and trust in the people in your community to have the leeway to do their jobs, and back up their decisions. “It’s always been done that way” doesn’t work anymore, and to
grow your FNC’s and your community, you need to embrace change and embrace your team. The Cerney’s will share their “secret leadership sauce” as well as some tips and tricks!
Track B
Forgiving Each Other (Dr. Robert D. Enright, PhD)
Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the founding board member of the International
Forgiveness Institute has been scientifically studying forgiveness for the past 38 years. In this talk, he will address a) What forgiving means; b)Scientific evidence for the efficacy of forgiving; c) How one goes about forgiving those who act unjustly; and
d) Specific approaches to forgiving one another within marriage.
4:00 pm
Track A
YOUR Community Marketing Arsenal. Where it's at and How to Implement It
(Ted & Allison Beauparlant)
You’ve been asking for tools to build awareness of your upcoming weekends, where to find them, and how to use them. From a new array of printed brochures and eye-catching collateral to hundreds of Facebook memes, reels and videos, to community
member handbooks, database management tips, video tutorials, and your new US/Can parish & church directory. They are all ready to use, and at your fingertips. Let’s get started and get excited!
Track B
The Way in Solidarity in the Synodal, Samaritan and Outgoing Church
(FR. Juan Carlos Rojas Ramos CSB) ESPANOL
This talk will help you understand what the Synod is and how to apply it in our
Retrouvaille ministry to enrich our communities and our faith.
5:00 pm
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Amy Color, acclaimed as the "Best Intimacy Coach of 2023," revolutionizes the approach to overcoming intimacy challenges, offering real solutions that extend beyond traditional talk therapy. Her impactful TED talk and widely read book have touched millions, sharing her unique insights and methods.
Driven by her personal quest to find solutions for her husband's fear of intimacy and performance anxiety, she studied and trained in multiple modalities including Imago, Gottman, IITAP Addiction, Tantra, among others.
However, Amy's most significant breakthroughs came from her extensive experience coaching men. She has empowered them to find security and confidence in their intimate lives, transforming their approach to sex, relationships, and overall well-being. This experience inspired the creation of the Intimacy Game Plan, a comprehensive step-by-step approach designed to address and resolve intimacy issues both in and out of the bedroom.
6:00 pm Break
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm Regional Banquet and Entertainment
Sunday, September 22
7:15 am to 7:45 am Mass
7:45 am to 8:30 am Breakfast
8:30 am to 9:00 am Regional Leadership Meeting
9:00 am to 1:00 pm International ICM Breakout Sessions
8:50 am ICOR Welcome Back
9:00 am Widen your Net to Catch ALL God's Children (Kris & Karl Golz
72% of ALL churches report not having a substantial marriage ministry. Not
surprisingly, marital struggles and divorce are one of the most common issues amongst all Christian denominations. With Retrouvaille growth stagnant and our geographical communities and society in disrepair, we will discuss why it is so important to extend our message to all our brothers and sisters, letting them know that as Christians, “they are not alone” – There is hope for their marriage and family!
Join us as we explore 5 growth principles for Retrouvaille from the teachings of the Apostle Paul. Hint: These principles can help your marriage grow too!
10:00 am Grief- A Journey at Different Stages of our Life (Jeanne Botz)
This is a workshop for anyone experiencing a loss in their life. The grief we
experience when we lose someone special in our life is shattering. The grieving process is different for each of us causing disconnect from the family, friends, work, and our spiritual life. This workshop will provide information on the grieving process related to losing a parent, sibling, child, and the importance of moving out of isolation. We never “get over” our loss but rather find a way to weave it into the tapestry of our life. All are welcome, not just surviving spouses.
11:00 am Workshopping; the Best Job in the Ministry (Sam & Debbie Martin)
The only thing tougher than writing your talk, is critiquing, and editing someone else’s talk. It can also be the most rewarding gift in the ministry, to help a couple dig into themselves and tell a story that will touch hundreds.The Martins will share how they use their experience to bring the writing couples closer together, and use their writings as a source of growth and understanding to the couples they work with.
This inspiring session will be helpful for current workshopping teams, but is
geared for all couples who want to open their hearts to their spouses and experience a new and richer level of closeness.
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Luncheon - Room Check out - Luncheon During this Period
12:00 pm Broken & Beautiful (Tom & Marie Fleisner)
So often we imagine that to be loved we must become better, different, perfect somehow. The reality is that in a broken world filled with broken people, striving for perfection is like dreaming the impossible dream. It can set us all up to fail. Requiring perfection will not help a marriage thrive. If anything, it will alienate our spouse. We must be willing to accept that we are broken and that we’re still beautiful. In fact, maybe the things we think need to be “fixed” to make us more lovable — the flaws and weaknesses, mistakes and sins — are the very things that make us beautiful in God’s eyes! In this session, Tom & Marie will share their own experiences to help you to see your brokenness as a beauty mark instead of a scar. The session will end with a hands-on experience, where couples will create their own Kintsugi piece of art to take home (don’t worry…no artistic skill is needed).
This workshop can also be used by communities as a CORE session.
1pm Saints of Retrouvaille Ceremony
The Saints of Retrouvaille Ceremony has been an honored tradition within our ministry since 1994 and gives us the opportunity to celebrate and pay our respects to our Retrouvaille Brothers and Sisters who sacrificed days, months, and years, contributing to the growth of the ministry. As a sacred part of every ICM, those servant leaders who have passed, will have their names lovingly recorded in the Book of Saints, and will have a candle lit for them as a reminder that our Saints are praying for our ministry.This presentation is a reverent reminder of their lives and the gifts that their Surviving Spouses give to Retrouvaille, even today.
1:35 Closing Prayer
Dr Gavin Ashenden
Former Chaplain to the Queen; 2008-2017, author, commentator, British
Catholic layman and Associate Editor of the Catholic Herald. Formerly a priest
of Church of England and subsequently an Anglican bishop.
1:45 ICOR Close and Reflection
2:00 p.m. Goodbyes and Departure
Weekend Attendance:
$495.00 PER COUPLE OR $395 PER PRIEST
$250.00 DAY RATE FOR SAT/SUN MEALS;
$60 SAT NIGHT DINNER & ENTERTAINMENT ONLY
Register Here Online at RetrouvailleSoutheast.org
Includes: Dinner on Friday night, all meals on Saturday and Breakfast and Lunch on Sunday, Room for Fri./Sat. nights, and Program Materials.