By Emilie Ng
BOOKING a couples’ retreat is Luke and Madonna McLindon’s secret to a peaceful and faithful marriage.
The Brisbane Catholic parents to seven children said retreat getaways were “like fertiliser” to the spiritual life in their marriage.
“All living things need sustenance, and if marriage were likened to a plant, it’s one thing to keep a plant alive, but if you really wanted to see growth and blooms, then a little fertiliser works wonders,” Mrs McLindon said.
“Retreats can be such a great time to truly connect with your spouse, get to know their soul better, and take the relationship to a deeper level in faith.”
A recent married couples’ retreat not only gave the husband and wife of 15 years time away from their seven children, but gave them a “team focus” for married spirituality.
“When the ‘two become one’, so does much of their faith and spirituality,” Mr McLindon said. “The couple becomes a union, a team, two people ‘on the same page’, so naturally, a retreat for the couple together makes perfect sense.”
Even with seven children, retreats are a priority for the McLindons, who are already booked in for a day retreat for married and engaged couples hosted in Brisbane next week by Ministry to the Newly Married.
MNM team member Kate Hobbs said many married couples, including herself and husband Keiran Hobbs, married 27 years, were unaware that their vocation offered them “all the graces…to get ourselves and all our children to Heaven”.
“Not only did it shock us, but what disappointed us most was that we couldn’t remember hearing a homily or teaching on either,” Mrs Hobbs said.
“Now every day we discover the gems of living a more sacramental life, with daily Mass and daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament along with regular confession.”
Passionate about ensuring other couples knew how accessible grace could be in their marriage, Mrs Hobbs said all married couples in Brisbane and beyond were invited to the MNM day retreat.
“This retreat day is for couples to take a moment to reflect on their own marriage, while also being strengthened by coming together with other engaged or married couples.”
The Married Couples Retreat Day is open to all married or engaged couples and will be held on Saturday, June 27 at Mary Immaculate Hall, Ipswich Rd, Annerley and costs $40 per couple.
Phone Kate Hobbs on 0414 258 996 for more information or to register.
