Blessed Couples Workshop in Oostduinkerke, Belgium

By Martin Alexy energise, and to really enjoy the time as a to take a deeper look at their respective

L retreat. On Saturday we spent the relationships. This was an optional ast Easter around 10 couples from afternoon on the beach and in the dunes, activity over dinner, but most couples different nations came together playing games as a group or taking time were so fully engaged in discussion that for a Blessed Couples retreat in to talk as a couple. The bonding time they could not even finish one topic. Oostduinkerke in Belgium. The retreat continued after dinner, with competitive As well as providing opportunities to consisted of guidance and discussions on and entertaining team games, ranging develop our relationships as individual the topics of how to build up a God- from orange-passing to charades. couples, the retreat also helped to make centered marriage and the meaning of leading a Blessed Lifestyle, as well as On Sunday we had the opportunity to us all more aware of our potential to how to help heal each other and fill the explore the beautiful city of Bruges. We grow as couples to serve a greater relationship with true love. biked along the former city wall towards purpose. We were reminded that each Damme, a cute port town, and then couple has a value beyond just the couple We were fortunate to have with us a cycled along picturesque biking trails itself – and were inspired to find ways, as diverse range of participants; there were back to Bruges. The traditional couples, to offer our time and energy for several couples who had just received the windmills, peaceful canals and the something greater. Overall, the retreat Blessing in March, as well as couples overall historical character of the area provided a good balance of content and who have been Blessed for more than 3 made it a perfect spot for sight-seeing. time for interaction; enabling years. Together we could explore a range After some coffee and conversation meaningful insights for each couple’s of topics and learn from each other, complemented by delicious apple puffs unique journey ahead, complemented by based on the input from the main in a nice cosy tearoom, the group split up time for bonding, both as a couple, and educators; Yebuny, Geros and Patrick. again into couples for dinner. Three as a wider community. Besides the guidance and discussions, topics with points for reflection were More pictures there was enough free time to relax, re- suggested, as a basis to help the couples