Atlanta retreat offers spiritual guidance to divorced, separated Catholics

By Amanda Henderson. Reprinted with permission courtesy of The Georgia Bulletin, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Atlanta (appeared in Dec. 12, 2024 print edition).

SMYRNA—From Nov. 13-15, the Archdiocese of Atlanta hosted the “What God Has Joined” retreat. The retreat was organized by Catholics for Marriage Restoration (CFMR), a group that “assists unjustly abandoned or reluctantly separated men and women who remain faithful to their marriage vows as they hope for reconciliation.”

This was the first retreat conducted by CFMR and it offered daily Mass, confession, adoration, spiritual direction and mental health counseling.

Father Nathanael Block, pastor of Our Lady of the Snow Roman Catholic Church in Snowflake, Arizona, served as the spiritual director for the retreat. He was assisted by Father Elias Dorham, pastor of St. John Chrysostom Melkite Catholic Church in Atlanta. Patrick Metts, the associate director of the Office of Evangelization & Discipleship in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, was the master of ceremonies.

The retreat, held at the Chancery of the archdiocese in Smyrna, also provided informative and inspirational presentations from men and women within the archdiocese and from other parts of the country. Dr. Félix Menéndez, court administrator and diocesan judge at the Metropolitan Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, delivered a talk in which he discussed the nature and sacramentality of marriage.

Beverly Willett, retired attorney and author of “Disassembly Required: A Memoir of Midlife Resurrection,” spoke about the legal and moral perils of no-fault divorce. Dr. Christine Bacon, author of “The Super Couple: A Formula for Extreme Happiness in Marriage,” commended the audience by standing for marriage within a culture that is often indifferent or even hostile to marriage. She reminded the audience that the final battle between God and Satan will be “about marriage and the family.”

Father Dorham discussed the transforming and healing paths of marriage—even for those whose marriages have been injured by separation and divorce.

Father Block delivered three separate addresses. He explained the intimate connection between the Eucharist and marriage. “God has a deep love for marriage,” Father Block reminded the audience. He urged participants to “refresh the Heart of Christ by loving him and letting him love you.”

Leila Miller, author of “Impossible Marriages Redeemed,” provided a recorded speech in which she urged the retreat members to be Christ-like.

“We Christians know that with God all things are possible, and we know that the greater good and ultimate redemption come only and always through the cross,” said Miller.

Father Robert Altier, author of “God’s Plan for Your Marriage,” also gave a recorded address.

On the final day of the conference, John Clark, author of “Betrayed Without a Kiss,” discussed those who suffer what he called a “white martyrdom” for marriage.

“In this world that is rejecting marriage, you are bearing true witness to the immense good of the sacrament of matrimony,” said Clark. “In my book, that makes you heroes.”

On Saturday, Bishop John N. Tran of Atlanta offered a Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Kennesaw for separated and divorced Catholics who continue to stand for their marriages.

“My heart is especially filled with gratitude for those of you who are divorced and separated. Despite the difficulties and challenges you are facing, you strive to be faithful to God, living your marriage vows,” said the bishop in his homily.

Bishop Tran likened the standers to St. Gertrude the Great, a 13th Century virgin and mystic. He explained that, in her early years, Gertrude underwent a difficult “period of loss, loneliness and depression.” He said that standers for marriage go through similar sufferings but also experience the same grace from the same loving God who assisted St. Gertrude.

While standers might be tempted to think that they do not have much to offer, Bishop Tran assured them otherwise.

“You do have so much to offer, in ways that people like myself cannot offer: by your sacrifices and sufferings, by your desire to do God’s will, by witnessing for us that God is faithful,” said the bishop.

Many participants shared the profound effect of the inaugural conference, including one attendee who wrote, “What Standing means for me is that I am whole again, even alone I am whole again. I feel my heart beating. For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel crazy! I have found a community; I have a home in my church and most of all I have found God and my faith.”