GANGNEUG, SOUTH KOREA — The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), drew a record attendance for its 10th Marriage Enrichment Retreat since 2018. Thirty-nine U.S. Military couples took part in the Sept. 5-7 gathering at the Skybay Hotel in Gangneug, South Korea, surpassing the previous attendance record of 31 set last spring in Germany.
The retreat facilitator, AMS Vice-Chancellor for Evangelization Mark Moitoza, Th.D., D. Min., said the well-attended weekend of prayer, reflection, heart-to-heart dialogue, and marital bonding was a precious respite for couples living out their marital commitments under the stress, pressures, and mobility of military life.
“Gathering with couples serving so far from home is a welcome gift,” Dr. Moitoza said. “Military schedules are demanding and living overseas can add additional stress. Being able to provide this unique moment to focus on the Lord and the gift of marriage helps couples recognize that they are not alone despite vast time differences. Prayers from extended families and friends, from the local military community, and from military Catholic communities around the world are always present even when they might be unrecognized. The presence of Christ also sustains those dealing with challenges that military life presents.”
Participating couples gathered in Gangneug from military installations throughout South Korea including U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Humphreys, USAG Daegu, and Osan Air Base. Fathers John F. Reutemann III, CH (MAJ), USAF, and Joseph B. Baltz, CH (1LT), USA, were on hand throughout the weekend to celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and provide counseling. On Saturday, Sept. 6, the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed Mass, offering additional time for the couples to pray together. A special dinner on Saturday evening enabled all gathered to celebrate the gift of the sacrament of matrimony.
Throughout the weekend the couples focused on the themes of “marriage as process,” intimacy, compatibility, communication, and commitment. They explored these themes using the REFOCCUS Marriage Enrichment Inventory, a resource developed by FOCCUS, Inc. USA, of the Archdiocese of Omaha in Nebraska. REFOCCUS stands for “Relationship Enrichment Facilitating Open Couple Communication Understanding and Study.”
Dr. Moitoza attributes the strong turnout to an effective local planning team, which not only invited couples to the retreat but organized bus transportation, coordinated with the hotel venue, and supported a variety of needs enabling the couples to participate. He said the local team convened by Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Young, USAF, implemented the plan “flawlessly.” Dr. Moitoza said, “I am so grateful for the local planning committee that did so much to make our stay comfortable and provide aspects not normally available such as a choir for the Masses, retreat materials organized ahead of time, and a thoughtful review of each day to ensure needs and tasks were being met. Through their kindness, I was able to participate in several online planning sessions. While those were a few late nights for me the enthusiasm of those gathered made it easy to stay awake and engaged.”
Thanks to generous benefactors, this was the tenth such retreat sponsored by the AMS since 2018 at locations throughout Europe, Asia, the U.S., Guam. Previous AMS Marriage Enrichment Retreats have taken place Feb. 16-18, 2018, in Marriottsville, MD; Dec. 7-9, 2018, in Alhambra, CA; September 27-29, 2019, in San Angelo, TX; Dec. 6-8, 2019, in Assisi, Italy; Oct. 1-3, 2021, in Atlanta, GA; and July 8-10, 2022, in Waldfischbach-Burgalben, Germany; May 19-20, 2023, on Guam; Oct. 18-20, 2024, in Nemi, Italy; and April 11-12, 2025 in Waldfischbach-Burgalben, Germany.
The next AMS Marriage Enrichment Retreat is anticipated for February in Germany with details soon to be made public. Visit milarch.org for details.