Retrouvaille Helps Couple Reverse Course of Marriage

Bill and Missie Curth were seemingly heading down the road toward divorce when God detoured them through the Retrouvaille ministry. 

They found healing and restored intimacy in their marriage and became actively involved in the ministry. Then, instead of driving off in separate ways in vehicles loaded down with “baggage,” they were light in heart as God placed them on a plane to Rome to meet with other Retrouvaille couples from around the world for an audience with Pope Francis.

The Curths, who live in Houma, were actively involved in the church, yet their marriage was crumbling because they were living as single married Catholics. In 2015 they were ready to end their marriage when they saw an announcement about a Retrouvaille weekend in Austin, Texas.  

Retrouvaille begins with a weekend that helps couples with communication, forgiveness and trust. Couples have an opportunity to gain new insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple. 

A team, which does not give advice shares communication techniques and practical tools that help retreatants with their marriage. The team uses living examples of how the techniques have helped them. 

After each session, the attending couples have an opportunity to privately reflect and discuss their own situation.

The Curths found the weekend a lifeline and it turned their marriage around.

“When we drove from Houma to Austin, we didn’t talk to each other,” acknowledged Bill. “On the way home it was completely different.”

Their marriage was transformed so much that they became actively involved and are now the coordinating Retrouvaille couple for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

The Curths were surprised and delighted in the fall of 2021 when they received an invitation to join 600 Retrouvaille couples to meet with Pope Francis.

“The stars aligned that we could go,” smiled Missie, as they had to quickly work out details, including a “crash course” in Italian.

Meeting the pope, of course, was one of the highlights of the trip.

“My heart was beating fast. I had goosebumps, I was very excited to meet him,” said Missie, who conceded that she stumbled across her words of greeting to the pope when couples came forth individually to be blessed. But he gave a kind-hearted laugh, which put them at ease and deepened their affection for him.

“We had no clue to what he was saying because it was all in Italian,” said Missie. 

The couple was nevertheless moved by the pope’s profound message when they later read it after being translated into English.

The pope praised Retrouvaille, which is French for “rediscovery,” for giving spouses the opportunity to restore their relationship.

One of Missie’s favorite comments from the pontiff was, “This is very important: we must not be afraid of crises. Crises help us grow, and what we must be careful about is not to fall into conflict, because when you fall into conflict you close your heart, and there is no solution to the conflict, or it is difficult to find one.”

Equally as special to the Curths as meeting Pope Francis was meeting couples who been through marriage difficulties. Their languages may have been different but their common journey brought them together in community. Many religious joined them during the trip as well.

Even though there were COVID-19 protocols in place, the Curths enjoyed the sites of Rome (and the adventures that come with navigating the city as an out of town traveler) and taking side trips to places such as Assisi and Florence.

But far from sharing their trip as a “post card” moment to others, they want others to understand that couples in crisis locally and around the world are supported through Retrouvaille. Bill noted there are Retrouvaille communities in each of the 24 time zones. And Retrouvaille couples pray daily at 8 p.m. their time for struggling married couples.

The Curths were edified Pope Francis validated the ministry of Retrouvaille in using the experience of their trials to help others through theirs.

“We want to give back because (Retrouvaille) saved our marriage,” said Bill.

An upcoming Retrouvaille journey will be held Sept. 16 – 18. For more confidential information, call Bill and Missie at 985-232-5963 or visit Help OurMarriage.org.