2026 Married couples’ retreat: ‘Foundations for a Great Marriage’
Married couples Lisa and Paul Masek and Liz and Dominic Lozano of the Marianist Retreat and Conference Center in Wildwood will be back in Jefferson City on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, 2026, for the diocese’s second annual Marriage Retreat in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City.
The retreat is for married couples of all ages. It will include inspiring talks led by married Catholic couples, prayer experiences, and quality time for husbands and wives to reflect together and explore the spirituality of their relationship.
The theme will be “Foundations for a Great Marriage.”
The retreat will start at 6 p.m. on Friday in Cana Hall, with Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell joining the participants for dinner and prayer.
It will continue with optional breakfast at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Programming will start at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m. Mass will be offered in the Cathedral at 4 p.m.
The $30-per-couple cost includes the retreat and meals. Childcare will be available for $10 per family. Scholarships are available.
Mr. and Mrs. Masek have been married for over 35 years and have four adult children. The couple are convinced that solid, successful marriages are a matter of multiplication, not addition.
“If a person who is whole or pursuing wholeness, which we call holiness, marries a person who’s whole or pursuing wholeness, then one-times-one becomes one,” said Mr. Masek. “But if one or both of them are not pursuing wholeness, then half a person is marrying half a person, you’re multiplying half-times-half, and you get one-fourth.”
He said wholeness comes from leaning into God and close friends in faith to help find one’s identity.
“It’s the pursuit of holiness,” Mr. Masek stated. “That’s what we’re striving for.”
Husbands and wives going on individual spiritual retreats can help, “but there’s something crazy-cool about attending a retreat as a married couple,” he said.
“You’re focusing on each other but in the context of your personal relationships with the Lord and the Lord’s presence in our relationship,” he stated.
Besides, “it’s really good just to get away with your spouse,” he added.
Helpful guide
Last year’s retreat drew about 40 couples from all over the diocese and brought grateful feedback, including:
- “The time for Adoration and Reconciliation was so appreciated, and the personal Adoration experience is something I will never forget.”
- “Our shared prayer experience with the Blessed Sacrament was unifying, and having our marriage blessed by the bishop was so special.”
- “The talks were personal and included humor and humility.”
Catholic spirituality will be woven into this year’s entire retreat.
The Lozanos have been married for 22 years and have two teenage daughters at home and one in heaven.
They and the Maseks have consecrated their lives and their marriages to the Blessed Mother.
“We have all found tremendous renewal in our spiritual life as we’ve deepened our relationship with Mary,” said Mr. Masek.
“She’s always around, even when we don’t recognize her,” he said. “She doesn’t tend to draw attention to herself, but once you notice her, you’re like, ‘This is so amazing!’”
Mrs. Masek likes to refer to Mary as her “Sherpa” — referring to the local guides who help people ascend Mount Everest.
“You can’t do it on your own,” she says. “The Sherpa has made the journey, knows where the dangers are, knows what supplies you need to take, knows what surprises are in store.
“And life is like climbing Mount Everest — a tough journey with a lot of obstacles — and we need help.”
He noted that time is the biggest obstacle to most married couples making a retreat.
“But, you know, for those who are called to marriage, the relationship with your spouse is the most important thing,” he said. “It’s where we encounter God. And I believe that the more spiritually connected we are to each other, the closer we are to God.”
That’s something children of happy parents tend to notice.
“For most kids, it gives them a sense of security,” said Mr. Masek. “Mom and Dad are this close and committed to each other, and their marriage isn’t going anywhere.”
Visit diojeffcity.org/marriage-retreat to register for the retreat.
