Phone 225.242.0323

Marriage Preparation 2019 Engaged Couple's Retreat

As of January 2019, the Diocese asks engaged couples to make a weekend retreat as part of their spiritual preparation for marriage. Couples who are planning to marry will need God’s help to meet the challenging demands of their marital vocation. Engaged couples can now choose from one of two weekend retreats that the Diocese offers. Couples may choose The New Called To Love  retreat weekend,  which focuses on the readings, prayers and vows of the marriage ceremony to discover what God is calling them to in marriage, or the Engaged Encounter weekend, which focuses on writing and sharing exercises that challenge the partners to explore important aspects of marriage. Both retreats are offered in an overnight weekend format beginning on Friday evening and ending on Sunday afternoon. 
(The Called to Love retreat is part of pre-Cana preparation and replaces the one day Life Choice program).  Dates and registration for these retreats are located in the next column on this page. 

For the latest brochures on Marriage Prep for 2019  please download the two files listed below.
2019_marr_pro_before_during___after.pdf
File Size: 248 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
marr_prep_10_steps.pdf
File Size: 227 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​Prayer for Families After the Floods

​Gracious and Almighty Father, 
In this time of loss and sorrow following the floods,
Please be with our families and loved ones
As we attempt to pick up the pieces of our damaged homes and tumultuous lives. 
Give us strength and courage to face each day with hope and renewal.
Grant calm and patience to our mothers and fathers even when stresses are great. 
Grant obedience and flexibility to our children even when they don’t fully understand what’s going on around them. 
Grant generosity and compassion to our neighborhoods so that we might support each other and offer helping hands and gentle words when the strength of others falters.  
Help us to grow closer to each other and to You
And let this be an opportunity for our faith to find new roots in your unceasing mercy. 
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all that you have done for us and continue to do,
You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.  

We also turn to you, our Blessed Mother, protector of families, that you may see our need as you saw the need of the newly married couple in Cana (John 2). We ask that you petition Jesus on our behalf to supply what necessities enable our households to return to normal again. Ame

2019 Dates for the new
Called to Love
(Engaged Couple's retreat)

Called to Love - a weekend retreat
2019 DATES OPEN for Registration:
May 24-26 /
June 14-16 / July 12-14 /
August 16-18 / September 27-29 /
October 25-27 / November 22-24

Accommodations for the Called to Love retreat will be in the Bishop Tracy Overnight Retreat Center. UPDATE re Meals :  Meals are served throughout the weekend. Upon your arrival Friday night,
Sandwiches will be available. 
(Most meals will be served in Borders Dining Room).
Open up the facilities link below for images of a representative room accommodation, the Westerfield Center, St. Joseph's Chapel and the Courtyard off the retreat center.
Bishop Robert Tracy Center Facilities

The map will show parking area and other area locations within the Catholic Life Center.
Map of the Catholic Life Center
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Engaged Encounter
(Pre-Cana) weekend retreat
2019 Dates: 
    January 25-27 / March 15-17 / May 3-5 /
June 28-30 / August 23-25 / November 15-17 
Call  225-337-2214 or for more information & to register
Use the link below
 Catholic Engaged Encounter - Baton Rouge
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Additional Options:
Online Pre-Cana option  
  Re-Marriage Program
Use the link below:
http://www.mfldiobr.org/marriage-preparation.html

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

You can make the leap from just "good" to "GREAT" on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend! The weekend allows married couples to et away from jobs, kids, chores, the internet & phones and focus their attention on each other. If you'd like greater depth, growth, and enrichment in your relationship, you'll like the difference a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend can offer! For the 2019 dates and additional information click here! to Marriage Encounter.

Fun Catholic Apps! 

Check out these great Catholic apps for prayers, readings, scripture, etc! Just click each link to be taken to information on each app (for iPhones, iPads, some Androids): 
iMissal
iPieta
Lighthouse Catholic Media Bible
Mea Culpa - Examination of Conscience
YouCat
DoCat
Laudate
Catholic Devotions
Rosary Deluxe Audio
iBreviary
Concordance
The Catholic Directory Mass Times
3 Minute Retreat (LoyolaPress)
Lenten Apps
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The Way of the Cross (Video)


For more great Catholic Apps, visit Catholicapps.com