For Couples Entering a Second Union, At Any Stage of Life
A blended family is created when a couple enters marriage after a prior marriage or domestic partnership, forming a new family that includes not only the spouses themselves, but their histories, relationships, any minor children or adult children, and the expectations that come with them.
Marriage and the Blended Family Retreat
Our retreat is based on the Smart Stepfamilies program developed by Ron L. Deal, nationally recognized author, therapist, and blended family expert.
His research-based framework addresses:
- Stepfamily dynamics
- Loss and unresolved grief
- Ex-spouse realities & co-parenting
- Spiritual shame after divorce
- Financial integration
- Adult children expectations
- Grandparent dynamics
- And the emotional realities of remarriage
Retreats typically occur in the late winter, late spring, and autumn, in various locations around the diocese. This is a weekend, commuter retreat that meets on Friday evenings and Saturday morning through afternoon.
Our Facilitators
Each of our facilitator couples have personally journeyed through the trials and blessings of forming their own blended families, whether through widowhood or annulment. They do not speak from theory alone, but from lived experience: navigating loss, remarriage, extended family dynamics, and the work of building unity in a second union. With honesty, compassion, and practical wisdom, they create a non-threatening space where couples can ask real questions, explore sensitive topics, and gain insight from those who truly understand the unique challenges and gifts of blended family life.
We found the class videos and discussions to be very good resources for us as we headed into our sacramental marriage. We thought the blended family materials to be very good. We also bought Ron and Nan Deal's book titled The Mindful Marriage that he mentioned in one of the videos, and found that to be an excellent addendum to the program. It talks about how to minimize the old baggage that one brings into a marriage, and we have recommended the book many times already.
— Jennifer & Tom
This retreat is for you...
Whether you are:
- Remarrying with no children in the picture
- Preparing to raise children together
- Blending families with adult children and grandchildren
- Widowed and seeking companionship later in life
- Already married, and either spouse has been in a previous union
Required for any engaged couple seeking marriage in the Diocese of Lansing where one or both fiancees is entering a second union.
What Makes This Different from Typical Marriage Prep?
Traditional programs focus on:
- Communication, conflict resolution, and theology of marriage. Those are important.
But blended families require more:
- Addressing loss before building new unity, clarifying legal realities, managing extended family systems, navigating loyalty binds, and building a united marital foundation that can withstand outside pressures.
Without these conversations, couples often walk into preventable conflict.
View Dates & Register
WATCH
Are You Ready to Remarry? (Part 1) by Focus on the Family with Ron L. Deal
Strengthening Your Marriage While Being A Great Step-Parent by Ron L. Deal