Seoul archdiocese’s Department of Family Ministry is helping couples to enjoy happier, more fulfilling marriages through a special program.

Couple’s Journey offers a mature perspective as well as concrete, practical advice on matters such as starting and maintaining useful dialogues, managing anger and bringing up children.

“It’s similar to the Marriage Encounter program that is popular in other countries,” said Lazarus Kwon Hyuk-joo, researcher for the Family Ministry department, “but it has some important differences.”

“Marriage Encounter sessions last just one weekend, while Couple’s Journey is spread over five. Also, Marriage Encounter invites the participants to share their problems with other couples, but we ask ours to focus on their own spouse only.”

The Couple’s Journey program provides lectures and workshops on a range of subjects, including the different kinds of bonds between couples, parents and children, the scientific differences between men and women, how parents can help children have a relationship with God and how to resolve conflict between a wife and her mother-in-law.

The program is conducted over five Saturdays and couples are required to put what they learn into practice at home.

Since its launch in 2008, Couple’s Journey has been adopted by around 40 parishes in the archdiocese who now run their own regular sessions.

Kwon stressed that it addresses common marital situations and problems, regardless of religion. "There have been many non-Catholic participants," he said.

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