Losing a spouse to death or divorce is heartbreaking for those who experience it: even the idea that a break-up or loss is easier simply because a couple never married is a myth. It is emotionally devastating for all, including for those unmarried couples whose relationships lasted for many years and produced children.  The Church, as Pope Francis once put it, is a field hospital, and this is especially true in the area of remarriage ministry.
          The New Life Remarriage program was first introduced in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston in 1986 by a group of couples who approached leaders with an idea to create a marriage preparation program for couples who had experienced the death of a spouse or divorce and annulment.  At that time, no program was available to address these couples’ unique needs so with the support of the diocesan Family Life Office, the group set out to create the program. Bishop Joseph Fiorenza gave the program his blessing and the New Life Ministry was born.
          Over the next 30 years, New Life teams presented the retreat at Cameron Retreat Center located on the grounds of St. Dominic Archdiocesan Center, in the Texas Medical Center area.  The content of the retreat evolved based on the needs of the couples who began experiencing it. The team is now a mix of seasoned and new couples who share a calling to serve their peers, other couples who share the same life experience.  Team members include: Chris and Liz Miller, Don and Barbara Sextro, Dave and Charlene Jones, Ken and Mendy Witzenman, Tim and Jen Alexander and Frank and Sandy Bianco.  
          In 2020, under the leadership of Liz and Chris Miller, the New Life Program underwent a thorough update and was given a fresh new look.  It is now offered to both premarital couples as marriage prep and as marriage enrichment for couples who are already remarried but have never experienced a retreat just for them.
            When the team came out of its Coronavirus hiatus, they partnered with Stella Maris Center as their "online" home, and decided to make the retreat accessible to more couples by presenting it at local parishes. The New Life retreat is currently being presented at St. Maximilian Kolbe (Houston) and St. Paul the Apostle (Nassau Bay).
            When asked about what couples get out of attending the New Life Retreat, that they wouldn’t otherwise get, the answer is simple for Liz Miller.
          “Topics common to all couples, such as conflict resolution and finances, take on a new perspective through the lens of remarriage,” Miller said.
            “They (couples) learn the necessary tools and resources needed to navigate the complexities of blending families,” she said. “They feel God’s presence and healing and the personal stories from the presenters help couples realize they are not alone on this journey.”
            Miller says New Life wants to partner with churches and dioceses to be an additional resource to minister to the unique needs of remarrying couples, which is different than the needs of couples marrying for the first time.  She offers encouragement to clergy and parish leaders.           
            “This ministry is a great opportunity to meet the unspoken and unaddressed needs of your parishioners by providing a ready-made program to connect with couples, in the spirit of fellowship and support,” she says.
            “It also lets couples know that the Church cares about them and wants to help. Topics addressed in the retreat include making peace with the past, identifying who you are and having God in your marriage. It also addresses what the Sacrament of Marriage is and what the vows are, this packs a powerful punch,” Miller said.
            While God has no step-children, the parish community can certainly be seen as one large blended family made up of all kinds of people who come to the Table of the Lord with all kinds of needs.   New Life offers hope and help for the broken-hearted who want to begin anew with God at the center.
          New Life team members will be accompanying Stella Maris Center to the National Association of Catholic Family Life Minister's (NACFLM) Conference in San Antonio, TX in October, to showcase the new updated New Life program. Come and see us!
            For more information please contact: [email protected] or [email protected].