Stella Maris Center

(Galveston) Married couples from all across Texas came together to enjoy some quality time together at the Stella Maris Island Retreat held on April 22-23, 2023, at the Holiday Inn Resort on the Beach on Galveston Island. In all, 25 couples participated in the dual language event featuring the Tools for Resilient Marriage Retreat in English, and the Spirituality of Marriage Retreat in Spanish. In addition to the main presentations, couples were able to pray with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament during a period of Adoration, and experience prayerful SoulCore at sunrise. Besides excellent meals at the hotel, retreatants enjoyed some delicious food at Landry’s Seafood and Steaks during our Saturday Night Out dinner!

Featured presenters at the retreats were Simone Key, Justin and Megan Frato, and Tere Johnson in English, and Father Vicente Agila, Deacon Jaime and Jackie Barbery and Walter and Alejandra Ramirez in Spanish. Tamara Baril led SoulCore both mornings of the retreat.

A special thanks goes out to event designer extraordinaire Maria Youssef of Marmoura Favors and Events who decorated our two meeting spaces at the hotel beautifully. Fr. Jude Ezuma, Pastor at Holy Family parish in Galveston made sure our groups had reserved pews for Sunday mass; and last but not least the beautiful photographs of the weekend were taken by photographer, Janisse Valenzuela, who with her husband Fidel, also offered book sales support at the registration table.

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