Married couples from across northern Thailand, Bangkok, and even Singapore gathered for a transformative two-day marriage seminar and retreat, themed Family, Journey of Hope 2025.
Held on Feb. 15–16 at the International Youth Training Center in Chiang Mai, the event aimed to provide couples with practical tools to enhance their family life and strengthen the Domestic Church.
Organized by the Office of Family Life of the Diocese of Chiang Mai in collaboration with Focolare Chiang Mai, the seminar focused on improving communication, deepening relationships, and reinforcing the sacred bond of marriage.
Brother Anurak Nithipatharaporn of St. Gabriel de Montfort served as the main facilitator, guiding participants through key discussions and interactive workshops.
“We have experienced that God calls those who truly need this seminar. Some who had confirmed attendance were unable to come, yet those who arrived found exactly what they needed,” said Achara Narinrak of Focolare Chiang Mai.
“With 80 participants, including married couples, single parents, and children, we had to be flexible in organizing meals, lodging, and activities, but the experience was truly enriching,” Narintrak added.
The retreat centered on four key themes: Family in God’s Plan, The Role of Family, The Differences Between Men and Women, and Communication Between Parents and Teens.
While these topics were profound, real-life testimonies and shared experiences made them relatable and impactful for all attendees.
Prior to the Holy Mass, a Betharam priest provided essential spiritual preparation by addressing the importance of the sacrament of marriage and married life.
His message encouraged everyone to examine their conscience and seek forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation, setting a reflective tone for the seminar.
One particularly compelling instance involved a couple from Chiang Mai who had been contemplating divorce. Invited to attend the seminar, they sought a deeper understanding of the sacrament of marriage.
Engaging in an hour-long conversation with Mr. Chanwit-Duangta Tharathipkul—a Focolare member from Bangkok with nearly 30 years of marital experience—the couple returned with smiles and renewed understanding.
Ultimately, they chose to move forward together in their married life, embracing the sacrament with fresh commitment.
The Focolare Movement, founded in 1943 by Chiara Lubich in Trento, Italy, is dedicated to spiritual and social renewal through unity and universal brotherhood.
Originally a Catholic lay movement, it has since fostered interfaith and ecumenical relationships worldwide.
“In today’s world, families face countless challenges. The question remains: What will hold families together and help them walk according to God’s plan of love?” reflected a member of the organizing committee.
“In this Jubilee Year 2025, a time of God’s grace, we have taken the opportunity to reflect deeply on our roles as family members and the ways we can nurture love and unity in our homes,” a participant said.
At the end of the retreat, participants expressed a renewed sense of purpose. Familiaris Consortio, the apostolic exhortation of St. John Paul II, reminds us that the mission of the family is to guard, reveal, and communicate love.
Families, when rooted in faith and love, can become beacons of hope and instruments of sanctity in the world.
“This seminar was a chance for 80 individuals to come together, share their experiences, and gain fresh inspiration to strengthen their family bonds,” said Varaporn Phongphit, a Focolare leader.
Phongphit highlighted the experience of a couple from Bangkok, a Catholic wife and a Buddhist husband, who have been married for nearly 30 years and are raising four children, including a stepchild.
The husband, influenced by his wife’s consistent witness of faith, expressed an interest in studying catechism and receiving the sacrament of baptism.
At the end of the retreat, participants expressed a renewed focus on strengthening their family relationships, guided by the insights and experiences shared during the seminar.
