Christian Marriage Ministries
Music
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Preparing Engaged Couples for the Sacrament of Marriage
Pre Marital Retreats with Christian Marriage Ministries
Our Christian engaged couple encounter fulfills the pre-marriage counseling event that many churches require. Couples receive a certificate for $70.00 off of their marriage license fee for participating.
The goal of our pre marriage retreats is to help couples stay married. We accomplish this by providing a friendly, informative, stimulating, interactive setting in which couples can learn more about each other, themselves, and marriage. We believe marriage is a sacred vocation which calls couples to be mutually life-giving. Our engaged couple retreat honors this belief.
During the retreat we will reflect upon your choice to marry in the church and offer support to you as you begin your life together. Couples will receive input/training on communication, conflict resolution, finances, faith/spirituality, and sexuality. We offer enrichment opportunities after the wedding as well.
- PRE MARITAL RETREAT FACILITATOR -
Retreat Information
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*Click here to see available retreat dates*
Engaged Couple Retreat Weekend Option
This is not an overnight. The retreat runs Friday evening from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Couples return Saturday from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. Lunch is served. The cost per couple is $150. This retreat is longer in length than the Tuesday evening retreat and includes food and beverages. This is the reason for the cost difference between the two options.
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Engaged Couple Retreat Evening Option
This retreat is three consecutive Tuesdays. Each Tuesday you will meet from 7:00 pm until 9:30 pm. The cost in 2024 is $140 per couple.
Retreat Location
The retreats are held in person at St. William's Catholic Community. The address is 6120 Fifth Street NE, Fridley, MN 55432. Please enter through Door #1.
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Engaged Couples Retreat Registration Options:
1. Fill out our online registration form
2. Payments can be made by Venmo, check or exact cash. Couples can pay in full or make an initial deposit of $60. If making a $60 deposit, the remaining amount must be paid in full the first evening of the retreat. Venmo payments can be made here. Please do not tag the transaction as for a business. This helps us to keep our registration fees affordable. If you make a payment via Venmo, please make sure to put a first and last name in the comment. Checks can be made payable to CMM.
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Checks can be brought on the first night of the retreat or mailed to:
Christian Marriage Ministries
2300 Bear Court
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
We accept registrations by mail or online only. Please do not drop off registrations.
We will send an email confirmation once we receive your registration.
Questions? Contact us:
Email: christianmarriageministries@gmail.com
Phone: 651-434-4294
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Bob Bartlett, MA, LMFT
Individual Relationship Coach, Spiritual Director
Bob began working with junior and senior high students and their families as a Youth Minister at St. Williams Catholic Community in 1975. After that, he served as the Director of the volunteer community at the Minneapolis Catholic Youth Center. Bob then moved to Peoria, Illinois in 1984 where held the position of Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Peoria. He returned to Minnesota in 1986 to work as the Director of Junior/Senior High catechesis/sexuality for the Archdiocese of Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Bob has served as a Teacher, Campus Minister, Counselor and Coach for the Academy of Holy Angels High School. He obtained his M.A. in Counseling Psychology, with a specialization in Marriage and Family from the University of St. Thomas in 2009.
Bob speaks nationally on such topics as sexuality, men's issues, adolescents and their families, as well as spirituality. He is author of the book: Growing Toward Intimacy: Helping Teens Integrate Spirituality and Sexuality. He is co-author, with Mike Shimek and Pete Watkins, on the book: Guarding the Fire: Tending to the Spiritual Lives of Young Men. Bob directs Christian Marriage Ministries, which provides retreats for engaged couples.
Bob is the father of three adult children and grandfather to seven boys and 1 girl! He enjoys spending time with his family and playing with the grandkids.
Bob says: "I would describe my life's work as helping people do relationships. I feel that I bring a unique pastoral, spiritual, coaching style to the people I work with."
Testimonial: "Bob was compassionate, an excellent listener and very honest. What was most helpful was being able to articulate what I was feeling to someone who truly "got it". I went from feeling overwhelmed and confused to feeling I could handle things as they came along. I responded much more appropriately to things because I understood much better why they were happening." - Anonymous