ABOUT

Built to Last: Practical Skills to Renew and Strengthen Your Marriage

A 2-Day Retreat for Married Couples, hosted by the Basilica of St. Mary in Partnership with the RelateWell Institute

Marriage is a lifelong vocation that requires sacramental grace, intention, and commitment. Like any strong foundation, it must be maintained, reinforced, and renewed over time. Whether your marriage is strong or under strain, the Basilica of St. Mary invites couples to step away from daily pressures and invest seriously in the relationship that matters most.

This 2-day retreat for married couples, led by experienced facilitators from the RelateWell Institute, offers a clear, practical approach to strengthening marriage. RelateWell is a nationally recognized marriage enrichment organization with decades of experience equipping couples with tools that work in real life.

The retreat provides a focused, structured environment where couples can develop the skills needed to communicate clearly, handle conflict effectively, and build lasting connection. Grounded in RelateWell’s proven relational framework, the weekend emphasizes practical tools, direct application, and meaningful work as a couple.

Through guided teaching, practical exercises, and focused conversation, couples will learn how to:

• Understand one another more clearly

• Address conflict without escalation or shutdown

• Break patterns that undermine trust and connection

• Build a stronger, more resilient marriage

This retreat meets couples where they are — whether you’re doing well and want to stay strong, or facing challenges and ready to address them head-on. The goal is simple: to equip couples with skills that help their marriage endure and grow.

OUTCOMES

Over the course of two immersive days, couples will:

Improve Communication
Learn clear, practical ways to speak honestly, listen well, and handle tough conversations without escalating conflict or increasing distance.

Strengthen Connection
Identify what builds closeness and how to protect intimacy through stress, change, and everyday pressures.

Build Strong Relational Skills
Practice proven strategies for managing emotions, resolving conflict, and rebuilding trust when it’s tested.

Recommit with Intention
Step away from distractions to reset, refocus, and recommit to your marriage with clarity and purpose.

Sessions are led by trained professionals from the RelateWell Institute and designed to deliver tools couples can put to work immediately.

RETREAT DETAILS

Location: Basilica of St. Mary Lyceum Auditorium (313 Duke St., Alexandria, VA)

Dates: Friday, March 6 – Saturday, March 7

Schedule: 6:00-9:00 PM on Friday (dinner provided) | 8:00-4:30 PM on Saturday (breakfast and lunch provided)

Who: Married couples of all ages

Cost: $75 per couple

Space is limited to ensure a meaningful experience for each couple. Please register your children if childcare is needed.

REGISTRATION

We encourage couples to register early while space lasts! Use the button below to register.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Mariane Staron at mstaron@stmaryoldtown.org.