Marriage enrichment retreat touches on social media, other issues that threaten Filipino family

One of the key topics discussed at the recent Couples for Christ (CFC) Marriage Enrichment Retreat (MER), held at Bale Maragul Resort in Mexico, Arayat, Pampanga, was the influence of social media on family life.

Rene Mendoza, a sector head of the Couples for Christ, pointed out that social media “is becoming a very important” issue. 

“Social media is really destroying the family,” René said to Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) on September 29.  It was one of the central issues tackled at the retreat.

According to studies, the negative effects of social media include undermining the face-to-face relationship between a couple and the family as a whole.

Studies also show social media can tempt a partner to be unfaithful. Depression has also been linked to excessive use of social media, especially among young members of the family.

Another topic discussed at the retreat was open communication between the couple.

“Communication is very important between a couple,” Rene said. “There should be open communication. If there’s a problem in the relationship, they should be open to one another.”

The group encourages couples to discuss their problems and not sleep without resolving them, Rene explained. Communication should not only involve the couple, but also the other members of the family.

The topics discussed include effective communication in marriage, what makes a successful marriage, forgiveness, and building a home centered to God, Cecil Mendoza said, a Couples for Christ leader.

“We talked about serving God through Christian marriage,” she said. “We talked about the Christian couple as a pastoral team.”

The role of the husband and the wife in marriage were also discussed at the retreat, Cecil added.

Christian parenting, empowering marriage, intimacy and other issues affecting marriage and the family were also discussed.

Families are being threatened by many issues today, Rene noted. Providing Marriage Enrichment 1 (MER1) and Marriage Enrichment 2 (MER2) would support the families against the threats.

“If you don’t have this, sometimes after a few years,” René explained, “there is a tendency for the couple to separate ways.”

Couples have reported their marriages have become stronger after completing MER1 and MER2, René said.

Lito Siena and his wife expressed gratitude for the topics that they found edifying and renewing their vows.

Eric Magadia and his wife completed the retreat with faith that when the couple put God at the center, their marriage would stay strong.

Rene and Cecil invited couples to keep on praying as God’s grace strengthens marriage and the family. Marriage should be a role model to the children.

Father Kasmir Nema, SVD, in his homily during the Mass, encouraged couples to reflect God’s love through their marriage.

“You are called to be witnesses of God’s love in your marriage. Your union stands as a testament to His love, and by living out this truth, you become a beacon of hope and faith for others. Your love for each other has the power to inspire those around you to seek and experience Christ’s love,” he said.

Couples for Christ (CFC), a global Catholic lay organization, was founded in the Philippines in 1981. Originally a family-oriented movement, CFC aims to strengthen Christian family life through faith formation, prayer, and service.

The movement emphasizes evangelization, strong family values, and social responsibility. One of its notable initiatives is Gawad Kalinga, which focuses on poverty alleviation and community development.

Today, the CFC is recognized by the Vatican as a private international association of the faithful and continues to play a vital role in promoting family-centered Catholic values and social justice worldwide.