Together in Christ: Marriage Retreat
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025.
Time: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.
Location: Deacon Oran and Marilyn Struecker’s Home in Adel. See registration for the address. Event will be outside.
Registration Opens: May 1, 2025 at 9:00 am. Space is limited to 20 couples. First come, first served. Please register only if you can attend the entire day.
Registration Price: $75 per couple (Covers the cost of lunch and dinner) We do not want the cost to prevent you from attending. Please contact Rebecca Bahl at rbahl@saintfrancischurch.org if you need fee assistance.
A Day to Renew, Reflect, and Rejoice
A retreat offering the time, space, and resources couples need to grow in intimacy with God and each other strengthening the bonds of covenantal marriage.
Retreat Highlights
- Encouraging Talks
- Time for Prayer & Reflection
- Special Take-Home Project
- Quality Time Together
- Sacramental Opportunities
Retreat Schedule
- 9:00 am – Check in and Social
- 9:30 am – Welcome and Opening Prayer (Confession begins)
- 9:45 am – Speaker 1*
- 10:30 am – Speaker 2*
- 11:15 am – Praise and Worship
- 11:30 am – Mass (Confession ends)
- 12:30 pm – Lunch date (activity suggestions will be provided)
- 3:30 pm – Speaker 3*
- 4:15 pm – Speaker 4*
- 5:00 pm – Group Dinner Date
- 6:00 pm – Closing and Clean Up
*Time allotted after each speaker for couple reflection.
Registration Details
Registration Opens: May 1, 2025 at 9:00 am. Space is limited to 20 couples. First come, first served. Please register only if you can attend the entire day.
Cost: $75 per couple (Covers the cost of lunch and dinner) We do not want the cost to prevent you from attending. Please contact Rebecca Bahl at rbahl@saintfrancischurch.org if you need fee assistance.
How to Register: Coming Soon!
Location
Deacon Oran and Marilyn Struecker’s Home in Adel. See registration for the address. Event will be outside.
Speaker Bios
Rev. Mr. Mark and Julie Burdt
We are originally from Dubuque, IA and have been living in central Iowa since 1989, currently living in Ankeny. We have been “together” since high school and married for 35 years. We have three adult daughters, two in central Iowa and one in Milwaukee, WI.
In addition to his service as a deacon for the Diocese of Des Moines, Mark is a retired Army National Guard Officer and has full-time medical practice as a Rheumatologist at the Iowa Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center in Urbandale.
Julie is a middle school teacher by training, but after raising their children, has spent the last ten years of her career as a homebound minister for All Saint’s Catholic Church in Des Moines and in various ministries to support her husband and parish family.
We have been intimately involved in marriage ministry for the last decade. In addition to doing marriage preparation, we have also headed up a marriage enrichment ministry for the Diocese of Des Moines called “The Third Option”. This ministry has helped strengthen many marriages over the years, most importantly our own!
Chris and Amy Doud
Chris and Amy have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of four teenagers. Their oldest, Maggi, just completed her freshman year at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Patrick and Joseph attend Dowling Catholic High School as a junior and sophomore, while Michael, their youngest, is forging his own path as a freshman at St. Martin’s Academy in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Both Chris and Amy grew up on Iowa farms as the youngest in large families, giving them much in common from the beginning—especially the blessing of having strong examples of holy marriage and a deep-rooted Catholic faith. While they never strayed from that faith, the last 15 years—since settling in Des Moines and becoming parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi—have brought a renewed and intentional understanding of what it means to live out their Catholic identity.
They’ve been active in many ministries at St. Francis and are deeply grateful for the community that has shaped their family. Chris works as an agronomist for Pioneer and still enjoys time on the farm, while Amy is a dental hygienist with Grove and Platt Dental in Grimes.
Together, they’ve found purpose and fulfillment in supporting their parish through baptism and marriage preparation ministries. Their shared mission is to continually invest in their own marriage and to intentionally build a strong domestic church, passing on the inheritance of faith to their children through example, presence, and everyday life.
Brad and Molly Myers
Brad and Molly have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of 6 children, Cooper (14), Max (14), and Stella (6). The lucky ones, Sophia, Leo, and Lucy, are already home in their loving Father’s arms. Brad and Molly have been parishioners at St. Francis for 21 years and are so grateful for the Catholic community there.
They have a heart for families who have gone through infant loss and kiddos with special needs. They are excited to share with everyone their faith journey through triumph and tragedy, and how God has changed their lives.
David and Rebecca Reising
David and Rebecca Reising have been married for six years and are the grateful parents of two young boys—Joseph (4) and Dominic (2). Their life together is filled with the joyful, messy, grace-filled moments that come with raising a young family. Rooted in their Catholic faith, David and Rebecca are learning daily what it means to live out the vocation of marriage with intention, love, and reliance on God.
Rebecca devotes most of her time caring for their sons and has recently begun homeschooling them—an adventure that blends patience and flexibility. Her days are spent forming their hearts and minds, creating a nurturing home environment, and finding God in the ordinary rhythms of family life while also working as a part-time nurse with over a decade of experience in healthcare. David serves as the Adult Faith Formation Coordinator at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, where he leads the OCIA program and helps others grow in faith as they prepare to enter the Church. Before meeting Rebecca, David spent nine years in religious life, an experience that deepened his love for Christ and shaped his approach to ministry and marriage.
As a couple, David and Rebecca are passionate about living their vocation to marriage intentionally—keeping Christ at the center while navigating the ordinary (and often messy) realities of life with young children. Their style is faith-centered and practical, drawing on both personal experience and the wisdom of the Church to encourage couples in their walk together.
They are honored to be part of this retreat, and look forward to sharing their story and connecting with other couples who seek to strengthen their marriage and grow closer to God—and to each other—through this beautiful vocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this retreat for newlyweds or long-time married couples?
A: This retreat is designed for all married couples, whether newlyweds or those celebrating many years together.
Q: Will childcare be provided?
A: No
Q: What should we bring?
A: Just yourselves, an empty stomach, and an open heart! All materials will be provided.
Q: What should we wear?
A: Comfortable, casual attire is recommended. We will be outdoors.
Q: Will the event be cancelled if it rains?
A: No, we will move the event inside the home.
Q. What will we be doing during the lunch date?
A: Couples will receive a box lunch and be allowed time to spend it however they wish. The pool will be open and available. We will also provide lawn games, conversation starters, prayer prompts and more to enhance your couple time.
Join us for this transformative experience and strengthen your marriage in faith! Mark your calendar for June 28, 2025 and register starting May 1, 2025 at 9:00 am.