Archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life, St. John Paul II Foundation host fifth annual Together in Holiness conference
TROY — On Oct. 10, 80 couples ranging from engagement to 51 years of marriage gathered at St. Anastasia Parish in Troy to grow together in holiness, reflect on their sacramental life together, and to gain inspiration for their vocations as earthly reflections of the relationship of the Holy Trinity.
The annual Together in Holiness Conference, presented by the St. John Paul II Foundation in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Detroit's Office of Marriage, Family and Life, began with Mass offered by Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Robert J. Fisher. In his homily, Bishop Fisher discussed the Trinitarian presence in every marriage, even from the moment a bride and groom make their vows.
"On your wedding day, you said to each other, 'Receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,'" Bishop Fisher told the couples gathered. "I think it's interesting to call to mind that the words are not just about the two of you, but it brings in the life of the Trinity, God's own love."
The bishop continued, "It's into this love that you and I are invited by our baptism, and marriage and family life are such a great example for our culture of this love lived out in a daily way."
Following Mass, speakers Aimee and Colin MacIver began their first of two presentations for the day. Their first talk, titled "The Nuptial Meaning of the Body," examined the body’s role in “making visible what is invisible,” (Tb 19:4).
"What are the sacraments? The sacraments are the physical signs that bring the spiritual into being in front of us. Your body is of that kind," Aimee MacIver said. "Our bodies are made to be oriented outwards, away from the self. The way God made us, we are made for self-gift. We are made for communion."
Josh and Lea Ross of St. Anastasia Parish spoke next about “The Logic of God,” examining marriage through the analogy of a gold ring exchanged during the nuptial ceremony: a gift, precious and refined — and in need of continued refinement.
“When does the goldsmith stop refining the gold?” Lea Ross asked. “When he can see his reflection in it. So, God refines us throughout our lives until he can see more and more of His reflection in us.”
The Rosses emphasized shared inspiration for couples to grow in their marriages, including examining charisms through Called and Gifted, a spiritual discernment workshop through the St. Catherine of Siena Institute, reflecting on each other’s love languages, and considering a Together In Holiness Formation Series Circle.
Formation Series Circles are currently hosted at nine parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit: St. Joseph Parish in Lake Orion, St. Mary of the Hills Parish in Rochester Hills, St. John Vianney Parish in Shelby Township, St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth, St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Livonia, Church of the Divine Child in Dearborn, St. Anastasia Parish in Troy, and St. Aloysius Parish in Detroit.
Following the Rosses’ presentation, lunch was offered, as well as exposition, adoration, and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. During this time, couples were invited to meditate before the Eucharist, go to confession, share fellowship with each other, and reflect on the morning’s talks.
The day concluded with "Sent Forth in Love: The Family's Trinitarian Mission," also led by Aimee and Colin MacIver.
“The innermost secret of the Trinity is that God is an eternal exchange of love,” Colin MacIver said. “The secret of the family is that love. Not just in grand moments — not just on some big mission trip, not just at some conference, not even just when we’re on our knees before Jesus in a monstrance — but in ordinary, everyday life.”
While many couples were attending Together in Holiness for the first time, several in attendance had been to conferences in years past, and have been motivated not only to return, but to get involved on a deeper level, as well.
After attending last year’s conference, Michelle and Jake Hurley of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak were sought out to help coordinate this year’s event, an opportunity they happily accepted.
“We really like giving a day to our marriage and our faith,” Michelle Hurley told Detroit Catholic. “We find that nothing but fruit comes from giving that time.”
Married 19 years, the Hurleys aim to do an annual retreat as a couple. They came into the retreat with open hearts, ready to hear what the Holy Spirit had to share with them.
Similarly, Timothy and Kristin Constantino, married for 13 years, have attended the Together in Holiness Conference for several years, and serve as a host couple for a Formation Series small group.
“We like the community with other Catholic couples in a similar stage of life and who are going through similar things we are,” Kristin Constantino said.
“In the day-to-day life of being a husband and a parent, you get into a routine, and it’s good to come to a conference and get that Catholic boost to refocus on what marriage is and what our goals are in our marriage,” Timothy Constantino added.
