About Our Ministry
We Have & We Will ∞ Ministry provides marriage enrichment events; from short presentations to full retreat weekends. Our presentation topics and retreat themes emphasize the sacramental nature of marriage (God’s Grace with us), re-visit marriage relationship basics such as communication, conflict resolution, and service, incorporated music and fun, and dive deeper into understanding Love the way God loves.
Attention To Relationships
How do you nurture your marriage relationship? Couples make effort for vacations, and date nights, yet those don’t always provide the best forum to grow the marriage relationship. Do you talk about what you like about your marriage? Or how it could improve? Our Ministry Events provide time and place to focus on your marriage, and – more important – your relationship with God.
RETREATS
Marriage retreats are our favorite type of enrichment! Retreats can provide couples the feeling of getting away; yet also offer sufficient time to enjoy the enrichment their relationship deserves. Our marriage retreats are theme-based; incorporating a central topic to reflect on throughout the weekend. They include several presentations with couple and large group discussion time, fun activities, ‘date night’, good food, and an opportunity to connect with other couples on the marriage journey.
MARRIAGE MISSION
Mission Events allow couples to discuss and process the evening content in between the sessions (usually 2-3 evenings). Your Faith Community can enhance the impact of the Mission Ministry sessions by incorporating praise & worship music, prayer time, reconciliation, eucharistic adoration, and/or fellowship time. We will work with you to select the Mission theme, and other enhancements.
TALK SESSIONS
Individual presentations are a simple way to show your support for marriages in your faith community. From 25 to 45 minutes – depending on time for questions. Many topics are available; please see the “EVENT THEMES” list below for ideas, or discuss with us the content you envision for your event. As with Marriage Missions, event enhancements are a great way to add extra appeal to couples. We will work within your event parameters.
Roger and Deborah Schroeder
Deb & Rog have been presenters on Marriage Preparation Retreats for the Diocese of New Ulm for 20+ years; having received the Diocesan Distinguished Service Award in 2012 from Bishop John Lavoir. Their youthful spirit, and relevant content resonates with married couples of all ages.
The Schroeders receive overwhelmingly positive feedback of their presentations. Their engaging stories emphasize commitment to nurturing and improving marriage, and growing in the faith of Jesus together. To learn more contact Deborah: (507) 828-1455 or [email protected]
“Loved that they were vulnerable, and able to share real life experiences.”
3/18/2023
“Roger and Deb were very relatable and made the talks engaging.”
4/1/2023
EVENT THEMES
The following themes are designed for retreat experiences. Portions of the complete retreat theme are used for Marriage Missions, or Individual Presentations. Talk to Deborah about customizing the topic(s) to meet the needs of your faith community.
- BELOVED LET US LOVE: “Love” is not an emotion. Take a deeper dive into understanding the intent and actions of Love in your relationships, and how to communicate Love.
- A TIME FOR EVERYTHING: Are your priorities lined up with the amount of time you allocate? Don’t get caught up in the rush of life.
- GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD’S: The gift of Surrender in exchange for a more meaningful relationship with God as a means of brining more peace into our family life.
- G.I.F.T. (GROWING IN FAITH TOGETHER): Are you on the “same page” with your Spouse? Chart a journey of growing in faith together.
- DISCIPLES ON THE ROAD: The Emmaus Story is intriguing. How do you recognize Jesus walking with your relationship? How can you share your experiences with God as a witness to His love?
- YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL: The healing power of Christ through the Sacramental Grace bestowed on your marriage.
- PARABLES OF THE SOWER: Do you feel like your growing wheat (raising children) in a field of weeds? We can learn from one another to put our best efforts forward to give our children what they need to thrive.
ENHANCE YOUR EVENT
Each local community has its own special niche that can add joy to a marriage ministry event. The following suggestions are primarily for Marriage Missions and Individual Presentations.
- Prayer, worship, and reflection time can easily be incorporated during single sessions. Adoration is suggested for prayerful reflection.
- Good food is a delight for couples. Be mindful that many married couples do not make the time to cook for their families; relying on restaurants or fast food. Retreats are an especially great way to add food by reaching out within your faith community for a skilled chef.
- Music is an easy addition. Deborah and Roger both play guitar, so local song leaders can help provide praise and worship music to liven the atmosphere.
- Child care can often be a make-or-break opportunity for Missions, or single events. Providing child care could be as simple as having parents brainstorm a list of potential sitters.
- Drawing from multiple faith communities adds to a festive atmosphere. Seek out other churches in your area when planning an event.
EVENT PLANNING
We would be delighted to talk with you about your community event . We especially enjoy helping couples discern paths toward a more closely united expression of faith; rejuvenating their relationship with one another and with God.
We strive to present content in a way that orients participants toward understanding the blessings of their faith in Christ Jesus. For that reason, we rely on Christian resources (e.g. the Bible, the Catechism, theology articles, etc.) to support content in our presentations.
As a result of our variety of public speaking experiences we are able to adapt to any event setting for our presentations. (We have even successfully presented an entire marriage retreat virtually!) We will work with you to provide the right setting and format to be most meaningful. We share with a genuine intent to offer our full selves through personal struggles and humorous stories, yet always with the intent of uplifting the crowd.
Feel free to contact us to discuss details or any questions you may have. Refer to the contact page to get in touch with us.
WITNESS
How do you view your marriage? How do others see it? Your marriage is more important than to just your family. Through the relationships you have with friends, co-workers, and your community – your positive witness to marriage can be a light for those who experience you.
A positive witness to marriage is vitally important; especially in cultures that marginalize marriage commitment. Even those with a rock-solid marriage commitment can still benefit from the positive witness from other married couples. There is strength in numbers.
Show to others the beauty and blessings of married life; a life that is not perfect, sometimes stressful, but nonetheless still dependable, enjoyable, and fulfilling.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 18, 2026: New Ulm Diocese Marriage Prep Retreat. St .Catherine Catholic Church Redwood Falls, Minnesota. LOCATION MAP
September 19, 2026: New Ulm Diocese Marriage Prep Retreat. St .Catherine Catholic Church Redwood Falls, Minnesota. LOCATION MAP
November 6-8 2026: “Beloved Let us Love” Diocesan Marriage Retreat. Schoenstatt on the Lake Retreat center, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. LOCATION MAP
