Online program strengthens marriage through profound lens of the Eucharist

Diocese of Boise offers discount to first 100 couples

By JAY WONACOTT

Diocese of Boise

Director, Office of Family and Marriage Life

Marriage is a sacred journey, one that requires continual nurturing, reflection and grace. In today’s fast-paced world, many couples long for a deeper connection—not just with each other, but also with their faith.

To support this vital bond, the Diocese of Boise Marriage and Family Life Office recently hosted an innovative retreat based on the Banquet of Love program created by Jim and Maureen Otremba. The Otrembas’ impactful course is designed to enrich marriages through the profound lens of the Eucharist.

Banquet of Love: the online version

Originally launched as an in-person retreat, this spiritually grounded program is now available online—making it more accessible to couples across the diocese. Through guided reflections and practical tools, couples are invited to deepen their marital relationship and walk with Christ through a deeper understanding of the Catholic Mass and the Eucharist.

After the in-person retreat in October at Holy Apostles in Meridian, the Otrembas reached out to me with the idea of offering a discounted rate to encourage more couples in the Diocese of Boise to experience the online version of the Banquet of Love program.

The Diocese of Boise Marriage and Family Life Office is subsidizing a discount for 100 couples to enroll in the online program. This discount will cut the cost in half for couples wanting to experience this enrichment.

The online version of the enrichment examines the Eucharist as a model for married life in 15 to 20-minute videos that explore what the Otrembas call “the foundational intimacies.” Couples can experience enrichment at their own pace and take their time to process the material and questions together.

The reflection questions

The reflection questions help draw parallels between a couple’s relationship and elements from the Catholic Mass. They also provide food for thought and inspiring insights to help couples navigate their daily lives as Catholics.

The questions are specifically designed to personalize the material and to internalize it for personal transformation. One participant commented in her course evaluation: “I love that we were asked questions that my husband and I had never thought about. The intimacy of the questions made it very easy for us to talk about hard concepts and opened a new door to love and intimacy.”

Convenience

The Otrembas said they are excited to use the online format that allows couples to access the materials from the ease of their own home. This makes the course more accessible to couples with dual careers and childcare needs.

Maureen Otremba noted that couples will benefit from “these foundational tools and practices that will help them communicate, grow in their faith, and be better parents and spouses.”

One couple’s journey with Banquet of Love

Recently, Joe Egbert, host of the Idaho Catholic Register podcast, interviewed Michael and Blythe McGirr, parishioners at St. Mark’s in Boise, who experienced the online version of the Banquet of Love program this past fall. The McGirrs are encouraging couples to benefit from the online enrichment. After 20 years of marriage, the McGirrs had not done much to examine their marriage’s health, but the insights of the Banquet of Love program enriched their marriage.

You can learn more about their story by watching the ICR podcast, hearing their takeaways, and learning about the changes they made to their marriage because of the Banquet of Love program.

Maureen Otremba said the Eucharist is not simply a theological concept. “Anybody with even the most fundamental experience of Eucharist can grow more. That’s what we do every time we go to Eucharist. We don’t have to have it all figured out. Jesus trusts Himself with us, will meet us where we are, and help us grow. This course is for everyone.”

How to sign up

Whether newly married or celebrating decades together, couples of all stages can find renewal and strength through the Banquet of Love program. With the convenience of online access and a special diocesan discount for the first 100 couples, this enrichment opportunity offers a meaningful way to reconnect with each other and with Christ.

Don’t miss the chance to invest in your marriage—visit banquetoflove.org. Enter the code: BoiseBOL (case-sensitive) to receive a 50% discount, which makes your cost $47.