Simply put, we left Outback changed. Not only did it change (and strengthen) our relationship with each other, but it also brought us closer to those we love; namely our children and our parents. ~Kelly and Eric Crooker
(Editor's note: The following Men of St. Joseph Outback Weekend perspective is coauthored by Kelly and Eric Crooker. The authors, natives of Mobile and Catholic converts, have been married for 12 years, have three children and are parishioners of St. Mary Parish.)
We attended the Men of St. Joseph Outback weekend in March 2013. When a spouse or friend suggests a couples’ retreat, the first response is almost never positive. Why would it be; the mere mention of such a thing must mean the person suggesting the retreat thinks there is a "problem," right? Wrong! For us, that thought never crossed our minds because we knew our marriage and faith-life were going fairly well and that we were generally heading in the right direction.
Even though we were not plagued by the knee-jerk reaction to respond with "what's wrong with our marriage," it does not mean we were ready to commit. For us, there was the fear of the unknown. Prior to hearing about it on Archangel Radio, neither of us had heard of the Men of St. Joseph or Outback. We knew of no one else going, and we knew no one that had been. The first and only "Catholic couples’ weekend" we had ever attended was Engaged Encounter twelve years ago, so to say that we did not know what to expect is an understatement. To be clear, Outback is a completely different experience.
So, why did we attend? The answer you would expect to hear is that we prayed about it and felt God was leading us there. Although we have no doubt that God was speaking to us through the people and circumstances touching our life, it is now painfully obvious that before Outback, prayerfully considering something as a couple was not in our skill set. We attended because we saw it on Facebook!
The first thing all couples should know is that you will not have to sleep in a tent; Camp Grace provides each couple with their own cabin. The second, and more important thing to keep in mind is that the week before you go, prepare to encounter Satan in the form of obstacles to your attending the weekend. We heard it from couple after couple and experienced it ourselves: the week leading up to Outback is filled with trials. For us, we had unexpected setbacks in the renovation of our kitchen, a family pet had major surgery, work was exceptionally trying, we ran late leaving, and the drive to Camp Grace was, to say the least, tense.
Once we finally arrived, terrific things immediately started to happen. Although barely speaking on the drive to beautiful Camp Grace, our stresses and concerns quickly dissipated as we were warmly welcomed. The volunteers handled everything; we didn’t even have to park our own car. As busy parents, it felt wonderful to be on the receiving end of such great care.
During the retreat, we were powerfully inspired and deeply touched by the shared testimony and experiences of other couples. While it is one thing to read about or be told what it means to have a sacramental marriage, it is an entirely different thing altogether to have brave souls share their personal struggles, shortcomings, and subsequent triumphs. In addition to being inspirational, Outback is also a lot of fun. The weekend is spent doing incredible outdoor activities, listening to fantastic music, and enjoying delicious food. Lastly, and this is something we encourage you to experience for yourself, miracles happen in the prayer tent.
It is hard to fully capture the effect Outback had on our lives. Simply put, we left Outback changed. Not only did it change (and strengthen) our relationship with each other, but it also brought us closer to those we love; namely our children and our parents. The Outback weekend focuses on relationships, and we left more committed to each other, more committed to prayer, and above all more committed to Christ.
The truth is that no one knows us better than our spouse, and no one is better positioned to help us become the Saints we are called to be. If you are asked to go, or if you are considering going, our advice would be to say “yes,” not because you want to or think you "need" to, but because God may be speaking to you through the people and circumstances in your life. We are immensely grateful for both the Men of St. Joseph and Outback weekend, and we find ourselves amazed by the blessings that both have continued to bestow upon our lives.
Source: The Catholic Week, September 27, 2013, Vol. 79, No. 20, p. 13.
