As Valentine’s Day approaches, one cannot help but conjure thoughts of love and romance. But as many of us have come to realize, marriage is not all about roses and love songs. Continuing on in marriage when things are less than perfect is uncommon these days and is a challenge that Kenneth and Madeline Swartz know a lot about after having been married for over 50 years. They have dedicated a good number of these years to helping couples that are starting out to prepare for the time when they realize this to be the truth.
I recently spoke with these long time NJ Regnum Christi members about an apostolate they have helped organize that hopes to do just that. They, along with a team of several other couples, developed Date Nights for a Joyful Marriage, a regional event in NJ they hold twice per year. This upcoming event is being held on February 10, 2024 from 6:30-9:00PM at Catholic Church of St. Ann in Raritan, NJ.
The idea grew out of their experiences with Pre-Cana and meeting engaged couples. Kenneth says, “We got to thinking that maybe they needed something to continue on in the first years after they got married. Something to bring them back and be reunited with the other engaged couples they met.”
Primarily younger couples, there is an average of 12-15 couples attending from all over NJ. With a host couple in charge of the event, a presentation couple giving a shared talk on marriage, Madeline and Ken help handle the logistics of the venue, the food, etc. Ken says, “We want to provide a nice venue, serve them, give them food, and allow them to enjoy a nice evening. Most of these young people work and their only friends are co-workers or friends from high school. This is a chance for them to be with people that are different and maybe share their values.”
Smiling, Madeline says, “The best part is meeting and hanging out with other couples that have the same values that they have. They have such a good time!” Kenneth adds with a laugh, “and they stay late! We have to almost kick them out!”
This event enjoys the full support of the parish priests who come and enjoy the evening with folks in attendance in a laid-back approachable manner, offering blessings and remarks on the vocation of matrimony. Madeline says, “The attendees really like the fact that a priest is there for the evening.”
For anyone interested in attending, being a part of this wonderful ministry, or perhaps starting a date night in your own parish, please click here for more information.
