The Diocese of Duluth is offering an online couples retreat for no charge. The retreat will focus on couples improving their communication skills and is inspired by St. Therese. 

“The Little Way of Marriage Workshop” will be based on the life and work of St Therese, in addition to her parents, Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, to assist couples in finding more happiness and love in their marriages.  

It is hoped that couples will leave the retreat with new strategies for decreasing negativity in their relationships, making important decisions as a team and in building simple habits to stay connected to each other. The online retreat will run from Jan. 6 to  20. The chapters in the workshop are titled, "Letting God In," "Little Acts of Love," "The Little Way" and "The Next Step." 

The retreat comes in the form of four pre-recorded videos that viewers can comment on as they see fit. 

Saint Therese of Lisieux was also known as the Little Flower. She was born in France in 1873 to a devoutly religious family.  She was one of nine children, only five of whom lived into adulthood. 

Therese’s mother died when she was young as well. Therese went on to become a nun along with all four of her older sisters.  Although she only lived to the age of 24, she was canonized in 1925 and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1997 in honor of her service.