1st International Congress
"Discover marriage" - be amazed by the gift
The first Congress marked the beginning of a worldwide journey of married couples united in faith — an unforgettable encounter with God and the mystery of marriage.
Speakers
Aleksander and Monika Bańka
They have been married for twenty years and have two sons. They met during a spiritual retreat and remain active members of that community. Aleksander is a philosopher and leader of the Holy Charbel Family community. Monika is a therapist who works with families and couples.
Łukasz and Agnieszka Czechyra
They met at university and have been together ever since. They have five children, whom they homeschool. They are actively involved in Church life and in ministry to married couples. They lead various courses and always preach together as a couple.
Fr. Renzo Bonetti
Sacerdote di Verona, ordinato in Italia nel 1968. Ha svolto il ruolo di rettore del seminario. È co-fondatore del progetto Misterogrande, dove annuncia la bellezza di questo sacramento. Crede nella vocazione alla santità delle coppie sposate e nella loro dignità sacramentale.
Robert Cheaib
He is a husband, father, and professor of dogmatic theology in France. Author of several books on faith, prayer, and family, he is also a member of the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. He runs a blog on living the Christian faith in everyday life.
Fr. Przemysław Kwiatkowski
A priest of the Archdiocese of Gniezno, with many years of experience in pastoral ministry and teaching. Former rector of the Gniezno seminary. Involved with the Misterogrande project in Poland from the very beginning. He currently serves as a consultant to the Council for the Family.
Tommaso Lodi and Giulia Cavicchi
They live in the Emilia-Romagna region and are a married couple involved in evangelisation. Giulia is a psychologist, while Tommaso is finishing his theology studies and works as a catechist. Their mission was born out of the Misterogrande retreats and the theology of the body of John Paul II.
Conference materials
Day one - May 1, 2024
Lecture
Aleksander and Monika Bańka
In Christianity, love is not a feeling but a gift of self. As the Council taught, and as John Paul II and Father Blachnicki reminded us: to love is to possess oneself in order to give oneself. We either close in on ourselves, wanting everything for our own benefit, or we choose the path of self-giving. Monika and I experienced this most deeply when difficulties arose — emotional, spiritual, and parental. It was then that this truth became most real, shared Aleksander Bańka.
Testimony
Łukasz and Agnieszka Czechyra
This is a time in the Church when God wants to return to the beginning — to return to paradise. God desires to live with married couples as He did in the Garden: walking with them hand in hand, side by side. Leading them as never before. We have experienced this ourselves — that this is exactly what happened to us.
Day two - May 2, 2024
Lecture
Robert Cheaib
Marital love is the place where Word and flesh meet – the mystery of the Incarnation woven into the daily reality of relationships. This lecture combined biblical reflection with the lived experience of marriage – its beauty, challenges, and graces.
Lecture
Fr. Renzo Bonetti
What matters most are living testimonies. Marriage is a gift for others. Fr Renzo Bonetti, a Catholic priest and leader of the Italian Misterogrande project, speaks about the missionary nature of marriage.
Day three - May 3, 2024
Testimony
Tommaso Lodi and Giulia Cavicchi
At first, we wanted to cover the wound of infertility with something else — our own plan B — but it turned out this was actually God’s plan A for us; that through this wound, He wanted to bring life and make us a father and mother. Looking back over the years, we can say that God has fulfilled His promise of fruitfulness in our lives. We feel a deep joy that we said yes to His call.
Lecture
Fr. Przemysław Kwiatkowski
Today, we often hear about what the Church is not. And quite frankly, there is much truth in that — including because of my own sin and weakness. But that is not the whole story. You, I, all of us can, through Jesus, offer others a true experience of the Church. I am convinced that the words written in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah are addressed to you: do you hear the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I believe the answer is already taking shape in your heart: here we are, send us.
