About Us

In February of 1976, a Catholic Priest named Fernando Martínez Caula, felt a tremendous concern regarding the alarming growth of the divorce rate in Puerto Rico. He saw how couples, the basis of our society, started to disintegrate little by little. He then decided, with help from three couples he selected as his auxiliaries, to create a movement which they called “Renovacion Conyugal”. The purpose was to fight against divorce and to provide couples with an experience that would allow the revitalization of their lives as spouses and their mutual commitment.

Unfortunately, on June 9th, 1977, Father Fernando died tragically in a traffic accident, but left a legacy of a movement that has worked tirelessly since then in favor of Marriages and Families.

The project arrives in Georgia in July of 1999, thanks to a couple that had been working with “Renovacion Conyugal” in Puerto Rico, Miguel & Belisa Urbina. There, they met Father Hernán Quevedo, a Catholic Priest originally from Colombia. Father Hernán already had an idea of preparing a project that could help Latino Couples in Georgia.

The three then took a trip to Puerto Rico so that Father Hernán could acquire first-hand knowledge about the project. He returns happy and motivated, having found the experience very enriching and complete, also realizing that the topics of the workshop were very broad and comprehensive. He also liked the fact that any couple, married or not, regardless of religious creed was welcome into the workshop.

They finally decided to take action and on March 31st, 2001 the first “Renovacion Conyugal” Couple’s Workshop took place in Marietta, Georgia, with 22 couples in attendance.
 
In Puerto Rico the workshops take place during a weekend, and “Renovacion Conyugal” has its own Retreat House. In Georgia it was decided to start celebrating one-day workshops, mainly so that cost would not be a limiting factor for couples coming from all socio-economic areas.

After they started working with couples they realized the tremendous need that there was for a program that would teach parenting skills among the Latino community in the state. They contacted Dr. Juan Jose Genovard who had developed a very successful parenting curriculum based on the same core values that the couples’ workshops have. Dr. Genovard was very supportive of the idea and even helped trained new volunteers. The curriculum was tailored to fit the realities and specific situations that Latino families in the United States face. On March, 2002 the “Escuela Para Padres” program was first presented in Marietta, Georgia.

After several years preparing this project with great success, “Renovacion Conyugal” became aware of another unmet need in the community. The need for a program that will help Latino teenagers and their families have a better communication and relationship. They contacted a group that had the curriculum for an excellent program and they traveled to Georgia to prepare the first workshop and trained the first group of volunteers. Using those tools a program that could provide the teenagers with tools to prevent social problems such as drug abuse, low self-esteem, participation in gangs, teen pregnancy and alcohol abuse while also helping them to adapt to the reality of living in a dual-culture was developed.

On April, 2005 in Dalton, Georgia “Renovacion Juvenil” was born. The program from the beginning was prepared, led and presented by other Latino Teenagers creating excellent peer interaction and modeling. 

This program works hand-in-hand with our “Escuela Para Padres” program. The objective is to provide a coordinated message between the two programs. We will give the parents and teenagers new tools to establish and maintain a better communication. 

Through the years Renovacion Conyugal introduced new services and programs as deemed necessary to keep up meeting the demands and needs of the community that we serve. Support Groups for Latino Couples, Support Groups for Latino Teenagers and “Plenitud Matrimonial” came on board along the years.

“Renovacion Conyugal”is constantly researching recognized curriculums, developing new material and establishing new programs to make sure that we are always assessing and meeting the needs of the Latino families that we strive to serve. So keep an eye on our new ventures!

Board
Staff