ARMEE Ministries

If you and your spouse attended the marriage retreat, we would love your feedback! Please use this QR code to fill out the form. 😊

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT - “Abide In Me” Marriage Retreat - 9/19/26

Nathan and Dalila Armendariz have been married for 28 years and are the proud parents of five children. For the past 16 years, they have been involved with Retrouvaille International Marriage Ministry, walking alongside couples as they work toward healing, restoration, and renewed connection.

Nathan and Dalila believe that lasting marriage restoration begins with the willingness to look within—to invite God into our own healing, growth, and transformation, believing that He is the Master Healer. Their passion is to meet couples wherever they are on their journey, offering hope, honesty, and practical tools for building stronger marriages.

REGISTER TODAY at www.armeeministries.com or click the link in our bio

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT - “Abide In Me” Marriage Retreat - 9/19/26

James and Savannah are best friends. In their ten years of marriage, they have been blessed with three beautiful and inspiring daughters. James is an administrator at the City of Turlock, and Savannah teaches the children at home. While James was raised Catholic, Savannah entered the Church as an adult, with James serving as her sponsor through that journey. Their priority in life is passing the gift of faith to each child, ensuring we one day meet to glorify God in heaven, together.

They certainly do not have homeschooling, marriage, parenting, or faith all figured out, but they are committed to steady growth, making small improvements each day and surrendering the rest.

James and Savannah’s approach to marriage is based on common-sense, honesty, and eternity-minded thinking, balancing excitement for the future with a desire to find peace and joy in the present. They love exploring Pacific Grove, reading books, weight-lifting, and watching their favorite anime. They make lots of room for goofiness and grace.

James’ favorite prayer is St. Patrick’s Breastplate, and Savannah’s is the Rosary (the Sorrowful Mysteries).

Sts. John Bosco and Zélie Martin, pray for us!

REGISTER TODAY at www.armeeministries.com or click the link in our bio

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT - “Abide In Me” Marriage Retreat - 9/19/26

David and Elizabeth Costa celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary earlier this year and are the proud parents of six children, ranging in age from two to nineteen. Their family can often be found at Our Lady of the Assumption, serving or participating in ministries appropriate to each of their ages.

For the past twenty‑four years, David and Elizabeth have been deeply involved in youth, young adult, and marriage ministries. Their service has included Life Teen, Edge/Confirmation, YATOL, Teams of Our Lady, leading retreats for all ages, and serving at Mass as lectors and Eucharistic Ministers. David currently teaches OCIA, and Elizabeth serves on the founding Board of the newly opened Catholic high school, Chesterton Academy of the Immaculate Conception.

David and Elizabeth believe that marriage is the vocation through which most people are called to grow in holiness and become saints. They hold that strong marriages and families must be centered on Christ. Formed by the example of faithful witnesses throughout their lives, they hope to instill and inspire these same foundations in their children and in the wider community.

They often return to the wisdom of St. John Paul II: “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”

REGISTER TODAY at www.armeeministries.com or click the link in our bio

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT - “Abide In Me” Marriage Retreat - 9/19/26

We are Jorge and Noélia Sousa. We have been married for 43 years almost 44 (November 27, 1982). The same year Fr.
Larry was born! We have a son Gabriel ❤️ Allison and daughter Veronica 💖 Marcus. We also have a grandson Matteo who is the joy of our lives!! Our Lady of Assumption is our parish. We have been part of Teams of Our Lady Movement for almost 30 years and Young Adults Teams for 23 years as an Accompanying Couple.

REGISTER TODAY at www.armeeministries.com or click the link in our bio

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT - “Abide In Me” Marriage Retreat - 9/19/26

Rene and Cristina have been married for eight years and are proud parents to four beautiful children—two boys and two girls—with their family growing once again as they look forward to welcoming their fifth baby in February.

Both Rene and Cristina have dedicated their careers to supporting children, families, and their communities. Rene is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), where he works to support individuals, foster youth and families through mental health challenges in a county behavioral health setting. Cristina is a school psychologist, where she works with students, families, and school teams to help children thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.

Together, Rene and Cristina bring not only their professional experience, but also the perspective of a married couple and parents who understand the joys, challenges, and everyday realities of raising a family. Their eight years of marriage and growing family have given them a shared passion for connection, communication, and supporting others. They both share a great love for John Paul II’s teachings on theology of the body and love to reflect on its daily appilcation to their lives.

REGISTER TODAY at www.armeeministries.com or click the link in our bio

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT - “Abide In Me” Marriage Retreat - 9/19/26

Fr. Larry Machado is a native of Turlock who grew up as an active parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption—the same parish he now has the privilege of serving as Pastor. Before becoming a diocesan priest, he spent six years in formation with the Miles Christi religious order, ultimately discerning a call to return home and serve the Diocese of Stockton. Fr. Larry was ordained to the priesthood on July 6, 2019, and returned to Our Lady of the Assumption as Parochial Administrator in 2023 before being formally installed as Pastor in April 2025. His journey from parishioner to pastor is a beautiful witness to God’s providence and the gift of answering His call to the priesthood!

REGISTER TODAY at www.armeeministries.com or click the link in our bio

We’re so excited to introduce you to the couples who will be sharing their stories, wisdom, and faith with us at our upcoming Marriage Retreat.

Each couple brings their own unique journey of marriage, faith, and family—and we can’t wait for you to hear what God has placed on their hearts. See you there! Not too late to register!

“Living Our Vocation Joyfully”

Join us on Monday, August 24th. Our speaker is Christina Machado! Adoration and Confession offered as well. 7pm at OLA. See you then!

“The Spirituality of the Liturgy of the Hours”

Join us this Monday, July 20th. Our speaker is Michael Kelley. Michael is a Seminarian in the Diocese of Stockton! Adoration and Confession offered as well. 7pm at OLA. See you then!