The Feb. 12 event in Toronto provided a multi-course meal for young married and engaged couples, complete with reflection questions for them to discuss over salad, pasta, a main course and dessert.

“It gives them the opportunity to explore the familiar, but maybe tough questions that invite them to reflect on their relationship and it also harkens back for them where was the spark or the energy in the relationship as they try to live their marriage as something that’s an expression of their baptism,” said Fr. Santo Arrigo, C.Ss.R.

Questions varied from “What do you remember most about your first date?” to “What do my prayers tell you about who God is in my life?”

“For some people, they may not answer that but it may bring the whole question, well, what does prayer mean to us as a couple?” Arrigo said.

The decorated tables for two were spaced far enough apart to help the couples focus on each other and romantic music played loudly enough so the couples didn’t have to worry about their conversation being overheard by neighbouring tables.

“I think it’s a good ministry for young married or engaged couples,” said Dani Brischuk, youth ministry co-ordinator for the Redemptorists’ Ukrainian province in Winnipeg. “I find they often get missed or after marriage prep that’s kind of just it. So it’s a nice evening for them to take that time out from everybody’s busy schedules to just focus on their relationship and each other and their relationship with God.”

Brischuk said over the past six years couples have consistently praised the evening she organizes in Winnipeg, which also includes a talk given at the end by a young couple. Often, people can’t wait for the next one, she said.

“We get so caught up in our lives,” she said. “To take that one night out to really work on your relationship — not just to go out for dinner, but have discussions on things that are important like building trust and praying together and where is God calling us as a family to be and taking the time to actually focus on that — I think it’s really important. I think people should do it more than once a year. But (Table for Two) also gives you food for thought for maybe going out another time on your own and what things to talk about.”