Speaking and Retreats
Bring Joseph and Crystal to your next event.Dating
for
Catholics
Catholic Dating Prep Retreat
Most of us were never taught how to date, and there are principles and practicals that make a huge difference! This 6-part live retreat-day is designed to give single Catholic men and women a strong foundation to date with freedom and clarity. Through humorous stories, discussion questions, and interactive exercises, we help chart a course from single to married without breaking hearts into millions of pieces.
Perfect for single Catholics who are currently dating, as well as single Catholics who have no dating experience, and everything in between!
This 6-part retreat day is perfect for diocesan/parish full-day retreat days or broken up over the course of a Friday evening and Saturday.
Dating
for
Catholics
The Lost Art of Discretion
Navigating romantic relationships without a roadmap creates a lot of unnecessary confusion. This stand-alone workshop is designed to help Catholic singles learn what makes for more intimate relationships, and how to get there. Combining the wisdom of Matthew Kelly and Dietrich von Hildebrand, this fun and engaging workshop offers principles and practicals for more freedom and clarity in dating.
Perfect for any Catholic single, whether dating or not.
This 2-3 hour long workshop is perfect for diocesan/parish Young Adult nights, Engaged couples retreats/events, or Marriage Conferences.
Love
Your
Marriage
Live!Love Your Marriage Retreat
The expression "Happy spouse, happy house" has the potential to tear couples apart--unless they know what makes for true happiness. This 6-part live retreat day is designed to help husbands and wives learn how to love each other rightly. Bringing together a solid Christian anthropology, theological insights, discussion questions, and interactive exercises, we help couples safely unpack the past, dream about their future, and craft a step-by-step game plan for the present.
Perfect for engaged and newlywed couples but also helpful for married couples who have struggled to speak a common language and need to get on the same page.
This 6-part retreat is perfect for diocesan/parish weekend retreats, Engaged couples retreats/events, or Marriage Conferences.
Love
Your
Marriage
Live!Marriage as Apostolic
Marriage is one of the two sacraments ordered toward the salvation of other people, yet most of us haven't experienced that nor know how to lean into it. This live workshop is designed to help couples learn how to build a beautiful, evangelical life together. Through humorous stories, discussion questions, and interactive exercises, we help couples understand the gospel and how it plays out in their marriages and, through their marriages, in the world.
Perfect for engaged and newlywed couples but also helpful for married couples who are looking for a new way to view their marriage.
This 2-3 hour long workshop is perfect for diocesan/parish Date Nights, Engaged couples retreats/events, or Marriage Conferences.
Love
Your
Marriage
Virtual!Husband Formation:
Date Your Mate
Joseph Gruber spent thirteen years as a Catholic missionary, training men in the habits and skills to win hearts to Christ. Now he trains men in the habits and skills to win their wives' hearts. In a five-week virtual series, Joseph walks husbands through the basic principles and practicals to date their wives, going over the difference between meaning and purpose, what true intimacy consists of, what the three kinds of dates are, what makes for playfulness, and how to plan dates regularly. One attendee said, "It's worth every penny. The content is fresh and relevant and practical and theologically and philosophically satisfying. My wife has loved the homework and the dates I've recently taken her on, has told all her friends about it and was sad to hear the workshop ended.”
Perfect for newlywed men, empty-nesters, and husbands in-between.
This five-week series of virtual workshops is perfect for men's groups, parishes investing in men in particular, and to complement any diocesan initiatives to strengthem marriages by forming husbands.
Resources
Bios
Joseph and Crystal
Joseph Gruber and Crystal Gruber are a dynamic couple dedicated to awakening authentic Catholic culture through holy matrimony. Together, they bring a remarkable synergy of principles and practicals to help couples live out the sacrament of matrimony.
Joseph, a former missionary whose work took him from Boston to Bellingham and many points in between, has a love of bringing theological ideas into lived reality. Meanwhile, Crystal is a former missionary as well as a former Creighton FertilityCare Practitioner, and currently a mother of seven. Their shared commitment to marriage, evangelization, and living out a full Catholic life is brought to everything they do.
As speakers, Joseph and Crystal captivate audiences with their unique blend of theology and practicality. Their talks inspire action, encouraging individuals and couples to lean into the grace of the sacrament and who they were uniquely created to be. But before speaking, their goal is to be living as close to the standards they're presenting as possible, which means they spend much time loving God, loving their permanent neighbor (each other), and all of the children they've brought into the world together.
Joseph
Joseph Gruber spent over a dozen years as a Catholic missionary, serving college campuses and parishes throughout the United States. He has a master's degree from the Augustine Institute, and a long history of diving deep into formative opportunities, training Catholic missionaries in fundraising, apologetics, and spirituality. He has been podcasting for six years, where he seeks to share the fruit of his contemplation. Joseph is known for taking complicated material and making it accessible and practicable.
Above and beyond his apostolic efforts, he seeks to be the best husband and father he can be to his wife and his seven children.
Crystal
Crystal Gruber is a convert to Catholicism whose passion is electrifying. Her dream has long been to propose holistic solutions to life's problems, and the sacrament of matrimony is one of the most comprehensive solutions she has found. Crystal's joy is to encourage and equip people to follow the unique reason why God made them.
As a speaker, Crystal shares from her wealth of experience as a wife, mother, former NFP teacher, and former missionary. Personal anecdotes and examples color her presentations and lend authenticity and credibility to all that she speaks on.
Her glory, like the mother of the Gracchi, is her children, and she spends much time delighting in them and forming them.
Example Interview Questions
Can you share the story of how your respective faith journeys intersected and led to your shared passion for dating, marriage, and evangelization?
Joseph, as a former FOCUS missionary, what drove you to start a marriage ministry?
Crystal, what drove your dedication to marriage and dating?
How do you see the intersection of faith and culture, and where does marriage figure into it?
Could you share some specific projects or initiatives where your combined efforts have made a significant difference in the world?
Joseph, what are the key theological insights in the development and implementation of marriage enrichment content that you believe are essential for a better future? Crystal, how do these considerations align with your own goals?
What messages do you hope your married audiences take away from your talks?
What advice do you have for young Catholic singles who are looking to find a spouse and struggling to do so?
How do you balance your professional pursuits with personal interests and family life? What role does work-life balance play in your lives?
Can you share any memorable experiences or moments from your missionary work that have left a lasting impact on both of you?
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for the future, both individually and as a couple, in terms of your contributions to people's understanding of marriage and evangelization?
How do you envision the role of collaboration and partnership in addressing some of the challenges facing married couples today?
What motivates you both to continue your work in the face of challenges and obstacles?
Joseph, how does Crystal's roles as spouse and parent influence your understanding of marriage, and vice versa?
Can you share any tips or strategies for maintaining a strong and supportive marriage while pursuing a life of ministry?
In closing, what message would you like to convey to those who are inspired by your work and hope to follow in your footsteps?
