Pastoral Ministries
FAMILY LIFE MARRIAGE and FAMILYMarriage Encounter
Natural Family Planning
Pro-Life Commission
Retrouvaille Communiqué
Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s Mission of renewal in the church and change in the world is to assist couples and priests to live fully intimate and responsible relationships by providing them with a Catholic “experience” and ongoing community support for such a lifestyle.
Marriage Encounter is designed to give married couples the opportunity to examine their lives together…a time to share their feelings, hopes, disappointments, joys, frustrations…and to do so openly and honestly in a face-to-face, heart-to-heart encounter with the one person they have chosen to live with for the rest of their lives.
The emphasis of the Marriage Encounter weekend is on communication between husband and wife, who spend a weekend together away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, to concentrate on each other. It’s not a retreat, nor a marriage clinic, nor group sensitivity. It’s a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Christian Marriage.
For more information on Marriage Encounter visit
http://www.wwme.org
Advice from the experienced marrieds to the less experienced:
- Let the small stuff go
- Find out what the big stuff is
- Communicate and work to improve communication
- Take the time to be a couple
- Try not to change your partner
- Be open and honest – no secrets
- Pray together
- Reach out together to your community and do not isolate yourselves
- Be patient in the face of adversity
- Respect the opinion of your spouse even if you don’t agree
- You don’t have to go to every battle you’re invited to
- Choose your timing
- Affirm/support each other
- Practice NFP
- Have meals together/rides in the car
- Hug each other every day and when you can’t, make a hug symbol you can exchange by phone or e-mail
DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD
NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING!What is NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING?
- NFP Is NOT the Rhythm Method
- Effective
- Valuable for Women Who Say They Need The Pill
- Easy to Use
DID YOU KNOW that there is a way for couples to plan their family that:
- Enhances married love
- Supports Church teaching
- Is effective in achieving or avoiding pregnancy
- Involves both husband and wife
- Is scientifically based
- Is independent of drugs, chemicals, and devices
- Has no harmful side effects
- Is virtually cost free
- Helps to identify some causes for infertility
- Can be used reliably throughout the reproductive life cycle.
For more information on the Diocese of Springfield Pro-Life Commission call:
Tim Biggins at 413-525-8022RETROUVAILLE WEEKEND
Retrouvaille: A lifeline For Troubled Marriages
Retrouvaille, a Christian Peer Ministry for troubled marriages. Although this confidential ministry has its origin in the Catholic Church, all denominations are welcome. Retrouvaille, which means “rediscovery”, consists of a weekend experience in which husbands and wives are helped to re-establish communication and gain new insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple.
You will not be asked to share your problems with anyone else. However you will be encouraged to put the past behind you, to look beyond the hurt and pain, in order to rediscover each other in a new and positive way.
Dates and places:You may contact Retrouvaille on the Internet at Retrouvaille Home Page: www.retrouvaille.org for articles, dialogue, questions, etc. Many of these articles may be just what you were looking for.
For more information on programs in your area please call: 1-800-470-2230.
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