TWO BY TWO NEWSLETTER
August 2018
From the Office of Marriage & Family
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"The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant finding a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has an buys it."
(Mt 13:45-46)
In your vocation of marriage, your spouse is like that pearl. God has called you together. Don't let work, or projects, or hobbies, or even your children, bump him or her from first place. He or she is priceless.
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I’ve been obsessively watching HGTV shows like Fixer Upper and Property Brothers lately. I love watching the home transformations. From finding hazardous electrical situations to dire foundation issues, taking on a fixer-upper is not for the faint of heart.
From Family Life
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Establishing a strong line of communication with your child means helping them to start developing their ability to express themselves early. Young children benefit from "thick" conversations. Thick conversations are characterized by giving children many chances to speak and communicate, asking open-ended questions, encouraging them to think and imagine and having many back-and-forth exchanges.
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With only half the summer season remaining, planning for an intentional last few weeks of summer is a great investment for your family. Download a free, printable Summer Family Bucket List template and start brainstorming and creating a list of activities your family would like to complete together. Here are a few summer bucket list ideas for your family...From Abstinence Clearinghouse
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Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's announcement that he will retire has catapulted Roe v. Wade (the Supreme Court's landmark abortion case) into the news. Pro-abortion groups are pulling out all the stops to urge the U.S. Senate to reject any nominee who does not promise to publicly endorse Roe. And they are misrepresenting the legal and social reality of Roe and what would happen if it is overturned.
The upcoming Supreme Court vacancy provides us with yet another occasion requiring focused prayer. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops does not support or oppose the confirmation of any presidential nominee. However, given this historic moment, the U.S. bishops are
urging all people of good will
to pray that a change in the U.S. Supreme Court may move our nation closer to the day when every human being is protected in law and welcomed in life.
From Friday, August 3, 2018 to Friday, September 28, 2018, the weekly Call to Prayer will be adapted as a nine-week Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life. In addition to the current invitation to fast on Fridays, participants are encouraged to pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the intention of the novena.
Participants will also be provided with weekly opportunities to learn more about
Roe v. Wade
, and share that information with their representatives.
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40 Days for Life Campaign
begins Sept 27th
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40 Days for Life begins on Wednesday, September 26th through November 4th. Please consider joining the peaceful prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood in St Cloud from 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday.
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Sessions: Contributions of religious people make U.S. ‘stronger as nation’
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WASHINGTON (CNS) — Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke about ongoing threats to religious freedom and what can be done to halt them at a conference held July 30 at the Department of Justice.
“Let’s be frank. A dangerous movement is now challenging and eroding our great devotion to religious freedom. It must be confronted, both intellectually and politically, and defeated,” he said. (From St Cloud Visitor, CNS)
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A Divine Design: Marriage and Natural Family Planning!
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Learn about the benefits of Natural Family Planning (NFP) as you plan your family in harmony with nature and God’s plan for married love. NFP is effective, healthy and marriage building.
A First Instruction in the Billings Ovulation Method will be offered in:
Little Falls:
Tuesday, August 7 & September 4 at 7:30 PM
Long Prairie:
Monday, August 27 & September 24 at 7:00 PM
Rice:
Monday, August 6 & September 10 at 6:30 PM
St. Cloud:
Thursday, August 16 & Monday, September 17 at 6:30 PM
St. Michael:
Monday, August 13 & September 10 at 6:00 PM
Wadena:
Friday, August 24 & September 28 at 5:30 PM
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Congratulations to Cathy Bahmer Recipient of the 2018 Humanae vitae Award!
We are grateful to all who helped with the 50th Anniversary Humanae vitae Mass and Award Reception. It was fun to celebrate and honor this prophetic encyclical and our inspiring NFP Instructor, Catherine Bahmer!
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A valiant woman’s voice in ‘Humanae Vitae’
A Polish survivor of a Nazi concentration camp foresaw the harm of the contraceptive pill.
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Wanda Półtawska, a Polish doctor, is 97 years old. Her life and work is unknown outside her native Poland and some quarters of the Catholic Church, but her insights and influence have prospered the mission of the Church in defending the dignity of all human beings.
From Theology of the Body.
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The most damaging bit of advice that single people often get
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Our advice expert weighs in on the worst relationship advice ever.
If you could pick one thing as the worst relationship advice ever, what would you pick? In your opinion, what is the most damaging bit of advice that single people often get? From
Aleteia
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Volunteers needed!
On Tuesday, September 25, 2018, the Diocese of Saint Cloud will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the death of Padre Pio.
The relics of St. Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) will be on display At the Cathedral of St Mary for veneration from 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. with Mass being celebrated at 7:00 p.m. (Bishop Kettler presiding).
We are in need of volunteers to help with greeting and assisting guests and working at religious goods "store". Shifts will begin at 7:00 a.m. and will be scheduled for every two (2) hours. You are welcome to sign up for more than one shift.
Follow this
link
to sign up online. If you have any questions or are unable to sign up online, please contact the Office of Worship at 320-255-9068.
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Beginning Experience
Beginning Experience (B.E.) is a Catholic based weekend program for adults grieving the loss of a relationship due to separation, death or divorce.
- October 12 - October 14, 2018
- Luther Crest, Alexandria MN
- Call (888) 565-0178 for more information or Click here.
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Healing Hearts of Suicide Survivors -August 7th
Healing Hearts is a support group that assists when a loved one has died by suicide, working through the complex emotions. With support and hope of other survivors, members of the group walk alongside each other "through" the grief. For more information contact Roxann at (320) 248-1563
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Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Worldwide Marriage Encounter For more information, call
Alan & Missy Block at 888-455-3496
or
click here.
The next weekend is September 14th in Alexandria, MN
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Retrouvaille Weekend
The next weekends are in Eagan is August 3rd or St Cloud Sept 14th.
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Mass of Hope & Healing
This special Mass is for couples who have suffered the loss of a child through miscarriage, abortion, SIDS, illness, accident or those experiencing
infertility. Part of this event consists of a candle-lighting ceremony remembering those who have died.
Thursday, October 25, 2018 • 6:00 p.m.
St. Andrew Catholic Church
566 4th Street NW • Elk River, MN 55330
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