Greetings!
Welcome to February! Christmas, New Year's, and the SuperBowl have all come and gone. Valentine's Day, with its cupcakes and red hearts and rose bouquets, sits right in the middle of this month to remind us that love is something to be celebrated. (And don't forget, it's
actually
Saint
Valentine's Day
!)
One lesser known celebration happening right now is National Marriage Week, lasting from February 7-14, with World Marriage Day falling this year on the 9th. This year's theme is Marriage is Worth It! Despite the many challenges and difficulties of married life, we pray that you agree that no matter what, marriage
is
worth it, even on the hardest days.
Here are many ways
you and your spouse can celebrate! Whether it's joining in the
virtual 7-day marriage retreat,
reading
some of the many marriage tips
available at For Your Marriage, listening to a daily podcast like
Made for Love
or the
Messy Family Project
, or creating your own way to celebrate your marriage, there's sure to be something to strengthen your marriage (or prepare for it!) C
heck out the
National Marriage Week facebook page
for more ideas.
We pray you have a happy and holy month!
Blessings,
The Marriage & Family Ministry Staff
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4 unique date ideas for a romantic Valentine’s Day
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Looking for something to do on February 14th with your love beyond the dinner and a movie standby? Here are
four unique ideas for a date
you and your partner might enjoy. The author includes a range of activities to accommodate varying interests and budgets, and while the details may differ, the purpose remains the same. Each of these ideas allows you to engage an essential part of yourself while engaging with your date.
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6 Lenten resolutions for couples, inspired by Pope Francis
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Ash Wednesday is February 26.
Are you wondering how to grow in holiness this Lent, together with your spouse? Try following some advice from the Pope! Pope Francis has spoken quite directly about how husband and wife should treat each other, about prayer within the family, and other ways the family lives its identity as a “domestic Church.” Why not commit with your spouse to
try one of the following Lenten resolutions
,
based on words from the Holy Father?
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9 saintly couples to turn to for a stronger marriage
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A successful marriage usually comes with some hurdles along the way. Take a look at these saintly married men and women and you’ll see that in their marriages they were faced with many obstacles. From child loss and poverty to doubting themselves, these saints often gained strength not only from God, but also through their spouses. If you’re looking for a little help to strengthen and inspire your marriage, take comfort and inspiration
from these nine saintly couples.
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Podcast: Deepening Unity in Your Marriage
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All couples need to work to cultivate a dynamic, vibrant relationship, strong enough to bear the demands of family life, and weather everything the world will throw at it. The reality is, we are never done working on our marriage.
In this podcast
we discuss the importance of “checking in” with our spouse to see how we are doing. To do this effectively we need to practice how to listen but also practice being vulnerable.
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What our first year of marriage taught us about compromise
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Sometimes, being married to a maximizer means reminding my husband of his strengths and encouraging him to use those strengths to, let’s say, pick out a dog breed for our future family. Sometimes it means applying attentiveness to which direction I hang clothes on hangers. But usually, the stark differences between
how we make decisions
— prioritizing ‘the best’ option available versus ‘one that meets all of our most important needs’ —
requires some give and take.
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Marriage Tip of the Month
Lent starts at the end of this month. Commit to a small sacrifice or extra prayer with your spouse. Whether it's a daily decade of the rosary, denying yourself the snooze button, reading the Gospels daily, or giving up a treat you love, ask the Lord for the grace to carry out your Lenten penances well.
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Theology on Tap Winter Series
Join us for this Catholic speaker series for young adults in their 20s & 30s, single and married, to share in food, fellowship, and faith!
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Fort Wayne Series Theme: Call & Response
Welch's Ale House
1915 South Calhoun St., Fort Wayne
Tuesdays at 6:30pm
February 11
Needs of the Community - Mary Glowaski
February 18
The Church & The World - John Sikorski
February 25
Mardi Gras: Mass & Party! Location TBD
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South Bend Series Theme: Reclaiming Goodness, Truth, & Beauty
Knights of Columbus Hall
553 E Washington St, South Bend
Tuesdays at 6:30pm
February 11
Reclaiming Culture - Fr. Paulinus Odozor CSSp
February 18
Reclaiming Art - Stephen Barany, MDiv
February 25
Mardi Gras: Mass & Party! at St. Joseph Church, South Bend
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ALPHA small groups starting this month!
Alpha is an exciting way to explore the Christian faith while enjoying food and fellowship—free of charge! Each weekly session begins with dinner and casual conversation. Then the group watches a 30-minute episode in the Alpha film series, a first-class production with inspiring stories and interviews from people all over the world. Next comes the chance to simply discuss and share thoughts on the topic. There’s no obligation to say anything. And there’s nothing you can’t say! For more information,
check out our new website here.
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Saturday, March 14
7:30—9:00 PM
Payne Hall, lower level of St. Thérese, Little Flower Church, South Bend
Join us for Just Desserts, a "date night" series for couples in their 20s and 30s featuring food, faith and fun! The evening entails desserts for every diet (gluten-free, vegan, Keto, Paleo, Whole 30), a speaker who will help you deepen your relationship as a couple and with Christ, followed by a table discussion and a chance to win a gift card to a local restaurant.
The second "Just Desserts" date night will take place in Payne Hall in the lower level of St. Thérese, Little Flower Church in South Bend on Saturday, March 14, from 7:30 to 9:00 PM. Cost is $5 per couple at the door. Babies are welcome! Sponsored by Marriage & Family Ministry, Diocese of Fort Wayne—South Bend
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ava's grace is offering a free retreat on Saturday, March 21 for anyone who has suffered miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. To register, contact Lisa Everett at [email protected] or 574-234-0687.
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Save the date!
The Messy Family Project Workshop for Parents
March 28, 2020 from 12:30 - 4:30 pm
St. Pius X Catholic Church, Granger, IN
The Messy Family Project is coming to our diocese! Mike and Alicia Hernon, co-founders of The Messy Family Project, a new Catholic marriage and family ministry, will present a two-part workshop for parents on Saturday afternoon, March 28th at St. Pius X parish in Granger. Check-in will begin at 12:30 in the Parish Life Center and the workshop will begin at 1:00 in the Church. The afternoon will include couple discussion, Q&A, and a social.The cost of the workshop is $10 per person, and free childcare will be provided. Please visit
http://www.diocesefwsb.org/messyfamily
to register by March 22!
Sponsored by Marriage & Family Ministry, Diocese of Fort Wayne—South Bend.
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Hope for the Journey
Spiritual, emotional, and practical support for couples who have experienced or are experiencing infertility or secondary infertility
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Spiritual, emotional and practical support to families suffering miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss.
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Miriam's Blessing
Comprehensive support to parents who receive a poor prenatal diagnosis, provided through three distinct phases: the pregnancy, the birth, and postpartum.
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Project Rachel
Post-abortion reconciliation program offering hope and healing through God who is love and mercy.
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NFP: Local Resources
Diocesan approved classes and resources for Natural Family Planning
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Diocesan Young Adults
Join one of our diocesan young adult facebook groups for event updates!
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For Your Marriage
Marriage tips, wedding planning help, book reviews, words from the Holy Father, stories from real couples, and more!
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