Happy New Year!

January 3rd, 2017

Peace and joy to you and your families at the beginning of a new year. The newness of the year always provides a space to reflect on the past and look forward to what is to come. The past year in the Office of Marriage and Family Life has seen the development of ministry to divorced persons, large scale events promoting the Theology of the Body, a new diocesan Marriage Anniversary Mass, and collaboration on projects with the Offices of Seminarians, Consecrated Vocations, New Evangelization, Catholic Schools, Worship, and Religious Education. It was a busy year!

In 2017 we'll be hosting more events such as training for facilitators to continue the outreach of divorce ministry, a retreat for divorced persons, a Mass for families of miscarriage and child loss, the second annual Marriage Anniversary Mass, projects aimed at communication, evangelization of families, and collaboration with Catholic Charities. And to top it all off, we are beginning a new campaign to encourage more prayer for the families in our diocese with the promotion of a new prayer card and monthly intentions. For more information on this endeavor see the Resource section at the bottom of the page. 

The dawning of a new year always brings with it joy and hope for the future. I'm excited about what the Lord is doing in our diocese and the direction he is bringing us as we journey to the Father. God bless you and your work in the coming year. 

Upcoming Events - Please Promote!
Ministry Training for those working with the divorced. 

This fall, across the diocese, over 50 men and women found healing through the Catholic's Divorce Survival Guide Program at four of our parishes. I have personally encountered some of these individuals and have accompanied them on their journey to healing. This is a truly fruitful ministry! 

With all the attention Pope Francis has been getting regarding our brothers and sisters in this difficult situation of divorce, we want to take advantage of the opportunity this publicity has created and reach out to even more individuals around our diocese. On February 8th, 2017 we will host nationally renowned speaker Rose Sweet for facilitator training so that more of our parishes are equipped to host this amazing program. On February 9th, we will be hosting Rose again for an afternoon workshop for clergy with a focus on ministering to divorced individuals. I would encourage any of our priests, deacons, or annulment advocates to consider attending this important event. For more information click here. 
Retreat for Divorced 

This coming February 10th - 12th, St. Francis Retreat Center will be hosting a retreat titled: "AFTER DIVORCE - An Adventure into the Interior Life."

This warm and uplifting event is less about the daily details of life - or the devastation of divorce - than it is a special time to draw close to Our Lord. Inspired by the story of the Samaritan woman who encounters Christ at Jacob's well, this event recognizes that after divorce people are much more aware of the deep thirst that needs quenching...particularly in all their relationships. To get to core issues, the weekend helps participants go deeper into the interior life by asking:

Will I ever fully heal from divorce? What makes me happy and why does it elude me at times? Who is Christ to me? What does He have to say to me? How does He love me? What does He offer me? Do I really believe Him? What holds me back from receiving His living water in the daily details of my life? And, on a practical level, HOW DO I INCORPORATE ALL THIS INTO MY RELATIONSHIPS?

Included in the weekend is a fun welcome and introduction, talks, helpful exercises, small group breakouts, quiet time for reflection, meals, a full-length movie, and more. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available. 
 
For more information, check out the events page on the Diocesan  Marriage and Family Life web page.
Mass for Families of Miscarriage and Child Loss

Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 26th at 2:00 pm for a Mass for Families of Miscarriage and Child Loss with Bishop Boyea at St. Patrick's Church in Brighton. Any family who has experienced the tragedy of miscarriage or the loss of a child are welcome to attend.

MARCH FOR LIFE

This year's March for Life will take place on January 27th, 2017. 

For information on joining the Diocesan trip to Washington D.C. contact:

Miriam Lynch 
Diocese of Lansing MFL Coordinator 
St. Michael Catholic Church 
345 Edwards Street, Grand Ledge, MI 48837 
(517) 627-8493 
miriamlynch@stmichaelgl.org

To view and download the flier, click here. 
Spotlight: Resource

In the coming year, we're aiming to begin a new tradition in the Diocese of Lansing - a yearly prayer card with monthly intentions, similar to the monthly intentions the Pope publishes. This year's prayer card features a prayer to the Holy Family with an image of them on the front and a list of marriage and family themed intentions for each month on the back. Examples of the intentions include: those discerning the vocation to marriage, expectant mothers, those experiencing infertility, families in poverty, grandparents, and separated or divorced couples. 

If you would like prayer cards for yourself or your community, please email Cheryl Olsen at colsen@dioceseoflansing.org and include how many you would like and a mailing address where they can be sent. 
Richard Budd | Diocese of Lansing | (517) 342-2471 | Email | Website
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