REAL LIFE

A Newsletter from the Office of Marriage & Family

Photo from Unsplash

Resources

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are featuring the following this month:

Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Day of Prayer and Penance (January 22, 2025)
9 Days for Life novena (January 16-24, 2025)

USCCB LITURGY RESOURCE

Word of Life: January 2025

Word of Life is a monthly resource in English and Spanish for dioceses and parishes containing:

Special Features
Intercessions for Life
Bulletin Quotes
Bulletin Art

https://www.usccb.org/resources/word-life-january-2025

Would you like to schedule a pro-life talk for your area?

With help from the Minnesota Catholic Conference, a Talk was created to promote awareness of the laws that have passed in the state of Minnesota coupled with ways you can take action in light of these changes.

"Be AWARE and POP back into a culture of life!"

Pro-life advocates Judy Haag and Jeanne Schmitz will talk about Awareness, Prayer, Outreach and Presence.

Contact them directly to schedule a presentation:

Jeanne Schmitz at jmhbs1948@gmail.com or 320-420-5535

Judy Haag at judy4life@meltel.net or 320-453-7592

Help Your Stepchildren Feel Secure in Your Love for Them

Stepsibling jealousy can be subtle, volatile and destructive, but detecting it isn’t difficult if you know what to look for.

Article Link

After the “Family-moon”: Tips For Blended Families

Falling in love produces hope for the future. Couples with children from previous relationships who fall in love and plan a wedding also hope for a blended family filled with love and honor. They wish for a honeymoon—and a “familymoon!” But if their hope is not realized in the manner desired, disillusionment sets in. Disillusionment without perspective can erode love.

Article Link

4 Myths About Being a Single Catholic

Everyone has a vocation. We’re all designed for relationship here on earth to prepare us for eternal relationship with God in heaven. But when you haven’t landed yours yet… it can be difficult.

Lillian Fallon is a Catholic writer, personal stylist, and single young woman. She’s done a lot of thinking (and reading) about what it means to be seeking out your vocation, and she has some advice for anyone who might be thinking they’re “messing it up”.

There are a lot of harmful myths about what it means to be single and Catholic. Today, Lillian busts 4 of them.

Find the YouTube video HERE

Natural Family Planning Instruction for

January & February 2025

A First Instruction in the Billings Ovulation Method will be offered in:

• Alexandria: Mondays, Jan. 20 & Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

• Little Falls: Tuesdays, Jan. 7 & Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.

• Long Prairie: Mondays, Jan. 27 & Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.

• Rice: Mondays, Jan. 6 & Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m.

• Sauk Centre: Thursdays, Jan. 16 & Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

• St. Cloud: Monday, Jan. 27 & Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

• St. Michael: Tuesdays, Jan. 7 & Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.

• Wadena: Fridays, Jan. 24 & Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m.

For additional teaching sites and information visit

https://stcdio.org/natural- family-planning/

or contact Sheila Reineke at

sheila.reineke@gw.stcdio.org | (320) 258-7609

First Fridays begin January 3, 2025

RSVP at www.MNCatholic.org/events

Find the Vespers for Life/March for Life flyer

in English HERE

in Spanish HERE

Are you organizing a bus from your area?

Let us help you advertise on our website.

Send information to janet.dusek@gw.stcdio.org

ATTENTION YOUNG MEN AGES 15-22

The first 50 registrants in this age group are free due to a generous donor. Once the offer expires, your registration fee is only $10!

Find details HERE

Find the flyer HERE

Find a digital slide for screens HERE

Find a banner HERE

Upcoming Events

Vespers for Life, Sunday, January 19, 2025

Held at the Church of St. Anthony, St. Cloud, MN from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The Rosary for Life begins at 3:30 p.m., and the prayer service with Bishop Patrick Neary begins at 4:00 p.m.

March for Life bus to St. Paul, MN, Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Find details on our website here https://stcdio.org/event/march-for-life-2025/

Sponsor Couple Training, Saturday, January 25, 2025

Register couples at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SponsorCouple or contact Jan Zylla at jan.zylla@gw.stcdio.org or call (320) 258-7615 with names, address, phone numbers and emails of the couple attending at least two weeks before the scheduled sponsor couple training session.

Engaged Couples Retreat, Saturday, February 8, 2025

Held at the Pastoral Center, St. Cloud, MN from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. The retreat will conclude with Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral. See our website for more details or call the office with questions, 320-252-4721. https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/

Catholic Men's Conference, February 22, 2025

As details unfold, they can be found on our website at

https://stcdio.org/event/2025-catholic-mens-conference/

Marriage Help

Twin Cities Retrouvaille

When: April 4, 2025

Where: The weekend location will be provided with your registration confirmation

Call: 651-440-1426

Email: TCRRegistration@TCR-MN.org

Or...Snap the QR Code and Register here: http://www.helpourmarriage.org

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

For more than 50 years, Worldwide Marriage Encounter has helped over 3.5 million couples in almost 100 countries unlock the power of their relationships with new ways to do the “I do.”

The Marriage Encounter experience helps you listen, share, and connect more deeply.

There’s no group discussion. It’s just about the two of you learning to be the best, most loving and thriving couple you can be.

Nine in ten couples who attend a Marriage Encounter recognize a long-lasting positive effect on their lives.

When: February 14-16, 2025

Where: Christ the King Retreat Center, Buffalo, MN

Contact: Brent & Tracy Chessen, 612-234-7440

When: February 14-16, 2025

Where: Shalom Hill Farms, Windom, MN

Contact: Miki Schultz, 507-227-8229

When: April 5-6, 2025

Where: Shalom Hill Farms, Windom, MN

Contact: Miki Schultz, 507-227-8229

Or...Register here: https://wwme.org/

Beginning Experience - Central MN

*Celebrating 50 Years*

Are you: Widowed, Divorced, Separated

Beginning Experience International Ministry programs and peer ministers serve those grieving the loss of a spousal relationship so they can move forward in life loving God, themselves, and others.

Central MN details

Website: https://beginningexperiencemn.com

Phone: 320-319-8863

320-252-4721 or janet.dusek@gw.stcdio.org

Our website https://stcdio.org/marriage-and-family/