Marriage Care
 

Is your marriage superb, satisfying, or in survival mode? Maintaining marital bliss is not as easy as it might seem on the wedding day. Some couples just make it look that way! Marriage is an art and, as any good artist will tell you, requires regular practice. 

The Diocese of Scranton—the Catholic people of northeastern Pennsylvania—care about your marriage. We firmly believe that marriage is forever and we do not abandon couples after their wedding day. The Sacrament of Marriage impels the entire community to support your marriage. Our resources can help you

1.      Keep your marriage growing and improving

2.      Offer hope and help when your marriage feels strain

3.      Become part of the movement to support marriage

 

What have you done for your marriage today?

For resources on all sorts of marital topics—blending personalities, disillusionment, infertility, infidelity, intimacy, and values to name but a few— plus daily marriage tips, a marriage quiz, inspirational stories, and more ways to care for your marriage, explore For Your Marriage.  This rich resource was developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for couples of all faiths.

 

Diocesan Marriage Initiative

Grass-roots support for marriage is rising in our diocese. Our goals are to

·         become better informed about the significance of marriage for Church and society (About Catholic Marriage)

·         support a marriage amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution (Pennsylvania for Marriage)

·         ensure that couples can avail themselves of resources to keep their marriages growing (Parish Marriage Support Resources)

You can become part of this movement by giving only 5 minutes per week for marriage.

Let us know that you are part of our diocesan marriage initiative. Please e-mail your name, address, parish and e-mail address to Mary Ann Paulukonis.  You can also call Mary Ann at 570-207-2213.

Spend your next five minutes visiting the Pennsylvania for Marriage Website.

 

Pennsylvania for Marriage

The institution of marriage as we know it is being challenged and the time has come for Pennsylvanians to take action. Twenty-seven states have amended their constitutions to protect marriage, but Pennsylvania is at risk. Pennsylvanians need to amend our State Constitution to protect marriage between one man and one woman from re-definition or legalized “civil unions.” Learn more!

 

Marriage Enrichment Programs

Forever Yes 
This workshop originates from C-PREP (Christian Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program), a pre-marital and marital enrichment program developed at the University of Denver over thirty years ago. PREP is based on empirical studies and emphasizes strategies to lower risk factors and raise protective factors to help marriages succeed.

The Forever Yes workshop includes these topics:

Four key danger signs for marriage

Safety and structure

Speaker-Listener technique

Ground rules for handling conflict and differences

Differences between issues and events

Working through hidden issues

Negative communication and constructive griping

Problem-solving made easy

Understanding commitment

Restoring intimacy through forgiveness

plus practice with coaching

Forever Yes Workshops

Saturday, April 19, 2008 at Wilkes-Barre
9 a.m. - Noon



REGISTER NOW ONLINE!
 
 
Registration of $35 per couple is due at Office for Parish Life at least ten days prior to workshop.

Early Bird registration of $30 if received one month before workshop date.


 For a registration brochure call 570-207-2213.

Marriage Encounter

Marriage enrichment weekend designed to improve good marriages; presented by a team of two couples and a priest.

Weekends:    

September 19 - 21, 2008, Shillington (Reading), PA

 To learn more about Marriage Encounter and to find weekends in other dioceses or faith expressions visit:
http://www.wwme.org

or call 800-787-7679 

Couple Retreats

                 Fatima Renewal Center

 

World Marriage Day

World Marriage Day honors husband and wife as head of the family, the basic unit of society. It salutes the beauty of their faithfulness, sacrifice, and joy in daily married life.

World Marriage Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in February.

Prayer

Father, as we prepare for/celebrate World Marriage Day, we thank you for your tremendous gift of the Sacrament of Marriage. Help us to witness to its glory by a life of growing intimacy. Teach us the beauty of forgiveness so we may become more and more one in heart, mind, and body. Strengthen our communication and help us become living signs of your love. Make us grow more in love with the Church so we may renew the Body of Christ. Make us a sign of unity in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Brother. (Rev William Dilgen, S.M.M.)

 

Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Celebration

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Every spring, the diocese holds a Wedding Anniversary Celebration for couples celebrating their 25 and 50 years of marriage. Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist.E.D., celebrates an afternoon Mass in Saint Peter’s Cathedral where couples will renew their wedding vows. After Mass the diocese hosts a reception for the couples at Bishop Hannan High School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To obtain an invitation to the Wedding Anniversary Celebration held during the year of your twenty-fifth or fiftieth wedding anniversary, give your name and a February mailing address to your pastor by January 10th. Even if you cannot attend you will receive a commemorative packet following the celebration.

 

Advice from couples married fifty or more years to those celebrating twenty-fifth anniversaries:
  • Stay close together in all things you do. Don’t dwell on problems; remember ‘for better or worse’ is even more important at this time of your life. (Elaine and Paul)
     
  • Trust and believe in each other. There will be hard times and good times, but no matter what, keep up the struggle. (Catherine and Alu)
     

 

Hurting Marriages  

Retrouvaille

A weekend and follow-up sessions for stressed marriages put on by trained priest and married couples who have survived marital difficulties; not counseling or group therapy. A registration deposit is required and a donation will be requested; finances should not prevent attendance.


Q: What is Retrouvaille?
A: The word means “rediscovery” for the program offers a chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse, and a loving marriage.


Q: How is this different from Marriage Encounter?
A: Marriage Encounter is designed to make a good marriage better while Retrouvaille is designed to bring a failing marriage back to life.  

Q: What situations can benefit from Retrouvaille?
A: If you or someone you know is thinking of separation or divorce, or are already separated but want to try again, Retrouvaille might be able to help. While this is a Catholic program, we welcome couples of all faiths. Since Retrouvaille is designed to help marriages, it is not recommended for those who are unmarried and living together.  

Q: How does Retrouvaille work?
A: Retrouvaille holds a live-in weekend for married couples during which a series of presentations is given to the group of couples attending. The presentations address issues that might be causing marital difficulty and emphasize a communication technique.  

Weekends:
       
October 17–19, 2008
        Fatima Renewal Center


Information and registration:
570-655-1916 toll free from Wilkes-Barre and Scranton,
otherwise call 800-470-2230
www.retrouvaille.org


Conflict Resolution

“Love is Not Enough” Workshops help couples learn how to communicate safely.

Learn how to dialogue and resolve a conflict with the help of a Catholic couple who integrate psychology and spirituality at the Thriving Families website 

Counseling

Catholic Social Services
822-7118 (Wilkes-Barre)
207-2283 (Scranton)
 

Additional resources and links

Susan Vogt, a Catholic parent and former Family Life Director for the Diocese of Covington, offers a “marriage moment” subscription, articles, and other resources at http://www.susanvogt.net 

For a tip on making your marriage thrive, visit the Thriving Families website
 

You might find the answer to your question about marriage or help for marriage at http://www.usccb.org/laity/marriage/marriagefaqs.shtml