Blessed Mary Angela Parish, Dunkirk
Hosted vicariate-wide sponsor couple training which included people from 4 parishes. Using the Perspectives on Marriage model taught by Tom and Jean Noonan from Family Life Ministry, the couples were given tools to effectively walk with engaged couples in a loving process of communication, prayer and learning.
For more information email Sr. Rachel Mikolajczak CSSF or call 716-366-7266
Ephiphany of Our Lord Parish, Langford
The parish chose to focus on the engaged and recently married by hosting monthly events that featured social, educational, and spiritual aspects that were different each time. They called the evenings "GNO" (Great Nigth Out series). Some of the parish's evenings included how to cook helathy with a cooking competition,
line dancing lessons from some of the parish's senior parishioners, and
vacation and honeymoon tips adn ideas.
Postcards, letters, text messages, and bulletin announcements were used to reach out to as many of the parishioners as possible in the milestone that they addressed.
The parish hosted a larger year-end celebration that fetured many of their veteran couples giving short presentations on their weddings, honeymoods, and thier journey of marriage. They completed by offering 2 to 3 tips on what has helped their marriage grow and last. Communication was a large focus.
The parish team received many great comments from all who have attended their monthly, and year-end events and the participants have continued to invite other family, friends, and parishioners to gatherings.
For more information email Jason and Mollie Baer or call 716-337-2686
St. Joseph University Parish, Buffalo
Created a Marriage Ministry Team with various roles:
- Mentor Couples – meet with couples before Pre-Cana Program
- Witness Couples – present witness talks on various topics at day long
- Pre-Cana Program
- FACET Couples –(Foundations Applied Conversation Tool) discuss the FACET indicator with engaged couples to help them to continue dialogue on the findings.
- Hospitality Couples – provide potluck dinner for the Pre-Cana Program
- Parish Gift couples- present the newly married couple with Family Bible and other items from the parish.
The parish has noticed the following results from the Marriage Ministry:
- Engaged couples have benefited from the witness talks and have recognized the importance of faith in a marriage.
- New relationships have been established between engaged couples and Mentor Couples.
- A sense of community has grown among the Marriage Ministry team and has strengthened their marriages.
- Issues and challenges have been identified in engaged couples through the FACET indicator and positive opportunities to discuss them have been made available.
To hear more about the program:
For more information email Patty Bubar Spear or call 716-833-0298
St. Gregory the Great Parish, Williamsville
“Marriage Matters: Making our spouses FIRST priority under God!” Encourages couples to a monthly “date night out” for an evening of fellowship, finger foods, and fantastic Catholic speakers. Babysitting is provided.
Topics include:
• How to carve out time alone in the midst of your family’s busy schedule
• Presenting a united front in disciplining the kids, discerning the will of God together in decision-making
• When you disagree: who gets the final word on which matters?
• Spiritual leadership of the family
• From potty training to choosing colleges: what does the Church have to say to us as parents?
The monthly program attracts 30+ couples.
For more information email Eileen Warner or call at 716-688-5678
To discuss this milestone further, please feel free to email Chris Hanley or call at 716-847-5521