In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis tells us that a couples wedding is just the beginning. By saying I do, they embark on a journey that requires them to overcome all obstacles standing in the way of their reaching the goal. The nuptial blessing that they are receiving is a grace and and incentive for this journey. They can only benefit from sitting down and talking to one another about how, concretely, they plan to achieve their goal. 218 Furthermore, he asks us as the People of God the important question: who is making an effort to strenghthen marriages, to help married couples overcome their problems, to assist them in the work of raising children and, in general, to encourage the stability of the marriage bond? (Paragraph 52) Intro / Overview: The following Marriage Enrichment Program and Resources answer Pope Francis call by providing parishes with an opportunity to journey with newlyweds and married couples and to give them the tools and support they need to survive and thrive in todays world. They also provide a teachable moment in which to catechize and evangelize newly married couples as they work to achieve the goal of a healthy, happy marriage and family life centered in God. They also help to assist married couples, on all stages of their journey, to grow and enrich in their relationship and that of their family. (Attention All Parishes: Please help the Office of Marriage & Family Life to build this resource! If you have any further parish or community programs or resources that you would like to recommend contact: Joan Vienna, at) The following programs have been piloted at parishes in the Archdioceses of Los Angeles and have proved effective in helping couples in all stages of marriage. They are also an important resource to help evangelize married couples and their families into the parish community! The Choice Wine: Seven Steps to an Abundant Marriage (English)The Choice Wine: 7 Steps to a superabundant marriage is a pathway to authentic marital happiness. Couples will learn how to virtually divorce-proof their marriages, experience the superabundant love and mercy of God and realize a foretaste of paradise in their marriages and families. The Choice Wine is a nine week, interactive, multi-media program specifically designed for married couples.The timing is flexible, though it is ideally suited to be offered during the Fall in the nine weeks preceding Thanksgiving and again during the Spring, coinciding with Lent Married couples meet once a week for approx. 1.5-2 hours, including refreshments, opening and closing prayers, material presentation, and small group discussion. This program can be used for the newly married (first five years) or with married couples of all age groups. The program consists of DVDs presentation with trained parish facilitator(s) help to lead the group sharing that are a part of each presentation. The Choice Wine, can be used in:
For more information, please visit the program website atwww.thechoicewine.org, or call (281) 974-3541. Program Costs The Choice Wine Home Version $99.95 Dynamic Catholic Better Together: Helping Couples Create Great MarriagesDynamic Catholic presents, Better Together Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Program, which helps couples create great marriages. You dream about your wedding day, your honeymoon, and growing old together. What about everything in between? BETTER TOGETHER equips you with the tools you need to build a lasting, happy, and faith-filled marriage. The program includes short and engaging videos, Marriage Prep/Enrichment Inventory, and a Couples Guide Package. For more information, please visit the program websiteor call (859) 980-7900. Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage (English)A 12 session DVD and manualized presentation used in a group or individual couple setting that explores the realities of marriage, and different aspects of the sacrament of marriage. In twelve sessions, Beloved explores the essential realities of Marriage, dealing with the deepest spiritual, emotional, and practical aspects of what the sacrament means for those preparing to get married as well as those who yearn for a richer married life. Through an exploration of Scripture, Tradition, and Church teaching, Gods plan for Marriage will come alive. This program will help you with that exploration, giving time-tested tools and advice to make the experience informative, inspirational, and life-changing through:
The Beloved Parish Edition has been structured for flexible use in either a Marriage Preparation or Marriage Enrichment setting. The Beloved Home Edition has been structured for use by couples at home with more focus on personal reflection. Program Costs Beloved Parish Edition $149.95 (DVD BOX SET of 12 DVDs) Beloved Couples kit Marriage Enrichment $194.85 (Includes 1 Beloved Parish Edition DVD Set, and 2 Couples Guides) Beloved Home Edition DVD Set $59.95 (The Beloved Home Edition is comprised of the first six episodes of the full Beloved Parish Edition, plus two Couples Guides for marriage enrichment) For more information, please visit the program website atwww.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/beloved, or call (866) 767-3155. Marriage Enrichment Inventories REFFOCCUS© Marriage Enrichment Inventory (English & Spanish)The REFOCCUS© Marriage Enrichment Inventory is a packet of five questionnaires that a married couple can use and score by themselves, as part of a weekend retreat, or in five weekly evenings in which the general topical areas are discussed with other couples. REFOCCUS is ideal for married couples who wish to spend time and energy on their relationship, but desire a little direction and skill building assistance in doing so. The REFOCCUS© Marriage Enrichment Inventory is a growth and enrichment tool, which can be taken by a married couple at any stage of their marital relationship. Couples independently indicate their agreement or disagreement with statements presented in six different sections of the REFOCCUS© Inventory, which can be taken over the course of days or weeks to allow the couple time for in-depth discussion and consideration. The inventory is not intended for use by individuals in seriously troubled marriages. Contact Program Costs PREPARE/ENRICH Marriage Mentor Program (English/Spanish)Implementing a marriage mentor program can be an exciting and powerful addition to the ministry or outreach of your church or community.
PREPARE/ENRICH is the leading relationship inventory and skill-building program used nationally and internationally. It is built on a solid research foundation and significantly improves a couples relationship. PREPARE/ENRICH is custom tailored to a couples relationship and provides couple exercises to build their relationship skills. With PREPARE/ENRICH, you will not just get a packet of instructions to figure out on your own. With our day-long workshops, youll get thorough training on the program, providing you with the skills you need to use the PREPARE/ENRICH materials most effectively. Youll learn how to:
For more information about the program, to find a facilitator in your area or how to become a facilitator, please visit the program website atwww.prepare-enrich.com, or call 1 (800) 331-1661. Program Costs PREPARE/ENRICH Group Program $35.00 Marriage and Family MovementsChristian Family Movement
Christian Family Movement (CFM) helps establish and support small discipleship groups for couples and families. Discipleship is accomplished through teaching one to use the methodology of observe, judge, act in their daily lives observing the situations around us, judging them in the light of Christs teaching and acting to make a difference. CFM is a life-charging ministry for families of all shapes, sizes and stages. #CFMACT For more information on how to become a member and CFM groups in your area, please contact Lauri Przybysz (800) 581 9824, ) or visit the organization website atwww.cfm.org. Active Chapter Locations: St. Lawrence Martyr Redondo Beach St. John Fisher, Rancho Palos Verdes World Wide Marriage Encounter (English & Spanish)A weekend retreat for couples with presentations, and experiences focused on improving communication between couples and strengthening marriages. A series of presentations made by the Presenting Team, consisting of 3 married couples and 1 priest. Each presentation builds on the last as we examine ourselves, our behaviors and attitudes, our relationship with our spouse and God. Communication tools are taught on the weekend helping couples connect in healthy, constructive ways on areas that can deepen their intimacy and connectedness. Marriage Encounter Weekends have been given in the US since 1967. Decades of research, planning and tried and true wisdom have gone into the content of the Weekend and how it unfolds for couples and religious. We ask all participants to attend ALL talks and participate intently using the tools with their Spouse in order to maximize their experience. All sharing between spouses is PRIVATE, and this is NOT a weekend to solve problems! This Weekend will help couples in good marriages communicate even better.
For more information about cost and program specifics, please visit the program website atwww.wwme.org. To find an upcoming Marriage Encounter weekend in your area, please visit the Find a weekend section of the website atwww.wwme.org/find-a-weekend. Organizing Couples: Hector and Gloria Reyes: (562) 832-0460 (Lakewood, Cerritos, Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, Downey) Call any couple on the list, they will be glad to help or direct you to the correct organizing couple. Marriage Encounter and Family Life Movement of California (English)The Marriage Encounter and Family Movement of California (MEFM), previously known as the Marriage Encounter in the Filipino Perspective (MEFP), is a spiritual movement dedicated to promote, support and strengthen the Sacrament of Marriage. The weekends start on Friday evening and conclude Sunday evening. Weekends are facilitated by trained team of married couples and 4 deacons, with presentations focused on improving communication and examination of the relationship. Supplemental functions and meetings are held throughout the year to support couples progress. Couples for ChristCFC provides a continuing program of pastoral and spiritual formation which includes Church teachings, Scriptures, Christian relationships, recollections and retreats. We are one with the Church and regularly seek her guidance through our Spiritual Director. Its members support their parish priests and are available for parish services. CFC is a working model for the development of Basic Ecclesial Communities and can hasten the formation of a strong and vibrant parish community. For more information, please visit the organization website atcouplesforchristusa.org. Online Marriage SupportFor your Marriage: USCCB Marriage and Family Life Website (English & Spanish) The For Your Marriage website offers practical help and advice whether youre seriously dating, engaged, or at any stage of married life. On the homepage check out the Daily Marriage Tips, book reviews, and blogs by engaged and married couples. Marriage Enrichment Speakers:  Dr. John Yzaguirre, Ph.D (English / Spanish) Dr. John Yzaguirre, Ph.D. and Claire Frazier Yzaguirre, M. Div., MFT, are licensed Psychologist and Marriage and Family therapist consultants and speakers to the churches for 30+ years. They specialize in premartial preparation and maritial enrichment, anxiety reduction and stess management. They are the co-directors of their Irvine counseling practice and their Thriving Marriages program atwww.ThrivingFamilies.com. They offer inspirational talks and a growing line of helpful resources, in both English and Spanish (Dr. John) on multiple topics to strengthen marriages and family life and couples of all ages and stages. Ideal for offering through Faith formation programs and as church-wide talks on Advent, Lent, Pentecost and summer programs. Dr. John is a regular speaker at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Religious Education Congress and for the Office of Family Life and Claire is a regular speaker at the Southern California Renewal Community Conferences (SCRC) and they present annually to 50+ churches/ conferences in our Southland CA area. Churches and marriage groups all over are using their Thriving Marriagetalks and resources to grow their marriage and faith ministries. To contact them, please visitwww.ThrivingFamilies.com John Yzaguirre, Ph.D, can be contacted atand Claire Frazier-Yzaguirre, MFT, M.Div. can be contacted ator can call (949) 851-1572. Judith McCord, LMFT (English) Ms. McCord has been active in a variety of ministries and is currently a member of a Womens Ministry team giving retreats and workshops.She also gives presentations on issues of grief, couple relationships, spiritual development, and family faith enrichment. Ms. McCord can be contacted at: (626)798-2332 and. Marriage Enrichment Books and Publications:THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES Dr. Gary Chapman identifies five basic languages of love and then guides couples towards a better understanding of their unique languages of love. Learn to speak and understand your mates love language, and in no time you will be able to effectively love and truly feel loved in return. Skillful communication is within your grasp! MARRIAGE: ITS A GOD THING A much richer understanding of the meaning of Christian marriage as a sacrament has evolved. This bookin concrete, practical ways tries to show how that can make a difference in the day-to-day lives of the couple striving for a happier, more fulfilling and holier marriage. From the Foreword THE FOUR KEYS TO EVERLASTING LOVE Drawing on real-life stories, scriptural principles, and the timeless wisdom of St. John Paul II to help you celebrate the sacrament of Marriage without downplaying the difficulties of married life. In doing so, they will inspire you to stay in love with each other, Christ, and the wisdom of the Church. (Ave Maria Press) PROJECT HOLINESS Project Holiness: Marriage as a Workshop for Everyday Saintscelebrates the holiness of the ordinary and the goodness of married discipleship. Vatican IIsLumen Gentiumreminds Catholics of the universal call to holiness. Each person-lay and ordained alike-shares this vocation to holiness, this call to sainthood. For most adult Catholics, it is within the context of vowed, married life that the joyful and challenging path to sainthood is traveled. A GUIDE TO CATHOLIC WEDDINGS A Guide to Catholic Weddings: Q&A for Couples provides the answers to common questions engaged couples have about the Catholic Church and the wedding ceremony. It is the perfect resource to use together and will help answer questions related to:
UNITEDIN CHRIST United in Christ: Preparing the Liturgy of the Word at Catholic Weddings is perfect for parish staffs to provide couples with a high quality and pastoral resource for preparing all aspects of the Liturgy of the Word for their wedding. This includes:
YOUR MONEY COUNTS SET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER NAVIGATING YOUR FINANCES GODS WAY GOD MARRIAGE & MONEY WHY MARRIAGE MATTERS: THIRTY CONCLUSIONS FROM THE SOCIAL SCIENCES THRIVING MARRIAGES / CASADOS Y FELICES A must read for every couple, dating, engaged or married of any age, and for the every faith & marriage leader! In this inspirational book, Dr. John and Claire Yzaguirre share a beautiful model of Christian marital unity and a practical roadmap of skills to achieve joyful and lasting unity. With helpful questionnaires and easy to apply try this exercises, along with inspiring soul chapters that integrate our faith seamlessly, this book helps couples (even those with little or no faith background) learn how to prepare for their marriage and grow their marital unity at every age and stage of their journey. Ideal for faith formation and for marriage ministries and couples small group discussion. Books and CDs on helpful topics are available in English and Spanish. |
