Marriage and Family Life
February 2024
Director's Message
February 2024
February, of course, is known for its mid-month date of February 14: St. Valentine's Day and that day's connection to love and romance. We live in a world that has basically forgotten the ideal of romantic love. True romance embodies a sense of a wooing and wonder of another person, one's beloved. Unfortunately, our broken, pornographic culture has marred the vision of romantic love in favor of the basest aspects of the relationship between men and women.
My birthday falls on Valentine's Day, so I have the perfect job of being the Marriage and Family Life Director promoting the authentic romance between men and women for the purposes of marriage and family life. If we consider the great historical romance that God has with His people, we realize romance has a much deeper meaning. Jesus is our bridegroom, and we are the Bride of Christ, the Church.
February is a month to celebrate the great passionate love God has for His Church, especially in the intimacy of offering His body for us on the altar and intimately entering the hearts of those who worthily receive Him in the Eucharist.
There's a lot happening in this newsletter. Please take a few minutes to scan through the list of offerings and resources. You might discover something you find helpful or that you would like to share.
Please note that coming up this weekend is the Catholic Men's Conference on February 3 at Holy Apostles Catholic Church in Meridian. I am sharing below information for the upcoming men's retreats in our neighboring Diocese of Baker.
National Marriage Week is coming up February 7-14, 2024. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate the vocation of marriage. Check the resource links below.
We appreciate when you share this e-newsletter with others who may benefit. If you are a parish leader, please consider putting a link to this newsletter in your regular e-news. If you are an individual, please forward the links to others who might want to attend one of our events.
P.S. We have an extra day this month since 2024 is Leap Year. Do something extraordinary and fun this coming Leap Day: February 29!
Blessings,
Jay Wonacott, MTS
Marriage and Family Life
Respect Life
208-350-7535
Email: jwonacott@rcdb.org
Fridays 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (MT). February 16, 23, March 1, 8, 15 and 22
As a guide to our conversations we will use the award-winning book: Raising a Catholic Family Today; Building a Domestic Church - a Handbook for Parents. The sessions will be led by Lindy Wynne of Mamas in Spirit and John Bosio, the author of the book.
Attendance is FREE. Attend one or all meetings as your schedule permits.
A copy of the book is required - available through our website: https://www.happy-together.net/raising-a-catholic-family-today/. A donation to Heart of Mary House is suggested.
For questions contact Lindy Wynne at mamasinspirit@gmail.com or John Bosio at Jbosio1@aol.com.
Sabado 24 de Febrero in the Dalles
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Únase a hombres católicos de toda la diócesis para charlas que inspiran, conversaciones que dan fortaleza y oraciones que nos ayudarán a convertirnos en los esposos, padres y hermanos que Dios nos llama a ser. Para obtener más información y registrarse: dioceseofbaker.org/mens-conference o llame a Bryce al 541-388-4004.
Saturday, March 16 in Redmond
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Join Catholic men from around the diocese for talks that inspire, conversations that give strength, and prayer that will help us become the husbands, fathers, and brothers God is calling us to be. For more info & to register: dioceseofbaker.org/mens-conference or call Bryce at 541-388-4004.
Together We Advocate
Tualatin, OR
Saturday, March 2, 2024 -- 8 A.M.- 5:30 P.M.
Oregon Right to Life invites you to join hundreds of advocates for the largest pro-life conference in the Pacific Northwest. Hear from national speakers Steve Wagner, Toni McFadden, Wesley Smith, and Alex Schadenberg as well as local experts; walk away educated and encouraged.
Early bird registration ends Sunday, February 4th, so claim your spot today! https://www.ortl.org/conference
St. John's Cathedral Parish Hall - Friday, Feb. 9th at 6:30PM
The Catholic Sacraments of service are Holy Orders and Matrimony, which are calls from God to share our lives with others in special ways, directed primarily to the salvation of others. In the case of Matrimony, it is a supernatural and natural institution that involves a covenant (not just a contract) between one man and one woman for the whole of life, for the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. Uniquely, the couple are the ministers of the sacrament, and the priest/deacon is the witness.
Staying Married: Parish Marriage Enrichment. This event will be held in St. John's Cathedral parish hall on Friday, Feb. 9th at 6:30PM. It will include a presentation by Fr. Tim on “Catholic vs. Secular Marriage,” we’ll be promoting an upcoming couples study that will be offered on “Habits for a Healthy Marriage” and we’ll enjoy some fun games, fellowship and food. Husbands note: Valentine’s this year is on Ash Wednesday, so this counts as a date! To register email Catholic.Marriage.Enrichment@gmail.com
For Lent this year: Improve Your Marriage!
Tuesdays from 7:00-8:00 p.m. (MT), February 13, 2024 through May 7, 2024, via Zoom
This year for Lent, we challenge you to grow in virtue and improve your marriage! “Habits for a Healthy Marriage” is a unique class that draws on the field of positive psychology and focuses on growth in virtues.
In his book, "Habits for a Healthy Marriage," psychiatrist Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons draws on his 40 years in practice to present twelve habits that can foster healing and growth in Catholic marriages. This book provides a foundation for couples to identify and resolve the major emotional conflicts that weaken their relationships and hurt their marriages.
Each week, the class covers a chapter in the book that names a common marital problem along with a particular virtue that can help couples to overcome that problem. Along the way Dr. Fitzgibbons also incorporates the luminous writings of Saint John Paul II on marriage as well as the timeless wisdom of the Catholic Church.
Whether you are newly engaged, recently married, or married for many years, the conflict-resolving and healing strategies described in this book can help you to protect your relationship from the emotional storms that often lead to quarreling and mistrust, and sometimes to separation and divorce.
The weekly classes are in Bible study-like format with participants sharing thoughts on discussion questions that help provide different perspectives on each week’s chapter concepts.
“Habits for a Healthy Marriage” class will meet each Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. (MT),
February 13, 2024 through May 7, 2024, via Zoom. Call to sign up today!
For more information or to register contact Shannon and Shelly Batman at 208-863-8569 or email shelly.batman63@gmail.com.
University of Virginia sociologist Brad Wilcox explains how our ruling class publicly disparages marriage – the institution most likely to deliver prosperity and happiness to ordinary Americans – while privately embracing it.
The good news, however, is that millions of Americans are succeeding at marriage. Dr. Wilcox spotlights four groups—Asian, conservative, religious, and college-educated Americans—who are building strong and stable marriages by defying the me-first messages of our elites in favor of a family-first way of life.
To be released on February 13, 2024. PRE-ORDER TODAY
The Diocese of Boise Marriage and Family Life Office has teamed up with Building a Eucharistic Marriage to offer a 7-part program for your parish to help couples grow in love and focus their marriage on Christ! This parallels the important work our Church is doing to embrace a Eucharistic Revival. This program does both - it deepens love of Jesus in the Eucharist while helping couples to build a Eucharist marriage. We are receiving a 20% discount for parishes to purchase and offer this series in their communities. Please see the link on the Marriage and Family Life home page for more information. I encourage you to consider offering this program in your parish this year. Learn more about it, click here: Eucharistic Marriage.
https://www.restorecatholicmarriage.com/restore-part-1
https://www.restorecatholicmarriage.com/affair-recovery-triage
Recording of Live Class by Springs of Love Catholic Foster &Adoption Stories
A livestream presentation on how to parent kids from hard places using Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) principles. The presenter is Jodi Goettemoeller, MS, LCPC., who works for Catholic Charities of Idaho and has offered Catholic Connected Parenting Classes through the Office of Marriage and Family Life.
According to social scientists at the Institute for Family Studies, the battleground for religious formation is the family. The most important years for religious formation are the years spend in the home up to age 13.
A survey by the Pew Research Center found that over the years, from 1991 to today, kids, younger and younger have started saying that religion is “not at all important to them”. In 1991, 13% of 8th graders were saying that religion was not important to them. In 2021 almost 25% of 8th graders said the religion was not important to them. Our children are being secularized younger and younger.
To help parents create a home environment that nurtures their children's faith, consider the award-winning book Raising a Catholic Family Today; Building a Domestic Church – A Handbook for Parents, which has been praised by parents and educators.
Watch The Mission of the Family, a five-episode video series created by the Knights of Columbus that explores God's incredible design for marriage and the family. Be inspired by the encouraging stories of spouses and families living out the Lord's plan for their holiness, even in a chaotic, post-Christian world.
A Course for Discerning Marriage
What's Next Step?
Next Step is an exciting new initiative of the Theology of the Body Institute. It is an 8-part formation program for people who are discerning marriage. Based heavily on Pope St. John Paul II’s ideas for proximate preparation for marriage, Next Step walks seriously dating couples through topics that John Paul II highlights as important for people who think they want to get married but aren’t yet engaged. Through 8 hours of dynamic & enthusiastic presentations, accompanied with a detailed workbook, couples will get to deep dive into their own hearts and the heart of Christ as they take the next step in their discernment journey.
Walking with Moms in Need
Attached is a flyer with a QR code that links to this website. Feel free to print this flyer for display at events and/or publish it in your parish bulletin.
Life-Giving Wounds: A Catholic Guide to Healing for Adult Children of Divorce or Separation
More...
Marriage for Life Decal
“Marriage for Life” English and Spanish decals are available. The cost of a single decal packet in English or Spanish is $3.00. However, the bulk rate price is $2.50 for the purchase of 25 or more decals. These funds go toward sustaining the Marriage for Life Campaign. Each packet includes a decal, instructions for application and a beautiful Marriage for Life prayer.
“Marriage for Life” lapel pins are also now available. The cost is $2 per pin. Orders can be made through the Marriage and Family Life Office. You can contact us directly at 208-350-7535 or email jwonacott@rcdb.org.
Please continue to support this effort by directing your parishioners to the www.marriageforlifedecal.com webpage.
Calcomanía de Matrimonio para toda la Vida
Tenemos calcomanías disponibles en inglés y español de “Matrimonio para toda la vida”. El costo de un paquete de calcomanías en inglés o español es de $ 3:00. Sin embargo, el precio de mayoreo es de $2.50 por la compra de 25 o más calcomanías. Estos fondos se destinan a sostener la campaña Matrimonio para toda la vida. Cada paquete incluye una calcomanía, instrucciones para la aplicación y una hermosa oración de Vida Matrimonial.
Los pines de solapa “Marriage Life” ahora también están disponibles. El costo es de $2 por pin. Los pedidos se pueden hacer a través de la Oficina de Matrimonio y Vida Familiar. Puede contactarnos directamente al 208.350-7535 o enviar un correo electrónico a jwonacott@rcdb.org
Continúe apoyando este esfuerzo dirigiendo a sus feligreses a la página web http://www.marriageforlifedecal.com/