What have you done for your marriage today?

Our Church teaches that marriage is “an intimate partnership of life and love.” (Gaudium et Spes) Thus, marriage requires of both husband and wife a complete and unreserved giving of self. It requires couples to be emotionally and physically available to each other in the ordinary, messy events of each day, in times of joy and conflict, of sickness and health, until death. Marriage challenges couples to focus not only on their own love for each other (individualistic), but to let that love overflow to all others (communal). True love generates love in all areas of life. Just as automobiles need tune-ups, so, too, do marriages. The archdiocese provides the following support and moments of celebration for couples.

Wedding Anniversary Celebrations

Each year the archdiocese offers two Masses of thanksgiving for couples celebrating significant marriage anniversaries during the current year. Family and friends are encouraged to attend these celebrations.

For couples celebrating 5, 10. 15, 20, 25 years of marriage:

September 15, Noon at the Cathedral of the Assumption, 433 South Fifth Street, Louisville

For couples celebrating 30, 40, 50, 60 and 60+ years of marriage:

November 3, Noon at the Cathedral of the Assumption, 433 South Fifth Street, Louisville

Marriage Encounter Weekend

For couples who desire a richer, fuller life together
This weekend is designed to give married couples the opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication that can be used for the rest of their lives. It is a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Christian marriage. For a brochure, including a registration form, contact Family Ministries, 502-636-0296 or family@archlou.org. You can also visit the Marriage Encounter website at http://www.wwme.org.

Marriage Encounter Weekends

To register for a Kentucky or Indianapolis weekend, contact:

Mark & Jill Levine
317-888-1892

Or register online at http://www.wwme.org/find-a-weekend.html

Retrouvaille – for couples in struggling marriages

Retrouvaille – A Lifeline for Troubled Marriages

Couples of all ages, lifestyles and ethnic backgrounds come to this weekend. Some have already separated or divorced, but want to try again. Many are struggling to stay together. Common among all the couples is a sincere desire to build a stable, loving marriage. This program offers the tools for this to happen.

The weekend experience is combined with a series of six post-weekend sessions over three months. The main emphasis of the program is on communication between husband and wife as they examine their lives together in a new and positive way.

Louisville Weekend Dates

For information about a weekend or Retrouvaille locally, call 502/479-3329 and someone will return your call or email 3012@retrouvaille.org.

For general information and weekends across the nation, visit the Retrouvaille web site.

Teams of Our Lady

An international movement of married couples whose purposes are:

growth in the spiritual life of the couple and family through a program of prayer and study
growth in communication between husband and wife with a developing intimacy through shared prayer and regular in-depth talks
a way of life designed to make their Christian faith a daily living experience

For a local contact, call Family Ministries, 502-636-0296.

For information on the national level, visit www.teamsofourlady.org.

Resources

More from USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops):

Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan – the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral on marriage

Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage – This Ad Hoc Committee assists the bishops and state Catholic conferences in promoting and defending the authentic teaching of the Church regarding the nature of marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman directed to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children.

Others: