Mission Statement The mission of the Office of Marriage & Family is to assist families in living a Christ-centered life in accord with Catholic Church teaching on human sexuality, marriage and responsible parenthood. Our programs promote growth throughout the different stages of life, fostering the dignity of the human person from conception to a natural death. We are dedicated to proclaiming the presence of Jesus Christ in our families and our daily lives.

~OMF Corner~ SEPTEMBER 22 - Celebrate Family Day! A national initiative to remind parents that what your kids really want at the table is YOU! Their mission: A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children is a national movement to inform parents that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America's kids substance free. Family Day reminds parents that Dinner Makes A Difference! SEPTEMBER 29 - Diocesan Ministry Day OCTOBER is Respect Life Month. Marriage Moments (week of 8-25-08) On hot, muggy summer nights you might feel that the romance of your courtship is history. Summon up your energy and do something crazy, playful, and cooling. Run through a sprinkler, take a moonlit walk, catch fireflies. Be silly. If nothing else you'll have a story to remember. (Tips courtesy of Susan Vogt) See For Your Marriage for additional resources.   Parenting Pointers (week of 8-22-08) So your kid's not listening to you. Humor helps. Try exaggerating your request to the point of silliness. Perhaps start a playful tradition of putting something in her shoe or down his back when your child is in a funk. (I used to hide carrots in odd places in one child's possessions just to bring a smile.) (Tips courtesy of Susan Vogt) Legislative Action - See the latest Action Alerts from the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA). Check back often as things can change quickly!       PRAYERS for those serving in our military. click here Below are audio portions from the Military Advocacy Training held July 12 in St. Cloud. Linda Ritchie, who is actively involved in the Befrienders Ministry, offers advice and tips on listening and advocacy skills. Click here to listen Time: 20:25 Mike Mynczywor, LICSW from the St. Cloud VA Medical Center provides referral information for returning military regarding their health care and dental needs. Click here to listen Time: 32:45 Yolanda Von Itter, Family Assistance Coordinator with the Family Assistance Center at Camp Ripley. The National Guards role in keeping in contact with families through deployment and reintegration. Click here to listen Time: 7:25 Below is an audio portion from Diocesan Ministry Day held Oct. 1, 2007 in St. Cloud. Gail Mossman, MN National Guard State Youth Coordinator. She represents the MN National Guard as a State Partner in the MN Operation: Military Kids program. Click here to listen Time: 1:02:38 NB:Large file   Military Support Many men and women from central Minnesota are members of the United States military and are serving both in the United States and overseas. Some of these brave men and women will be returning home this summer. About the same time, others will be deployed, maybe for the second time. How does the Church and parish reach out to families while their loved-one is deployed? What are the soldiers and families needs during this time of separation? How does the parish community welcome the soldier home and assist the family through the subsequent months as they reintegrate? To assist military families, an advocacy program is being initiated. An advocate is a person or persons in each parish who can coordinate the needs of the soldiers and families from their parish. Click here for more details.       Partially funded by the Annual Diocesan Appeal, we will continue our work of strengthening families, promoting the dignity of each person and proclaiming Christ to the world. "You have a mission to fulfill, a mission of love which must begin in your homes, in the place where you are, with the people you are closest to; and only then spread out." -- Mother Theresa of Calcutta The Office of Marriage & Family is a member of the National Assosication for Catholic Family Life Ministers (NACFLM). NACFLM is a growing association of professional ministers within the Catholic Church who work with, for and beside families. Visit their website at: www.nacflm.org About Us   Our History