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. |
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~OMF Corner~
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"Hannah's Hope" - A Support Group for Infertility
One in seven married couples experiences infertility - you are not alone. We invite you to join us on Thursday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Pastoral Center as we share our stories, support each other in prayer, and share resources following Catholic teaching for infertility treatment. Registration required, please call Laura at (612) 616-0712 or email HannahsHopeMN@gmail.com
- July 19-25 – Celebrate Natural Family Planning Awareness Week!
- Humanae Vitae Award Reception, July 24, 7 p.m., St. Mary’s Cathedral
Join our celebration! We will begin with Mass at Saint Mary's Cathedral Crypt followed by the annual Humanae Vitae Award Reception.
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FOCA News
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has launched an email campaign to urge Congress to oppose the federal funding and promotion of abortion and to maintain the current policies that promote the dignity of each person from conception to a natural death. For an update on the latest concerns on the federal and state levels, click here. To find your representatives and senators e-mail addresses, click here. To determine which district you are in, click here.
Our vigilance in making our voice heard is key. Yet, this should always be in a spirit of prayer. It would be a good time to organize a Living Rosary for the unborn. For instructions on how to organize a Living Rosary, click here.
Spiritual Adoption Program
We are very excited to introduce the Spiritual Adoption Program. This program has been successfully piloted in some
of our parishes and schools in recent years and has proven to be very educational and meaningful to children and adults
alike. It touches on the three areas of pro-life involvement: prayer, education and service.
The program is very simple. Participants in the Spiritual Adoption Program pledge to pray for nine months for a baby
in danger of abortion. While this child will remain unknown to his or her “spiritual parent,” God knows who the child
is. Many people have found that naming “their child” helps to keep them focused on the reality that their prayers are
helping to save a particular baby from the harm of abortion.
Click here for more information. |
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Marriage Moments
(week of 6-29-09)
How much money is really necessary to have a happy marriage? Some would say, "just a little bit more." Living adequately but simply is an art that happy couples cultivate. Have you ever noticed that as your income rises it seems like your needs increase also?
(Tips courtesy of Susan
Vogt)
See For
Your Marriage for additional resources. |
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Parenting Pointers
(week of 6-26-09)
You may often say, "I love you" to a child, perhaps less often to teens lest you embarrass them. Sometimes changing the language can make it sound less routine and more hip. Why not teach your child how to say it in sign language. You can subtly send a message across a room.
(Tips courtesy of Susan
Vogt) |
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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!
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Below are audio
portions from the
Military Advocacy Training held July 12, 2008
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 |
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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.
PRAYERS
for those serving in
our military.
click here
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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 Association 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 |
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