Christian
Family Movement
The Christian Family Movement (CFM) is comprised of small groups
of five to seven families who experience those special ingredients
of fun...sharing...praying...and a sense of belonging to a close
caring Christian community. CFM provides a place to share values,
life, faith and a place to experience Christ. CFM uses the dynamics
of group discussion and group action to enable members to grow
as Christians, spouses, parents and as people. CFM is a change
agent that improves family, parish and community life. CFM: strengthens
marriages, builds leaders, deepens faith, develops strong families
and raises social consciousness. For more information and/or
an organizational meeting in your parish, contact
the OMF office.
Koinonia
Koinonia is a community experience in Christian living, especially
designed for adults. Koinonia has a two-fold purpose. The first
is to provide a time and place for adult Christians to experience
the reality of Christian community, fellowship and sharing--that
is to say ÒKoinonia.Ó Paul, in his Epistles, uses the Greek word "koinonia" to
describe the early church, that newly-formed group of Christian
believers who looked to each other for faith-sharing support.
The second purpose is to provide a depth of faith-sharing support
that allows and challenges interior renewal for each participant
at their own level. Renewal often brings about a desire to serve.
Koinonia can rightly be called a "renewal" program in this respect.
For more information write:
Koinonia
Ray & Cele Silvers
229 First Street NE, Box 646
Richmond, MN 56368-0646
320-597-2418
National
Marriage Encounter
A Marriage Encounter weekend is an invitation for married couples
to discover themselves more fully in an accepting and loving
atmosphere. During the weekend they examine their relationship
to each other, their family, God and society. The emphasis is
on open and honest communication, but communication with a special
zest and life which leads to a growing awareness of the strength,
beauty and uniqueness of themselves and their marriage. It is
a strictly private weekend between husband and wife. It is not
a group therapy or sharing. There is no marriage counseling.
It is not sensitivity training.
An encounter is for married couples of all ages and religious
faiths. The weekend provides couples the opportunity to explore
the meaning of their lives and relationship with God, but it
is not intended to strengthen any one particular faith. It is
for any couple who desires a better marriage. For more information,
contact:
National Marriage Encounter
320-252-3220
home.att.net/~StCloudME
Natural
Family Planning
Modern Natural Family Planning is being successfully used world
wide.
Instructors in the Diocese of St. Cloud are certified to teach
the Billings Ovulation Method and the Sympto-Thermal Method.
Classes are held in hospitals, clinics and homes for any couple
wishing to learn a natural method of child spacing.
NFP helps couples to be more aware of their combined fertility,
opens new avenues of communication and adds an enriching dimension
to marriage. Couples who wish to achieve or avoid pregnancy,
those who are breast-feeding and those discontinuing contraceptive
family planning are given personal attention through the classes
and individual consultation.
Statistics from the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services show
a method effectiveness of 98% for modern NFP. To contact a certified
NFP instructor in your area, call or write:
Office of Marriage & Family
305 7th Ave N, Suite 100
Saint Cloud, MN 56303-3631
320-252-4721
800-624-9019
Refoccus
REFOCCUS is a packet of five exercises which a married couple
can use by themselves. The title "REFOCCUS" stands for
Relationship Enrichment Facilitating Open Couple Communication,
Understanding & Study. Each of the five exercises focuses on
a different area: Marriage As A Process, Intimacy, Compatibility,
Communication and Commitment.
Each exercise contains a series of statements which each partner
answers separately. The couple self-scores the exercise to get
a profile of their current strengths and weaknesses. There are
in-depth questions for each statement which provides direction
for the couple to discuss, and builds their relationship. Reading
material is provided which gives insight on an overall approach
to study, discussion, and understanding.
REFOCCUS order forms are available or you may purchase REFOCCUS
for $11 per couple packet by contacting
the OMF office.
Retrouvaille
- A Ministry for Hurting Marriages
The Retrouvaille Program consists of a weekend experience with
six follow-up sessions. Couples from all ages and backgrounds
come to Retrouvaille. Some are separated or divorced, but want
to try again. Many have struggled to stay together, sometimes
with outside help, but more often not knowing where to turn.
What all these couples have in common is a sincere desire to
build a stable relationship.
It is designed to assist in relationship building rather than
problem solving. The main emphasis of the program is on communication
between husband and wife. It gives couples the opportunity to
rediscover each other and to examine their lives together in
a new and positive way.
The program helps husbands and wives communicate and gain awareness
of themselves as individuals and their relationship. The post-weekend
phase is as crucial to a troubled marriage as the initial weekend
experience. For more information call:
Jerry & Carol Jansen
2508 14th St S
Saint Cloud, MN 56301-4850
320-255-5314
www.retrouvaille.org
Together
Encountering Christ (TEC)
Together Encountering Christ is a three-day Catholic retreat
experience. In a fun Christian atmosphere, youths and adults
encounter Christ
in one another through experiences in prayer, liturgy, informal
discussions, spiritual talks and dialogue with peers and adults.
TEC began as a program for high school seniors, but today hundreds
of adults and young adults take part in TEC weekends all across
the country. Participants must be at least 16 years of age.
The focus of the TEC weekend is the Pascal Mystery of Christ,
His death and resurrection. By focusing on this core element
of the Christian faith, participants come to experience Jesus
Christ Risen and Alive today in themselves, in one another and
in the Christian community.
Located in Belle Prairie, MN, Central Minnesota TEC has at least
one TEC weekend each month. For additional information contact:
Central Minnesota TEC
516 School St
Anoka, MN 55303-2349
763-323-8178
fax 763-323-2974
www.cmTEC.org
Worldwide
Marriage Encounter
Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends are presented for couples
that wish to revitalize their Sacrament of Matrimony.
The joy of the weekend comes alive as couples rediscover themselves
and each other through open, honest and loving communication.
These skills can be used throughout their married lives. Freshness
and excitement are rekindled as couples share the weekend away
from the distractions and stress of today's world.
Married couples of all faiths and ages, as well as priests and
religious wishing to enhance their own sacraments, are welcomed
on the weekend. Presentations are given in a group setting by
Catholic couples and a priest, but couples share in the privacy
of their own rooms (no group sharing).
Post-weekend participants can meet to affirm and encourage continued
growth in their vocations and to support Christian family values.
Contact:
888-455-3496
www.WWME.org
