Table of Contents
Marriage Preparation - Sponsor Couple
Marriage and Parenting Resources
Welcome! Our ministry is to help you prepare for marriage. The Diocese of Davenport requires the following: 1) formal marriage preparation program, 2) necessary documents and forms, 3) a pre-marital inventory (FOCCUS or Catholic Couple Checkup) Several options are available for the formal marriage preparation program: 1) Marriage Preparation Weekend, 2) Sponsor Couple, 3) On-line. We know that is will be a gime of grace as you prepare for your marriage.
Marriage: Unique for a Reason:
An initiative of the USCCB. The Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage is seeking feedback on its website www.marriageuniqueforareason.org and two DVDS/videos: Made for Each Other and Made for Life. If you have used this website or the videos your completion of a 15-minute survey would be appreciated. It can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/USCCBmarriageuniqueforareasonsurvey. The survey will be available until May 14. Completed surveys will be eligible to win a gift of pastoral and catechetical resources from the USCCB.
Marriage Encounter Retreat Weekend:
Marriage Preparation Weekend Registration:
The Diocese of Davenport sponsors a marriage preparation program in a one-weekend format for couples preparing for marriage for the first time. We use a resource for couples preparing for Christian marriage entitled, “For Better and For Ever” by Rev. Robert Ruhnke, C.SS.R.
Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Please note that times may vary due to the local Mass schedule.
Fee:
$125 per couple covers all books and materials plus breakfast, lunch and
snacks for both days. Does not include lodging.
The program will be held on the following scheduled Saturdays and Sundays:
2012 Dates
January 28-29: Bettendorf, St. John Vianney, registration deadline is January 20 (limited to 40 couples)
February 25-26: Bettendorf, St. John Vianney,
registration deadline is February 17 (limited to 40 couples)
Additional dates/locations pending
For information about marriage preparation in our diocese contact Barb Butterworth at 563-324-1911 or butterworthb@davenportdiocese.org or IlaMae Hanisch, 641-791-3435 or hanisch@davenportdiocese.org.
Marriage Preparation-Sponsor Couple:
If you would like to schedule a sponsor couple in your area, please contact your parish priest.
Marriage Preparation - Online:
This online program has been approved by the Diocese of Davenport as a formal marriage preparation program. To register and pay online please visit www.themarriagegroup.com. Please keep a copy of your certificate on completion of the program for your records and your priest.
Changes are effective July 1. Only two options for scoring will become effective next month: On-line scoring and FOCCUS, Inc. Scoring Service. Parishes will no longer be using local software to score the inventories.
Free Quarterly E-Newsletter for Engaged, Recently Married, or Couples who work with engaged couples:
Ave Maria Press is sponsoring a free e-newsletter (quarterly editions) for engaged or recently married couples and for couples who work with engaged couples. Couples may register online www.avemariapress.com click on the Together for Life E-Newsletter link on the left menu bar. For more information contact IlaMae Hanisch 641-791-3435 hanisch@davenportdiocese.org.
The USCCB has a website devoted to marriage, www.foryourmarriage.org. There are many articles, interactive surveys, references that support and promote healthy relationships. There is information for those who are dating, engaged, married, and the theology of marriage. The web site also addresses issues in marriage, parenting and family as well as linking to resources and organizations for help in strengthening relationships.
Marriage and Parenting Resources:
"Marriage Moments and Parenting Pointers." This is produced by Susan Vogt and she has excellent resources to support couples and families. Go to her website to review her ample resources: http://www.suanvogt.net/index.html. You have permission to include them in your parish bulletin or newsletter (giving the appropriate source information as a footnote) or have a link to them on your parish website.
Monthly Marriage Moments and Parenting Pointers:
Family Life Ideas You Can Use:
"The family is to serve life, both physically by bringing children into the world, and spiritually by handling on values and traditions as well as developing the potential of each member to serve life at every age." From Familiaris Consortio, 21. An excellent web site for parenting, an extension of Boys Town, may be found at www.parenting.org. This website has valuable resources, articles and stories that offer parenting help in today's world. It is easy to use with quick tabs to search by age of children/youth or by topic. We have a few copies of Common Sense Parenting for review. If you'd like a copy of other family life information contact IlaMae Hanisch at hanisch@davenportdiocese.org.
A Natural Family Planning three-part series:
Three-part series will be held January 16, February 20, and March 19. All sessions will take place in the Fanning Room at the Mercy Plaza, Iowa City. Persons attending are asked to sign up online at www.ccli.org. For more information contact the Pastoral Care office at Mercy Hospital, 319-339-3556 or the course instructors, Gary and Geralyn Ward, 319-360-4964. Sessions are sponsored by Mercy Hospital and the Couple to Couple League. Here is a list of couples in our diocese that have been trained in Natural Family Planning instructors.
M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing):
This program of spiritual enrichment is designed to help women have a greater awareness of their inner sacred self and teach them new ways to inspire and affirm each other. Renee J. Crock has led several MOMS groups in her parish and she has completed training with Sr. Paula Hagen (MOMS co-creator) at St. Paul's Monastery in St. Paul, MN. We welcome her as a regional coordinator. If you have MOMS groups in your parish please let her know how she might resource you. If you would like more information about MOMS or would like to start this program, please contact Renee at rjayck@iowatelecom.net or 563-886-1249.
Chancery Address: 780 West Central Park Ave., Davenport, Iowa 52804-1901
Phone: 563-324-1911 Email: communication@davenportdiocese.org
© Diocese of Davenport 2011
