Welcome.
I don't know about you, but March sure snuck up on me. Probably because things are getting very busy in the Office of Marriage and Family Life. In this newsletter you'll read more about the upcoming Marriage Retreats, resources for family life at home and in parishes, dates for marriage preparation programs, and more.
I want to say a special "hello" and "welcome" to Catholic School faculty and parents who may be reading this newsletter for the first time. I hope you will find it helpful. Click here to subscribe so you will continue to get this newsletter directly in your inbox each month.
Danny May, Director
Marriage & Family Life Office
270-683-1545
danny.may@pastoral.org
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Invest in Your Marriage During This "Year of Encounter"
- by Danny May 
It was a busy week.
Many married couples raising kids can relate. My wife had a meeting one night. I was crunching deadlines at work. There were a few late nights helping kids with homework. And a few squabbles with the kids. The busyness of it all seemed to be short-circuiting the lines of communication between us. By the time the kids were in bed Thursday night, we just didn't have the energy left to address the issue so it went unresolved.
But thankfully Joe Bland asked us to attend the diocesan marriage retreat last March and the weekend afforded us the opportunity to get away and address some areas where our relationship needed to grow. We came home from that marriage retreat in a much healthier place in our relationship.
Fast forward nine months later and all of a sudden I was the guy booking this year's marriage retreat as the new Director of Family Life. In my job interview, Bishop Medley asked me to read Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. In it, Pope Francis devotes an entire chapter to "love in marriage" (Chapter 4) calling parishes and dioceses to increase our efforts in what he calls "Post-Cana." In other words, the Church does a good job of preparing couples for marriage (for example: Pre-Cana, Engaged Encounter, Mentor couples) and we offer help for struggling marriages (for example: Retrouvaille) but what can the Church do to help existing marriages last?
When I read that challenge from Pope Francis it immediately rang true and I knew there was more we could be doing as the Church of Western Kentucky. Thankfully, there are parishes in our Diocese doing great work to support marriages through such things as parish men's groups like That Man is You, parish "date nights", and parish-sponsored programs like Beloved and Covenant of Love. I also believe things like the annual Catholic Men's Conference and women's retreat serve the same mission of strengthening marriages. As I continue to visit with priests in the Diocese, I am collecting a list of successful parish events and programs so other parishes can implement them as well.
So in light of that, I want to draw your attention to three opportunities for married couples in our Diocese to invest in their marriages during this Year of Encounter:
- The first is Encountering the Gift of Marriage retreat for married couples sponsored by the Office of Family Life April 13-15, 2018, at Kenlake Resort Lodge in Hardin, Kentucky. The retreat will be led by Bob Perron, co-founder of Catholic Marriage and Family, Inc., who will use humor and personal experiences to encourage and inspire couples. Encountering the Gift of Marriage offers married couples a chance to get away and deepen their relationship in a beautiful, relaxing setting, and includes Saturday evening Mass, social times, and a chance for confession.
- If you can not get away for an entire weekend, you might consider the Formula for a Successful Marriage day of recollection at the Passionist Monastery (near Whitesville, KY) Saturday, April 21, 2018, from 8am-3:30pm. The retreat director for the day is Fr. Lou Caporiccio, from the Fathers of Mercy. Click here for more information and registration, or contact Christie Swanson, Passionist Monastery Retreat House Administrator, at 270-302-8023.
- The Mount St. Joseph Conference and Retreat Center (Maple Mount, KY) is also hosting a Marriage Retreat Oct. 26-28, 2018. The theme is ”Falling in LOVE, Staying in LOVE AND Finding God in it all.” The retreat will be led by Catholic authors and retreat masters M. Bridget Brennan and Jerome L. Shen and will focus on integrating marriage with the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius. Contact Sr. Mary Matthias Ward at 270-229-0200 for more information.
Like I mentioned before, I can tell you from personal experience that the marriage retreat my wife and I attended last March was well worth our time and money and we are looking forward to our time together at Encountering the Gift of Marriage in April. Life gets busy. And just like we schedule maintenance for vehicles and check-ups with doctors, if we aren't intentional about maintaining our marriages, problems can occur over time. A retreat or day of recollection is a great way to schedule a tune-up or check-up for our marriages.
I say all that to say this: one of the goals of the Office of Marriage and Family Life is to ensure there are a wide variety of opportunities to enrich marriages both on the diocesan level and parish level.
If you're interested in finding or hosting a marriage enrichment program or event in your parish or deanery, call or email today and I'll do all I can to help you plan something that will not only strengthen your marriage, but also your parish and community as well.
It's worth it.
Like Pope Francis says in the introductory paragraph of Chapter 4, "We cannot encourage a path of fidelity and mutual self-giving without encouraging the growth, strengthening and deepening of conjugal and family love." (Emphasis added.)
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Encounter Moments at Home
- by Elaine Robertson, Director of Faith Formation
 As we approach Holy Week, we remember the adults who are entering the faith through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and receiving the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night (March 31).
To remind each of us of the importance of our baptism, celebrate the day of each family member’s baptism as you would their birthdays. After all, baptism is being born as an adopted son/daughter of God. As the Catechism states, “Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission” (CCC 1213).
One way to do this is by sharing pictures from your child's baptism and recalling who was present to celebrate. Grandparents, Godparents, other family, and friends.
Do you still have any gifts from the day?
Is the baptismal stole or candle in storage somewhere?
Who did you chose to be Godparents and why?
What else do you remember about your child's baptism?
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Did you know?
The Office of Faith Formation webpage has resources for sharing faith at home with children and family. The Faith Formation and Marriage & Family Life Offices at McRaith Catholic Center (in Owensboro) both have books and other resources available for parents to borrow in both Spanish and English.
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Online Resources:
(a run-down of the best websites I've come across since last issue)
ProtectYoungMinds.org - Protect Young Minds™ (PYM) seeks to help parents “porn-proof” their kids before they come across highly addictive and easily accessible internet pornography. Additionally, PYM offers guidance for families whose children have already been hurt by pornography, and hopes to serve as a “force multiplier” by empowering proactive people who want to educate their local communities.
Focus on the Family 2018 Parent's Guide to Technology - Up to date information on how kids are using mobile and online devices, and how that participation can impact them physically, psychologically, emotionally and socially.
AlexanderHouse - The Alexander House features online eCourses and coaching to assist you in building and strengthening your marriage, family or relationship.
CatholicMiscarriageSupport.com - Resources, support, and Q&A from a Catholic perspective for those who have experienced a miscarriage.
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Looking for a way to pray more during Lent? The Office of Marriage and Family Life will be posting daily reflections on Chapter 4 ("Love in Marriage") of Amoris Laetitia during Lent on our Facebook page.
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Save the Date…
Married Couple's Retreat
The 2018 married couple retreat “Encountering the Gift of Marriage” will be the weekend of April 13-15 at Kenlake State Resort Lodge in Hardin, KY. Please save the date and make plans to attend. The 30 couples who attended last year had a tremendous time. This year’s retreat leader will be Bob Perron, co-founder of Catholic Family and Marriage, Inc. Click link above to register...
Stories of Hope and Healing: Rebuilding After Divorce
An informal panel discussion where panelists will share witness stories from their own experience of divorce. We’ve scheduled these sessions in four locations across the diocese to allow multiple opportunities to attend. The Tribunal Office will conduct a follow-up session in each location a month later to offer information regarding declarations of invalidity.
Monday, April 9 @ St. Thomas More, Paducah | 6:30pm
Tuesday, April 17 @ St. Romuald, Hardinsburg | 6:30pm
Tuesday, April 24 @ Holy Spirit, Bowling Green | 6:30pm
Tuesday, May 1 @ Our Lady of Lourdes, Owensboro | 6:30pm
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Family Day at Gasper
Family Day at Gasper River returns Sunday, August 19, with a day focused on "Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist." Includes activities, reflections by Fr. Mike Williams, and closing Mass with Bishop Medley.
Marriage Retreat at Mount St. Joseph Retreat Center
Mount St. Joseph Conference and Retreat Center is hosting a Marriage Retreat Oct. 26-28, 2018. The theme is ”Falling in LOVE, Staying in LOVE AND Finding God in it all.” Contact Mary Matthias Ward at 270-229-0200 for more information.
Pre-Cana Dates:
March 24 @ St. Thomas More, Paducah
April 28 (Spanish) @ Christ the King, Madisonville
June 2 @ Gasper River
August 18 @ Gasper River
September 8 @ St. Thomas More, Paducah
October 27 (Spanish) @ Christ the King, Madisonville
November 3 @ Gasper River
Engaged Encounter: April 14/15 & October 6/7
Once More With Love: August 25
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Summer Camp Registration Now Open
Gasper River Summer camp registration is now open for grades 3/4th - 12th. The registration process for summer camp has been updated and improved! All forms are now completed online, so no more printing and mailing forms. Camp descriptions and promo videos for each camp can be found on the site as well.
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