Marriage and Family Life Enrichment

The Office of Marriage & Family Life provides a variety of workshops and missions at the parish level to help strengthen marriages by fostering an authentic Catholic understanding of marriage, human sexuality, and family life.

Rocky Mountain Catholic Men's Conference

What have you done for your marriage today?
In a June 27, 2007 press conference, Archbishop Chaput announced
a national PSA campaign, called "For Your Marriage,"
dedicated to strengthening marriages

The campaign, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops? Committee of Marriage and Family Life, emphasizes little acts of love for your spouse, stressing the idea strengthening marriages starting with small steps. The campaign also addresses the bigger issues such as communication skills, conflict resolution and finance management. Explore the complete "For Your Marriage" website at http://www.foryourmarriage.org/. Read Archbishop's press conference remarks on his Addresses page under the Archbishop's Corner.

The Marriage Course
The Marriage Course was designed by Nicki & Shila Lee in 1996. The Lees are on the staff at Holy Trinity Brompton, the London church that started the Alpha course.

The Marriage Course is a parish-based program of eight weekly sessions designed to help any married couple strengthen their relationship. It's a great opportunity to spend time together as a couple looking at the important issues in your marriage. Each week child care is provided and you are given the opportunity to enjoy a special meal together and listen to a talk. Then there is plenty of time to discuss the topic as a couple.

The Marriage Course is now being run in 28 countries. It is an extremely effective and enjoyable program that any parish can implement with ease.

Official website: themarriagecourse.org

Couples For Christ
Couples for Christ (CFC) is a parish based program intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life. Through the 12 week Christian Life Program members learn to commit themselves to the Lord and to one another so that they may grow in maturity as men and women of God and fulfill their primary vocation of raising up families under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Once the Christian Life Program is completed you are invited to join a cell group called a Household of about 4 to 6 couples who meet weekly for encouragement and mutual support in the Christian life.

Local Web site: www.CJCcolorado.org
International Web site:  http://couplesforchristglobal.org/v2.1/

Local Contact:
Joyce Dennison
Communications Director
Couples for Christ, Colorado
303-972-4504

Worldwide Marriage Encounter/ Encuentro Matrimanial Mundial
Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers a weekend experience designed to give married couples the opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. It's a chance to look deeply into their relationship with each other and with God. It's a time to share their feelings, hopes and dreams with each other. The emphasis of the Marriage Encounter weekend is on the communication between husbands and wives. The weekend provides a conducive environment for couples to spend time together, away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, while encouraging them to focus on each other and their relationship. It's not a retreat, marriage clinic, group sensitivity, or a substitute for counseling. It's a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Marriage. This is a time for you and your spouse to be alone together, to rediscover each other and together focus on your relationship for an entire weekend. Every marriage deserves that kind of attention!

Website: www.wwme.org

Retrouvaille
"Retrouvaille" is a French word meaning "rediscovery." This weekend program (with follow-up meetings) is designed for couples with troubled marriages, including separated or divorced couples, who are willing to make an honest effort to enter a process designed for resolution of conflict. It is not a retreat, sensitivity meeting, or "miracle cure." But it is very successful in fostering reconciliation. For more information, call Bill and Arlene Newlin at 303-973-2206 or 1-800-470-2230 or email denverretro@aol.com.

Official website: http://www.retrouvaille.org/

The Alexander House of Austin/Denver
"The Alexander House - Marriage Resource Center of Denver" is an extension of the Alexander House of Austin. Marriage coaching is now available and there will be a physical place to access audio, video and printed resources on the various aspects of marriage. The director of the center will also coordinate events and efforts to assist others in learning and living God's wonderful design for marriage.

Contacts
The Alexander House: (303) 840-1871, matt@thealexanderhouse.org
Matt & Mindy Dalton: (303) 840-2772, daltonkids6@msn.com
Website: www.thealexanderhouse.org

Familia
"Familia, Living the Splendor of Love," is an international Catholic outreach committed to strengthening the family. Their programs are directed at fostering the development of religious, moral, psychological and social values in the family.

Throughout the Denver area Familia promotes the Church's beautiful teachings concerning marriage and family life in small study groups. These are available for mothers, fathers and couples in many parishes. For information about joining one of these study groups contact Mike and Nancy Cordova at (303) 973-3606.

Official website: www.familiausa.net

"A Couples Weekend Retreat: The Experience & Celebration of Marriage"
The Marriage Celebration retreat offers couples a variety of specific techniques to enhance their marriage. Most marriages fall into patterns that can easily be adjusted to bring meaning and fun back into the marriage. What God has put together, let us celebrate forever!

Contact: David Peverley - 970-587-2080 or peverley@amgen.com

Apostolate for Family Consecration
Bloomingdale, Ohio
Jerry Coniker, President & Founder

Official website: www.familyland.org