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Women's Health Seminar
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Phil A. Webb Jr.
Director, 303-715-3259, fax: 303-715-2042
From
the Director
As we enter
the Third Millennium, evangelization and catechesis on the Church's
teaching on marriage and family life is even more important than
in the past. In a secular age that derides the value of marriage
and the family, couples are thirsting for the truth. Therefore,
theOffice of Marriage and Family Life for the Archdiocese of Denver
seeks to present the beauty of the truth of marriage and family
life to the people of Northern Colorado.
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Phil A. Webb Jr. , director of the office of Marriage and Family Life |
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The
Office takes its mandate to evangelize and catechize from the words
of the Holy Father in his Apostolic Letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte,
"...it is necessary to ensure that through an ever more complete Gospel
formation Christian families show convincingly that it is possible to
live marriage fully in keeping with God's plan and with the true good
of the human person..." (47). Living God's plan for marriage and family
life is difficult and cannot be done without God's grace and a radical
turning to Truth Himself, Jesus Christ. This must be done in order for
the family to live the exhortation of Pope John Paul II: "Family, become
what you are!" (Familiaris Consortio, 17).
And
what specifically is the family called to become? The answer to this question
can be found in the very first pages of Sacred Scripture. In the beginning,
God created man, male and female, and He created the family (cf. Gen.
1:27-28). He chose that the union of a man and woman in marriage should
be the foundation through which He communicates new life into the world.
This communion of husband and wife, which is free, total, faithful and
life-giving, is a community of persons that has the "...mission to guard,
reveal and communicate love..." (Familiaris Consortio,17).
Therefore,
to "become what it is" the family is to image the very life of God, who
is a loving, life-giving community of persons. Love is the expression
of man's gift of himself to another person. This then is truly the call
of the family. The family is called to love; to love each member, to love
members of society, to love God. The family by its nature is a communion
of persons. It is in the family that we learn to be united to each other,
to see the good in each other and to be unselfish. If the family "becomes
what it is" then the world can truly become a civilization of love.
The
Office of Marriage & Family Life makes as its goal the building up of
this civilization.
Mission
Statement
The
Office of Marriage and Family Life, according to the goals and mission
of the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis, exists to encourage,
equip, and build up the body of Christ in the Archdiocese of Denver through
a variety of programs and resources designed to promote an authentic Catholic
vision of marriage, human sexuality, and family life. Programs include
(but are not limited to) marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, natural
family planning classes, formation of Catholic family life groups and
the annual Anniversary Mass.
Marriage
Preparation
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The Office
of Marriage & Family Life sponsors both evening and weekend programs
throughout the year to help engaged couples prepare for the Sacrament
of Marriage. Contact the Office Coordinator at the above number
for more information.
To see a list of current classes and to register please click here.
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In conjunction
with the Denver Community of the Beatitudes, the office provides
couples the opportunity for a spiritually enriching marriage preparation
workshop if they are unable to complete parish or archdiocesan programs.
Please call Christian Meert at 719.471.9702 for more information.
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The office
also facilitates marriage preparation programs at the parish level
by offering training and consulting to parish marriage preparation
ministers.
Visit
the Marriage Preparation page
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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.
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The
Office of Marriage & Family Life also sponsors and promotes Marriage
Encounter and Retrouvaille (pronounced "retro-vie") weekends.
Marriage
Encounter is designed to help married couples communicate more intimately
with one another in order to deepen and enrich their marriage. An
atmosphere is created where the couple can concentrate exclusively
on one another in a private and confidential environment. For more
info call 303-805-1295, or visit the Marriage Encounter web page at
http://www.wwmedenver.org.
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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 303-973-2206 or 800-470-2230. Visit the Retrouvaille web page at www.retrouvaille.org
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Formation
of Catholic Family Life Groups
The Office of
Marriage & Family Life seeks to develop "Faith and Family" groups at
each parish in the Archdiocese.
The purpose of
these "Faith and Family" groups is to provide small faith communities
where the Catholic faith is learned, practiced and supported.
These groups will
study the teachings of the Church primarily in the area of marriage
and family life in order to build up the "civilization of love."
Please contact
the Director for more information on this iniative and/or to start a
group in your parish.
Annual
Anniversary Mass
This annual mass celebrated by Archbishop Chaput provides an opportunity
for the archdiocese to recognize the gift of marriage and celebrate
those who are commemorating 25th, 50th, and 50+ years of married life.
It is held either in August or September.
To register for
the Anniversary Mass, please contact your parish.
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