RAINBOWS® is a program which provides support for children and adolescents who are grieving a loss from a life altering crisis such as death or divorce. RAINBOWS® enables those grieving to share their feelings in an accepting, supportive, confidential small group environment facilitated by trained, caring and compassionate adults. Program sites may send their volunteers to the following training sessions at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville.

Pre-registration is required. The cost for new coordinator training is $35.00. Please call 815-838-5334 for new site start-up, for training information or to register, or see the registration form.

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER: Catholic Engaged Encounter sponsors weekends to prepare couples for marriage. Engaged couples are given the opportunity to talk honestly and intensively about their prospective life together. Topics include an assessment of the couple’s strengths and weaknesses, ambitions and goals, attitudes about money, sex, children, family, and relationship to the Church. Personal reflection and communication are the main focus. Engaged Encounter is approved as a marriage preparation program.

The upcoming 2010 dates are as follows: Sept 17-19, Oct 15-17, Nov 19-21, and Dec 17-19. Please see the brochure for more information or to register.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER: A weekend designed to help married couples communicate more intimately with one another in order to deepen and enrich their relationship. Take a new look at your marriage! For more information or to register, please call 630-577-0778 or on the web at www.wwme.org

RAINBOWS® is a program which provides support for children and adolescents who are grieving a loss from a life altering crisis such as death or divorce. RAINBOWS® enables those grieving to share their feelings in an accepting, supportive, confidential small group environment facilitated by trained, caring and compassionate adults. Program sites may send their volunteers to the following training sessions at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville.

Pre-registration is required. New facilitator training is $55.00, and includes lunch. Please call 815-838-5334 for new site start-up, for training information, or to register or see the registration form.

Retrouvaille begins with a weekend experience, led by trained married couples and a priest. Through presentations, private reflection, and couple communication, couples who are seriously troubled and who may be contemplating divorce are invited to reflect on their marriage and what they need to do to save it. For information or reservations, call 708-802-1830 or go to www.retrouvaille.org Upcoming dates for 2010: Oct 1-3 in Romeoville & Dec 3-5 in Chicago.

There will be a special one-day training program for FOCCUS at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville on Saturday, October 2, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Certain changes have been made in the way FOCCUS is to be scored and administered, and participants will have the opportunity to become familiar with these changes.

Unless they already possess one, individuals or couples will need to purchase the FOCCUS Facilitator Manual for $45.00. There will also be a $10.00 fee for the day, which includes lunch. Pre-registration is required. Please call 815-838-5334 for more information or to register or see the registration form.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASSES: NFP classes are held at St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center in Romeoville on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. There is a $50 fee per couple. Contact Karen Buchert 630-551-1712 for more information. (Session 1 of 2 sessions)

Also, instructor Lupita Sorich teaches NFP on the fourth Wednesday  of each month from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Provena St. Mary Hospital in Kankakee. Spanish NFP classes are given by appointment. There is a $50 fee per couple. For more information or to register, call Lupita Sorich 815-932-9275.

ENCUENTRO CATÓLICO PARA PAREJAS COMPROMETIDAS (Catholic Engaged Encounter-Spanish):

Fechas de 2010: Abril 24 y 25, Julio 31 y Agosto 1, Noviembre 13 y 14. http://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/ohm/engagedEncounter.asp

or call 815-838-4037 to make a reservation.

This weekend takes place at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville. For more information, to register, or for other dates and locations, please contact Charlotte Hrubes at 708-354-7211 or check the web at www.joyfulagain.org

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER: Catholic Engaged Encounter sponsors weekends to prepare couples for marriage. Engaged couples are given the opportunity to talk honestly and intensively about their prospective life together. Topics include an assessment of the couple’s strengths and weaknesses, ambitions and goals, attitudes about money, sex, children, family, and relationship to the Church. Personal reflection and communication are the main focus. Engaged Encounter is approved as a marriage preparation program.

The upcoming 2010 dates are as follows: Nov 19-21, and Dec 17-19. Please see the brochure for more information or to register.

Retrouvaille begins with a weekend experience, led by trained married couples and a priest. Through presentations, private reflection, and couple communication, couples who are seriously troubled and who may be contemplating divorce are invited to reflect on their marriage and what they need to do to save it. For information or reservations, call 708-802-1830 or go to www.retrouvaille.org Upcoming dates for 2010: Dec 3-5 in Chicago.

The Single through Loss(STL) Committee will hold its second winter gathering event this December 4th. The featured speaker will be Ted Welsch, Psy.D. A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Welsch provides therapy for adults, adolescents, couples and families. He believes that each person has vast resources for growth and development, along with remarkable resiliency. The program will begin at 1:00 P.M. and end at 4:00 P.M. with the celebration of Holy Mass. Please go to www.singlethroughloss.org for more details and to register.

An inter-parish committee of the Diocese of Joliet, STL members include support group leaders of "Divorce and Beyond," the "Joyful Again” widowed ministry, and other peer support groups in the diocese. STL was initiated and is endorsed by the Center for Family Ministry of the Diocese of Joliet. Plans are to rotate meeting locations throughout the diocese.

 STL’s mission is to provide spiritual enrichment and networking opportunities for widowed or divorced Catholics who have passed through the initial stages of grief with the help of a support group and are ready to begin a new chapter in their lives. STL meetings are open to individuals of all denominations who are respectful of faith-based values.

The first event, “ Holiday for Soles,” brought together more than 40 singles to share the celebration of Mass, to hear an interactive presentation on holiday stress, and to enjoy food and fellowship.

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER: Catholic Engaged Encounter sponsors weekends to prepare couples for marriage. Engaged couples are given the opportunity to talk honestly and intensively about their prospective life together. Topics include an assessment of the couple’s strengths and weaknesses, ambitions and goals, attitudes about money, sex, children, family, and relationship to the Church. Personal reflection and communication are the main focus. Engaged Encounter is approved as a marriage preparation program.

The upcoming 2011 dates are as follows: Feb 11-13, Mar 11-13, Apr 8-10, May 13-15. Please see the brochure for more information or to register.

RAINBOWS® is a program which provides support for children and adolescents who are grieving a loss from a life altering crisis such as death or divorce. RAINBOWS® enables those grieving to share their feelings in an accepting, supportive, confidential small group environment facilitated by trained, caring and compassionate adults. Program sites may send their volunteers to the following training sessions at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville.

Pre-registration is required. The cost for new coordinator training is $35.00. Please call 815-838-5334 for new site start-up, for training information or to register.

RAINBOWS® is a program which provides support for children and adolescents who are grieving a loss from a life altering crisis such as death or divorce. RAINBOWS® enables those grieving to share their feelings in an accepting, supportive, confidential small group environment facilitated by trained, caring and compassionate adults. Program sites may send their volunteers to the following training sessions at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville.

Pre-registration is required. New facilitator training is $55.00, and includes lunch. Please call 815-838-5334 for new site start-up, for training information, or to register.