Hurting and Healing The Center for Family Ministry recognizes the strains and pains that accompany the life cycle of marriage and family. We offer programs, training, and consultation to assist individuals and families in finding healing and wholeness.

Annulment Support

Although the Marriage Tribunal, (815) 722-2256, is directly responsible for the annulment procedures in the diocese, The Center for Family Ministry offers information and education to divorced individuals who are seeking a declaration of nullity regarding their previous marriage bond. Through the Annulment Support and Process Information Days, divorced Catholics investigating the possibility of an annulment are offered guidance and support in a safe and caring environment. Information nights and other workshops are also available periodically. Please check our Event Calendar for workshop information. Led by trained professionals, these programs are sponsored by The Center for Family Ministry in collaboration with the Marriage Tribunal. Please call our Associate Director, Desirée Marciani, (815) 838-5334, for information on the annulment process. See the flier for information on our Annulment Support and Reflection Day coming up on February 25, 2012 . We encourage interested persons to read Myths and Truths about Annulment.

Ministry of Consolation Training

A three-part bereavement workshop, co-sponsored by The Center for Family Ministry and The Office of Divine Worship will be held periodically for persons who are new to this ministry. This training, developed by National Catholic Ministry to the Bereaved, Inc. (NCMB), will use NCMB’s new edition, Copyright ©2006. Attendance at all three sessions is required. Focus areas will include the grief process, communication skills, setting up the parish program (including the Order of Christian Funerals), caring for the minister, and support groups. Presenters will be Desirée Marciani, associate director of The Center for Family Ministry and Sr. Sharon Marie Stola, director of The Office of Divine Worship. Both women have extensive experience in bereavement ministry. You must attend all three sessions to receive a certificate of completion. The next training will take place in 2013 at the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center in Romeoville. For more information, call Desiré Marciani at 815-838-5334.

Retrouvaille

Retrouvaille (pronounced re tro vi) is a national organization which offers a weekend program for troubled marriages. The Retrouvaille weekend provides a Catholic spiritual context for working carefully on one’s marriage. Through presentations, private reflection, and dialogue, couples whose marriages are seriously troubled and who may be contemplating divorce are invited to reflect on their marriage and on what they can do to save it. For more information, call (708) 802-1830. Please check our Event Calendar for scheduled weekends.

RAINBOWS Program

The RAINBOWS Program is designed to assist children who are grieving the loss of a parent or other significant relationship through death or divorce. Established groups meet regularly in churches, schools, and agencies at various locations throughout the diocese. The purpose of RAINBOWS is to facilitate and encourage the healing process and to teach positive coping skills as families adjust during these stressful times. For general information, to obtain the name of a RAINBOWS site in your area, or to start up a new site, please call our Associate Director, Desirée Marciani, (815) 838-5334, who is also a Registered RAINBOWS Director, at The Center for Family Ministry or call RAINBOWS International Headquarters in Itasca at (847) 952-1770.  Please check our Event Calendar for scheduled training days in January and September for new coordinators and facilitators for established sites.

Tree of Light Infant Memorial Mass

This annual Mass, in remembrance of babies who have been lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, other pregnancy losses and infant or early childhood death, is usually held in the late fall. There is a special outdoor tree-lighting ceremony for family members to commemorate these babies. A reception is held following the Mass. Ministers from Elizabeth Ministry groups throughout the diocese assist in hosting this event. The date for the upcoming Mass is Sunday, November 4, 2012.
 

Single Through Loss

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. Plans are to rotate meeting locations throughout the diocese. Please check our Event Calendar for upcoming event dates.

 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 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.

Annual Conference for Divorced & Widowed

Our annual conference is especially designed for those who are divorced and widowed and for those who minister to them.  The next conference, entitled "Why So Weary? Lay Down Your Burdens and Be Set Free!", featuring Fr. Tony Taschetta, will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville. See the conference brochure for more information or to register.

Elizabeth Ministry

Elizabeth Ministry is a parish-based outreach to women in special times of motherhood. Sponsored by The Center for Family Ministry, it is based on Jesus’ vision of the goodness, beauty and truth of human life. The purpose of this ministry is to affirm, support, encourage and assist women during their childbearing years. Women gather in groups, conduct individual home visits, and sponsor activities that foster the positive value of family in church life. Through the participation and peer support of Elizabeth Ministry, women often experience greater self-confidence in ministering and leading others within church and society. Parish training and ongoing enrichment programs for Elizabeth Ministry are sponsored by the Center. Please call our Associate Director, Desirée Marciani, (815) 838-5334, for information on this ministry.

Peer Support Groups: Divorce or Separation, Bereavement/Grief, Training

The Center for Family Ministry offers training and enrichment for those starting or running support groups for the divorced and separated and for the bereaved in our parishes and communities. In  addition, the Center has produced and maintains up-to-date listings of the support groups currently functioning in our parishes and communities.  For information regarding peer support groups or peer support group training, call the Associate Director, Desirée Marciani at (815) 838-5334.

Joyful Again! Retreat

This program is for widows and widowers who want to resolve the grief they feel inside and adjust to the many changes that occur after the death of a spouse. Video presentations, along with input from trained facilitators, who have themselves experienced the painful loss of a spouse, are combined with private reflection and group discussion time. The two day experience has helped hundreds of widowed individuals view life with new hope, joy and enthusiasm. The Center for Family Ministry sponsors Joyful Again! Retreats twice per year at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville, Illinois. For further information or to register, call Charlotte Hrubes at (708) 354-7211. Please check our Event Calendar for upcoming weekend dates. The next weekend in the Joliet Diocese will be March 3-4, 2012 at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville.

Networking with Other Community Resources

The Center for Family Ministry can help people who are in crisis by connecting them with the appropriate resource in the community, whether that be a domestic abuse shelter, a sliding fee scale counselor, self-help programs for substance abuse, or other concerns.

Referrals

Although The Center for Family Ministry does not offer counseling, the nature of our programs is such that participants often find the need to seek professional resources. The Director, Dr. James Healy, and Associate Director, Desiree Marciani, are available to help in this process: 815- 838-5334.

Clearing House

The Center acts as a clearinghouse and source of information for a wide variety of independent family movements and groups, such as Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Christian Family Movement (Movimiento Familiar Cristiano), Parenting for Peace and Justice, Stepfamily Association of America. Check out our Helpful Links page for more information.
   

The Center wishes to bring a family perspective to parish ministry. We offer consultation with parishes regarding any family issue, and are particularly interested in the formation and maintenance of family ministry teams and commissions.