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.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR THE DIVORCED & WIDOWED

March 20, 2010

"Risking Faith, Achieving Joy" featuring Reverend Tony Palazzolo

St. Charles Pastoral Center, Romeoville

The loss of a spouse due to death or divorce can deeply affect our faith. Some of us become closer to God; others become extremely angry at him; others may even question his existence. For Father Tony Palazzolo, faith is a gift from God that ultimately answers every question. However, our faith is profoundly influenced by what we allow to enter our minds. On this day of retreat we will take the time to look at the connection between the gift of faith we are given and the daily choices we make to nourish it. Through good times and bad, our faith works if we work at it.

Father Tony has a great deal of compassion for those who have suffered the loss of a spouse through death or divorce. Years before his ordination as a priest in 1993, he was married, divorced and subsequently was granted an annulment. He single- parented three children through high school and college and has 11 grandchildren. Father Tony is a consultant for the Family Life Office of the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida, where he presents workshops and seminars on parenting, divorce adjustment, faith, relationships and other related subjects. In 2008, he was awarded the James J. Young award by the Catholic Divorced Ministry formerly the North American conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics for his many years of dedicated service to this ministry.

We start with 9:00 a.m. check-in and conclude with a 4:00 p.m. liturgy that satisfies the Sunday obligation, celebrated by Bishop Imesch. The $35.00 fee includes, lunch, refreshments, and materials. Please use the registration form or call The Center for Family Ministry (815-838-5334 ) to register or for more information.

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.

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 Days, divorced Catholics investigating the possibility of an annulment are offered guidance and support in a safe and caring environment. Our next Annulment Support Day will take place on February 20, 2010. See the flier for more information or to register. Information nights and other workshops are also available periodically. Please check our Event Calendar for other workshops. 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. We encourage interested persons to read Myths and Truths about Annulment.

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.

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.

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 Rolling Meadows 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 .

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.

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.

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 7, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. Please call the Center for Family Ministry at 815-838-5334 for further information or to register.
 

Annual Conference 

Our annual conference is especially designed for those who are divorced and widowed and those who minister to them.  The next conference will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville. See above article for further details.
 
 

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.