Marriage, Family, and Relationship Enrichment Our mission is to make "family" a more important part of "church." We do this by offering resources, services and programs to parishes and individual families to enrich, affirm, and nurture the many kinds of families who make up our diocesan church.

Wedding Anniversary Celebration

Our annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass is usually held in the late summer or early fall. In 2010, the date is August 29 . Parishes are encouraged to hold anniversary celebrations regarding marriage on World Marriage Day, which is always the second Sunday in February. Suggestions for ways to celebrate World Marriage Day are sent to the parishes each year by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

Parenting and Marriage Enrichment Leadership Training and Materials

Both training and materials are available for individuals or couples who would like to minister in these areas. Check our Event Calendar for upcoming trainings and enrichment days for marriage preparation ministers.  Please call The Center for Family Ministry for more information: (815) 838-5334.

"Welcome Your Child" - A program for Parish Baptismal Preparation or Ministry to Young Families

Most of us instinctively know that the birth of a child, especially of one's first child, is a time of explosive change in one's marriage, self-identity, and spirituality. Many couples say their lives changed more dramatically when their first child arrived than when they were married. While this is usually a time of great joy, it is also a time which puts significant stress on a new, or not-so-new, marriage. That is why "Welcome Your Child" was created. Any interested parish or parish representative can contact The Center for Family Ministry for more information: (815) 838-5334.

Men and Family Roles

Materials to help men reflect on their identities as husband and father are available from The Center for Family Ministry, as is assistance in setting up groups for men to reflect on these issues. The Center also offers workshops and seminars designed to help men come to a fuller sense of their roles in family life.

Natural Family Planning

Information, class schedules and support for couples who are interested in learning more about Natural Family Planning is available from the diocesan coordinator of NFP, Karen Buchert, at 630-551-1712. For classes in Spanish, call Lupita Sorich at 815-932-9275. Check our Event Calendar for dates and times for English and Spanish classes.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

The Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend is a positive, private experience for married couples who want to work at revitalizing their marriage, whether married in a religious or civil ceremony. The weekend is designed to enrich and deepen the joys a couple share together and is beneficial to couples of all ages and years married, from a short time to many years For more information and upcoming dates for Worldwide Marriage Encounter in the Joliet diocese,check our Event Calendar, go to the website, or call 630-577-0778 to register.

Retrouvaille

Retrouvaille 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 (800) 470-2230. Please check our Event Calendar for upcoming dates.

Clearing House

The Center for Family Ministry acts as a clearinghouse and source of information for a wide variety of independent family movements and groups, such as Christian Family Movement (Movimiento Familiar Cristiano), Parenting for Peace and Justice, Stepfamily Association of America, etc.

Referrals

Although the Center 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, is available to help in that process.
 

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.

Please check our Event Calendar for dates of upcoming marriage, family, and relationship enrichment programs.