MINISTRY TO MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

The Marriage Enrichment and Family Strengthening program is a comprehensive program for all stages of marriage and family life. It was established in 2005 with a grant to provide training and supplies for a Mentoring program. The trained Married Mentors meet with engaged couples to discuss and understand many life issues. The Mentors are also trained to support and encourage married couples facing difficulties. Goals include:

To help couples avoid entering a bad marriage.
To prepare couples for lifelong marriage.
To strengthen and support existing marriages.
To restore troubled marriages.
To strengthen families and communities by reducing divorce rates.
To support parents in effective parenting methods.
To support the education of youth in healthy relationships.

Mentors must complete a 14 week training to become mentors. Once commissioned to the Ministry of Marriage the mentors are then required to continue monthly support and enrichment sessions. There will be ongoing marriage enrichment classes. The trainings will be based on "The Third Option" marriage enrichment program and will include sessions on communications, conflict management, listening and talking skills, trust and forgiveness. The continued enrichment program will also include Pope John Paul's "Theology of the Body" documents and other pertinent writings.