Faith Based Marriage Enrichment

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BELOVED: Finding Happiness in Marriage – Home Edition

This series is available on FORMED. Beloved is a video-based enrichment program by the Augustine Institute that explores the true meaning of the Sacrament of Marriage. In six sessions, you’ll discover the deepest spiritual, emotional, and practical realities of what your marriage can and should be. Through an exploration of Scripture, Tradition, and Church teaching, God’s plan for your marriage will come alive. You’ll see firsthand the wonder, mystery, and joy behind that first “I do”—whether you said it last year or many years ago.Watch the trailer for Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage

10 Great Dates: Connecting Faith, Love & Marriage
At last, a fun, easy way to help couples connect spiritually that they both will enjoy! 10 Great Dates: Connecting Faith, Love & Marriagecombines the proven format of 10 Great Dates®with 10 dates that are each based on a spiritual theme, including Appreciating Your Differences, Experiencing God Together, Facing the Storms of Life and Connecting Through Prayer. Run this program as the traditional 10 Great Datesby having a short date launch and sending couples out on their date or it can also be used as a small group study utilizing the free Leader’s Guide available at www.10GreatDates.org. Before publishing this book, it was piloted in a number of Catholic churches and is crafted to work well in a Catholic setting.

Contact: 865-690-5887 or Arps@marriagealive.com

Annunciation Ministries
Annunciation ministries’ mission is to strengthen the vocation of marriage through consultation, training, events, and resources for dioceses, parishes, and married couples.

The Alexander House: Covenant of Love Ministry
The internationally recognized Covenant of Love ministry programs can help to build a thriving parish community by building and supporting strong, joyful, and lasting marriages focused on God’s plan for marriage.

Contact: Greg Alexander at 210-858-6195 or greg@thealexanderhouse.org

The BEATITUDES: A Couple’s Path to Greater Joy
This marriage enrichment program explores the Beatitudes as a path to holiness in Christian marriage. The program is based on John Bosio’s book, Blessed is Marriage: a Guide to the Beatitudes of Catholic Couples. The program, which contains six videos, handouts for participants, opening prayers, and a coordinator’s guide, is very versatile. It can be used in date nights programs, small discussion groups, or in couples’ retreats.

Contact: 615-758-9694 or jbosio1@aol.com

The Cana Institute
Cana Institute guides couples toward vibrant marriages by helping them understand the dynamics between the spiritual and problem-solving components of marriage. Contact: Bridget Brennan, MA, MA, President and Jerome Shen, PhD at 314-313-0613 or joy@canainstitute.org

Marriages for Mary

Marriages for Mary is a Catholic retreat based marriage ministry, with its primary purpose to bring renewal or new life to all married couples. The retreat offers talks/topics that aid in creating joy filled marriages. This ministry uses tangible tools to help couples overcome common struggles in married life. 

Catholic Couple Checkup
Catholic Couple Checkup is an online relationship assessment (powered by PREPARE/ENRICH) that couples can take without the help of a facilitator or counselor. Tailored to each couple and the Catholic faith, the computer-generated report helps couples discover their strength and growth areas across several relationship categories such as communication, conflict resolution, roles, financial management, personality and more. Couples can bring their results to a priest, marriage mentors, or marriage enrichment group to work through their results, or download the PDF Discussion Guide to unpack the results and build relationship skills on their own.

Contact: 800-331-1661

Charis Ministries
Founded in 2000, Charis Ministries reaches those in their 20’s and 30’s throughout the country, nurturing their faith through retreats based in Ignatian Spirituality. Charis’ Christ Alive in Our Marriageretreat invites couples in their first five years of marriage to reflect on how Christ is alive in their marriages, and how they are called to make Christ Alive in our world. Visit the website for more information on the retreat, and to find a schedule of upcoming retreats.

Christian Family Movement
This network of families supports each other in living their faith in daily life at home, in the workplace, and in their communities. In the U.S. and international. English and Spanish.

Contact: 800-581-9824 or office@cfm.org

Colorado Marriage Refresh
The Colorado Marriage Refresh is a Christian marriage retreat aimed at “reducing the divorce rate one marriage at a time.” It is developed by psychologist Dr. Wyatt Fisher and his wife Alia. The seminar offers a unique blend of Scripture, marriage research, clinical experience, and personal testimony on the peaks and valleys from their own marital journey. For couples wanting to laugh as well as cry and breathe new life back into their relationship, this conference is for you!

Contact: info@christiancrush.com

The Couple Prayer Series
A six-week series to help married and engaged couples develop closer relationships with God and each other as they learn to pray in safe, close and comfortable ways. Contact: coupleprayer@gmail.com

The Covenant Experience
The Covenant Experience is an innovative parish program presented by lay couples and parish staff to enhance a Catholic couple’s appreciation of their sacrament of Matrimony. English and Spanish. Contact: 305-253-2036

Discovering Our Deepest Desire
“Discovering Our Deepest Desire” (DODD) is a 12 week marriage enrichment program that can be taught by instructors or facilitated by lay leaders using the video series provided. Utilizing a therapeutic model for change, this curriculum systematically walks a couple through skills and knowledge for changing unhealthy patterns in their relationship, as well as connecting the information to elements from St. Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Bodyteaching. Helping couple to divorce proof their marriage, couples learn 7 steps to strengthening their marriage and to ultimately build a Eucharistic Marriage. The DODD program engages couples through the use of Q&A, Scripture and Catechism readings, activities, as well as homework in each session.

Contact: Greg Schutte at 1-937-262-7010 or gschutte@ourdeepestdesire.com

Domestic Church Movement
Domestic Church is the family branch of the Light-Life Movement, founded in Poland by Servant of God, Fr. Franciszeck Blachnicki with the guidance, support, and influence of his bishop, Karol Wojtyla (Pope Saint John Paul II). The movement provides long term formation for couples looking to grow in holiness together. After attending an initial retreat, couples meet in groups to share their joys and sorrows, pray together, and go over their progress in their spiritual lives.

Contact: 337-764-1562 or domesticchurchfamilies@gmail.com

Fight Less, Love More Couples Course
Bestselling author, Harvard lawyer and couples mediator Laurie Puhn and Family Dynamics Institute have brought you this empowering course based on the bestselling book Fight Less, Love More: 5 Minute Conversations to Change Your Relationship Without Blowing Up or Giving In. This step-by-step course is the perfect way to enrich your marriage at any stage.

In each of the nine one-hour classes, you will experience the benefit of using the 5-Minute Conversations to avoid and reduce conflict, increase appreciation, intimacy and respect, give a perfect apology and create a personalized daily communication routine that will help you grow stronger and closer in your marriage. There is also an online version of the course that takes place in a virtual classroom, which allows couples and the course leader to interact. Visit www.fightlesslovemore.comfor more information and class dates. Contact: 800-650-9995 or kmayfield@familydynamics.net

The Foundational Intimacy: Eucharist as the Model for Marriage
Available as an overnight retreat and in a day-long format, this skills-based workshop offers practical information and time for prayer and reflection.

Contact: 320-255-9035 or jimotremba@gmail.com

For Your Military Marriage
ForYourMilitaryMarriage.com, is an initiative of Worldwide Marriage Encounter to enrich, affirm and encourage military married couples in their relationships and families, and to offer the resources and support of an online network of Catholic military married couples for every age and every stage of married life.

The Hitch Fix Seminar
You invest in your business, your home, and your retirement…but what about your marriage? The Hitch Fix Seminar, offered by Millennials for Marriage, is an engaging couples experience that is designed to identify areas of relational struggles and provide strategic communication and intentional dialogue to strengthen them.

If you are interested in hosting The Hitch Fix at your parish, use this contact form.

Holy Catholic Marriage
Grow your marriage in true intimacy by listening to our weekly marriage Podcasts based on each Sunday’s Scriptural Readings. Great for marriage preparation or for those who have been married decades and still desire more from their marriages. Grow closer to your spouse each week as you listen, share and implement ways of loving each other as Jesus intended for your sacramental marriage. Week after week and month after month, begin to renew your marriage by listening, understanding and loving each other as you hoped to be loved on your wedding day.

Hope Springs Florida
A nonprofit organization that helps families with a child with special needs re-energize and restore healthy relationships. HSF offers more than a vacation respite home for those with autism; it offers hope to working class families in a seaside environment by handling all the details necessary for a relaxing vacation. This includes airport and ground transportation, dietary and sensory need accommodation, and preferred access to recreational activities near historic Saint Augustine, FL. HSF is founded on the principle of hope, as expressed by Pope Francis: “When there is no human hope, there is that hope that carries us forward, humble, simple—but it gives a joy, at times a great joy, at times only of peace, but the security that hope does not disappoint: hope doesn’t disappoint.” For more information, contact Joe Rodgers at 614-886-5510 or rodgers_2244@hotmail.com.

Living in Love
A parish-based retreat workshop for newlyweds and young married couples that presents insights from Theology of the Body through the witness of other young couples. A followup program, Living in Love Every Day, teaches Theology of the Body life skills to married couples as an extension of the Living in Love retreat workshop and/or a mentor training course for Preparing to Live in Love.

Contact: 877-201-2142 or PMRCusa@msn.com

Marriage Enrichment, Inc
Non-profit, non-denominational, and nationwide, Christian Marriage Workshops build positive communication skills in marriage and family relationships through private and small group activities.

Contact: 800-72-N-RICH or info@marriageenrichment.org

Marriage Enrichment Program
This parish-based ministry for couples includes three programs: The Marriage Enrichment Weekend, the Retreat, and Engaged Enrichment. Archdiocese of Santa Fe. English and Spanish.

Contact: 505-831-8117 or mewinfo@yahoo.com

The Marriage in Christ Seminar
This parish-based ministry focuses on three key elements: friendship with God, friendship with one’s spouse, and invoking the power of the Holy Spirit.. The seminar includes one two-hour session per week for five weeks.

Contact: 651-789-2888 ext. 113 or info@marriageinchrist.com

Marriage Savers and Community Marriage Covenants
Clergy in over 150 cities have collaborated to develop Community Marriage Policies that call for rigorous marriage preparation and training Mentor Couples to help couples prepare for and strengthen their marriages. Contact: 301-978-7108

Ministry to the Newly Married
A parish-based mentoring program for newlywed couples offered by Agape Catholic Ministries. This five-year program pairs new married couples with couples married at least five years, with the goal of fostering the new couple’s relationship skills and broadening their understanding of each other and living out the Sacrament of Marriage. Contact: 800-208-1364 or info@agapecatholicministries.com

National Marriage Encounter
National Marriage Encounter (NME) promotes and encourages marriage and family life by offering Marriage Encounter weekends and a support community. It is open to couples of all faiths and those of no religious affiliation.

Jeannette and Kent Babcock, National Marriage Encounter Business Administrators: 515-278-8458, bus-admin@marriage-encounter.org

REFOCCUS
Now is the time to strengthen your marriage! Whether you’ve been married two, 25 or 50 years, the REFOCCUS marriage inventory is designed for you. Simply take the inventory, compare your responses, and let us help you dive into a better future with your spouse! This powerful tool is now easily accessible online at foccusinc.com. Available in English and Spanish, REFOCCUS can be used on your own or with a REFOCCUS facilitator. Contact the FOCCUS team at 877-883-5422 to order REFOCCUS today!

The Second Half of Marriage
This small group resource is designed to help couples renew and re-energize their marriage for the empty nest years. For empty nesters and those whose nest may have refilled or never emptied, this resource will help couples renew their love, reinvent their marriage and make the rest the best. Based on the award-winning book The Second Half of Marriage, this video-based curriculum was filmed at Our Saviour’s Catholic Church in Cocoa Beach, FL. It is easy to lead and is great for small groups and retreats. The Second Half of Marriage curriculum includes 8 video sessions, Leader’s Guide and Participant’s book.

Contact: 865-690-5887 or Arps@marriagealive.com

SIX DATES for Catholic Couples
This easy-to-use program is a marriage-building resource for parishes. It includes six videos, handouts, a Program Coordinator’s Guide, and the book Happy Together, the Catholic Blueprint for a Loving Marriage, by John Bosio.

Contact: 615-758-9694 or jbosio1@aol.com

Teams of Our Lady
We are a movement of “Married Spirituality” which brings together Christian couples united by the Sacrament of Marriage; and who wish, together, to deepen the graces of their Sacrament of Marriage.

Contact: 774-201-9827 or info@teamsofourlady.org

Thriving Families
Thriving Marriages teaches couples how to build unity, grow in resilience and intimacy, and overcome most marital crises. It is offered on three different 3-hour sessions mostly at local churches (California). Thriving Marriages Program, Book/CD’s are available in English & Spanish. Contact: 949-851-1572 or Claire@ThrivingFamilies.com

Together in Holiness
Together in Holiness is a marriage conference series for dioceses that inspires spouses to grow together in holiness and empowers parents to form their children in the Catholic faith. Each conference brings to life a theme on marriage and family life from the teachings of St. John Paul II. The annual conferences include insightful and practical presentations for spouses, as well as Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As an initiative of the St. John Paul II Foundation, Together in Holiness conferences are offered in collaboration with dioceses and host parishes. Contact: TH@forlifeandfamily.org

The VIRTUES: A Program for Couples
A marriage enrichment program that uses a variety of media to share a positive message about marriage and help couples master the good habits we call cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. Developed by the creators of SIX DATES for Catholic Couples and The BEATITUDES: A Couple’s Path to Greater Joy.

Contact: 615-758-9694 or jbosio1@aol.com

United in Love – United in Christ
United will explore God’s plan and promise for spouses. The content will turn to the Church’s rich teaching on love and marriage as well as draw on personal stories from couples who are striving to build their lives in Christ. It creatively offers opportunities to reflect, learn, grow, communicate and experience a deepening in faith. Unitedprovides practical steps in building upon what Saint John Paul II taught to be the “Infallible” and “Indispensable” way to a truly united and faithful love!
The Parish Kit comes with 10 Couple’s Guides, United DVDs, Leader’s Guide, Leader’s Guide DVD, Parish Guide, and Parish Guide DVD. To learn more about this new Parish Based or in home marriage enrichment program contact Jason Angelette at (504) 830-3716, jangelette@willwoods.orgor visit www.FaithandMarriage.org.

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Resources for Addictions

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Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)

Al-anon is for spouses, children, parents, or close friends of alcoholics or teens dealing with alcohol problems.

Narconon is a non-profit drug rehabilitation program dedicated to eliminating drug abuse and drug addiction.

Celebrate Recovery: A Christ-Centered Recovery Program

The Calix Society: An association of recovering Catholic alcoholics, their family and friends, with an emphasis on spiritual activities

The Third Option is a group program for marriages. It combines 14 unique skill-building workshops, sharing by mentor couples who have overcome marital problems, and support groups. Because it uses a “self-change” model, one spouse may come alone.

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Pornography and Sex addiction:

Help for Men and Women: Catholic support groups and recovery programs

 

The Angelic Warfare Confraternity
A supernatural fellowship of men and women dedicated to pursuing chastity under the patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Confraternity is an official apostolate of the Dominican Order.

Breaking Free Blog (for men)
Men helping men to break free and stay free from pornography. Run by the Family Life Center International.

Catholic Support Group for Sexual Addictions and Recovery
Online discussion group where men and women who struggle with sexual addictions support each other through accountability and prayer.

Exodus 90 (for men)
A ninety-day challenge of prayer, asceticism, and fraternity that is designed to help men attain freedom from sexual sin or other struggles. The program developed at a seminary, and today is transforming the lives of thousands of Catholic men across the country. In Exodus 90, men form small teams to go through the challenge together and support one another as they strive to grow in virtue.

Freedom Coaching
One-on-one mentoring program designed to break the attraction to pornified images. Going beyond mere coping mechanisms, Freedom Coaching is designed to help clients, through a transformation of their desires, to seek and find what is true, good, and beautiful, something that pornified images can never provide.

Imago Dei Counseling
Offers individual and couples counseling/coaching in Colorado Springs as well as telephonically for those dealing with pornography and its effects; also available for adolescents, with the coordination of their parents. The program also provides Catholic Men’s Teleconference, a confidential telephonic men’s program for support in working steps towards healing and recovery from sexual addictions, and Intimacy Restored Intensives, a three-day workshop (Intensive Outpatient Treatment – IOT) in Colorado Springs for couples to begin the process of healing from issues related to pornography or sexual behavior.

Integrity Restored
Founded by Dr. Peter Kleponis, author of the book Integrity Restored: Helping Catholic Families Win the Battle Against Pornography, Integrity Restored is an organization dedicated to helping Catholics fight pornography at all levels. Dr. Kleponis and his Integrity Restored Team – Matt Fradd, Fr. Sean Kilcawley and Ryan Foley – provide valuable resources and advice on how to protect individuals, couples and families from the dangers of pornography. Resources are also available for clergy. In addition, information is provided on the Integrity Starts Here Recovery Program, the first comprehensive recovery program for Catholics struggling with pornography addiction and their loved ones.

The King’s Men (for men)
Men’s group focused on building up men as leaders, protectors, and providers. The King’s Men has a special focus on helping men find freedom from pornography addiction with the help of fraternal accountability. Also facilitates wilderness retreats, healing retreats and parish-based weekly groups in some areas.

Overcome Porn Addiction
Video-based online course for men seeking to overcome pornography addiction. Includes a “Steps to Victory” checklist and a 17-week “Path to Victory Bootcamp” with week-by-week instructions and specific actions to take.

The Porn Effect
The Porn Effect was started by Matt Fradd, a well-known Catholic speaker on pornography. A former addict himself, Matt is now an advocate for breaking pornography addictions. The site offers a number of resources for men and women struggling with pornography, including a 5-step “Battle Plan” and “Ask the Expert” feature.

Reclaim Sexual Health
Science-based, Catholic resources for those impacted by pornography, masturbation, or other unhealthy sexual behaviors. Offers an anonymous online recovery program for pornography users and spouses of pornography users. Also has information for parents about protecting their children from pornography.

Other Christian support groups and recovery programs

Be Broken Ministries
Be Broken Ministries exists to help men break free from sexually addictive behaviors in order to experience the fullness of life as God created it. They offer workshops, e-courses, in-person and long-distance coaching, and resources for both men and their wives.

Beggar’s Daughter (for women)
Jessica Harris is a former porn addict whose blog covers topics such as pornography, lust, and addiction – all from a women’s perspective. She is now a speaker and author of a devotional, Love Done Right, a collection of devotionals specifically written for Christian women struggling with lust.

Bethesda Workshops
The mission of Bethesda Workshops is to encourage sexual wholeness by ministering to men and women damaged by sexual sin and addiction, and those hurt by a spouse’s sexual addiction. They offer intensive healing workshops in Nashville, TN for both men and women.

Bravehearts
A mentoring program to help men break free from sexual addiction and pornography use. Founded by Michael Leahy, who has a powerful conversion story from a life damaged by pornography addiction.

Heart to Heart Counseling Center
Provides professional counseling to those struggling with sexual addiction and their spouses. Located in Colorado Springs but also presents 3-5 day intensive workshops around the country.

Lifestar Therapy
Offers an intensive 6-day outpatient program (IOP) in a safe, nonjudgmental environment where those struggling with pornography and sexual addiction can find help in treating their addiction. With a strong faith base, Lifestar Therapy integrates developing healthy lifestyle changes and a strong connection with God to help people struggling with addiction and their loved ones to heal. Download the free ebook, “The First Step.” For more information, call 888-980-1600 or email info@lifestariop.com.

New Life Partners (for women)
An online resource and support group for women whose lives have been impacted by husbands or loved ones caught in the web of pornography and/or sexual addiction.

Proven Men Ministries
Proven Men is a sexual integrity ministry that partners with churches, offering discipleship resources, in order to see individuals and families equipped and restored.

Pure Life Ministries
Pure Life Ministries offers a number of resources and courses for men, women, wives, and pastoral leaders, including a residential treatment program in rural Kentucky, phone counseling, and a home study program for spouses of pornography users and teens.

XXXChurch
Support for men and women dealing with pornography addiction, as well as for parents and those who are involved in the pornography industry. X3Pureprovides 30-day online workshops for men, women, couples and parents. X3Groupsoffers small online support groups led by a trained team member.

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Help for Parents

Covenant Eyes: Unfiltered
A Parent Workshop Kit “for an Ongoing Conversation about Internet Pornography” produced by filtering and accountability site Covenant Eyes. Available online for free: “Protecting Your Family Online: A parent’s how-to guide.”

Enough is Enough
Educational site for parents about how to effectively protect children from online pornography, sexual predators, cyberbullies, and other online dangers.

Faith and Safety: Technology Safety Through the Eyes of Faith
Educational site for parents run by the USCCB and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Provides conversation starters for families about technology, family media agreements, reviews of different apps and websites popular among young people, and more.

Good Pictures, Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids - by Kristen A. Jenson and Gail Poyner
A read-aloud story that helps parents teach their children what pornography is, why it’s dangerous, and how to avoid it. It also teaches basic concepts about pornography and brain science, in a way that children can understand. A book for children ages 3-6 is also available, Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds.

Integrity Restored
Founded by Dr. Peter Kleponis, author of the book The Pornography Epidemic: A Catholic Approach, Integrity Restored has a section of their website dedicated to helping parents protect their children from pornography and help them navigate a culture imbued with pornography.

Pure Hope
Provides Christian solutions in a sexualized culture. Equips individuals, parents, families and churches to pursue sexual purity and oppose sexual exploitation. Key areas of focus include parenting, justice (combatting sex trafficking), and recovery for men and women addicted to pornography. Free downloadable resources include “Parenting in a Sexualized Culture” and “Recovery in a Sexualized Culture.”

Protect Young Eyes
Protect Young Eyes is a constantly updated, free website for parents who want to better understand apps, social media platforms, parental controls on popular devices, and how to create an internet-safer home for their kids. Subscribe to their parent technology newsletter by texting the word “protect” (no quotes) to 66866.

Protect Young Minds
Led by Kristen A. Jenson, author of the best-selling children’s book Good Pictures Bad Pictures, Protect Young Minds™ (PYM) seeks to help parents “porn-proof” their kids beforethey come across highly addictive and easily accessible internet pornography. Additionally, PYM offers guidance for families whose children have already been hurt by pornography, and hopes to serve as a “force multiplier” by empowering proactive people who want to educate their local communities

Covenant Eyes
Offers both internet accountability and filtering systems. Internet accountability helps to reduce temptation and start conversations about online activity. The filter systems will prevent users from accessing certain content and websites. Both of these systems are designed for parents, children, and adults. Available on various devices.

 

Advocacy and Education Resources

Catholic Answers
Videos of chastity speaker Matt Fradd talking about pornography addiction, recovery, and more.

The Chastity Project
A ministry run by chastity speakers Jason and Crystalina Evert, the Chastity Project features videos on the effects of pornography and recovery from addiction, as well as other chastity-related topics.

Fight the New Drug
A grassroots, youth oriented, non-religious, non-legislative, non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness on the harmful effects of pornography. They also have a recovery program called “Fortify” (see above).

MaritalHealing.com
An overview of the psychological aspects of pornography addiction and its effects on marriage.

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Please Note: These links were provided by the USCCB website. 

Cat.Chat Productions does not take responsibility for any of the content above that may not be in line with Church Teaching. 

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