July 31, 2009
‘Becoming a Marriage — Building Church’
All parish staff and those who work in marriage ministry are invited to attend a presentation at Sarto Retreat House in Evansville on Friday, Sept. 11. It is entitled, “Becoming A Marriage — Building Church: Visions and Stratagies with Dr. James Healy.”
The presentation is intended to answer the question: “How do we promote, enrich and sustain marriage?”
Emily Snipes, family life coordinator at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Evansville said it would be a good presentation for sponsor couples to attend, along with parish staff and others working in marriage ministry.
In a flyer being distributed to the parishes of the diocese, Snipes noted that “the U.S. Bishops are calling to enrich and support marriage at the parish level. Dr. James Healy will confront the challenges we face today and explore ways that marriage can be built up as a vocation.”
Healy has been a leader in marriage ministry in the Catholic Church for the past quarter century. He has spoken in over 70 dioceses and authored marriage preparation and enrichment materials which are wide-ly used. He is the Director of the Center for Family Ministry in the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. He and his wife Madonna have four children.
Snipes said that the presentation in Evansville will provide particular assistance for particular needs. “Because every parish is unique, participants will have the opportunity to consider which possibilities would be most effective in their situations,” Snipes said. “Dr. Healy will focus on how parish ministers can learn to become conscious and responsive in sustaining and enriching marriages in our diocese.”
The presentation will be given in the conference room of Sarto Retreat House (adjacent to the Catholic Center) on Friday, Sept. 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. CDT.
The deadline for registration is Monday, Sept. 7. There is no charge for participants.
Call or contact Emily Snipes at (812) 423-5456 or esnipes@evansville-diocese.org.
Dr. Healy will also give a presentation at St. Benedict Cathedral on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon, on “how to be married and stay engaged.”
The seminar is open to individuals and couples of all ages, and has a fee of $20 per couple or $12 per individual for those who register before Sept. 1.
To learn more, contact the parish office (812) 425-3369, or contact Jane Leingang (812) 477-8285 or jeleingang@gmail.com.