The Office for Marriage and Family Life provides various formational, educational, supportive, social and spiritual enrichment programs and resources for individuals, couples and families.
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Marriage Moments for October
Oct. 2: During this Respect Life Month, talk with your beloved about the life issue you feel most strongly about (preventing abortion, supporting new mothers, helping those whose lives are mired in poverty, caring for the frail elderly, working for gun control, eliminating the death penalty…) Is there a common issue you can act on?
Oct. 9: “Brothers and Sisters: Have no anxiety at all…” (Philippians 4:6) Sure, easy to say, but anxiety comes readily to anyone who pays attention to family and world problems. Let your anxiety be a prompt for calming prayer. Balance it with calling to mind something kind another has done for you.
Oct. 16: “I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance.” (Philippians 4:12) Remember a time in your marriage that you had little stuff. Remember a time when you had plenty. Consider how either circumstance call us to God and faith.
Oct. 23: Oct. 24 is United Nations Day. Have you and your beloved ever traveled out of the nation of your birth? How many places? What do the other countries have in common? How is each different?
Parenting Pointers for August
Oct. 6: October is Respect Life Month. Pick the life issue that you feel most strongly about (preventing abortion, supporting new mothers, helping those whose lives are mired in poverty, caring for the frail elderly, working for gun control, eliminating the death penalty, bullying…) Tell your child why this is important to you.
Oct. 13: “On this mountain the Lord will provide a feast of rich food…” (Isaiah 25: 6) Has your family ever hiked a mountain? Maybe a hill? Either way you need energy. What is your child’s favorite energy food? Fix it tonight and talk about climbing over obstacles, hills, even stairs.
Oct. 20: Oct. 24 is United Nations Day. Talk with your child about where they might want to live if not in your current country. Why? As a family, learn about a country that is still a mystery to you.
Oct. 27: October is Domestic Violence Month. Hopefully your family has not had any serious experience with violence in the home – but too many families do. Most communities have shelters for people in danger. Google Domestic Violence hotline to find ways to help in your own town.
Celebrate National Marriage Week 2024!
The observances of National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Day (February 11) are an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family.
Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass 2024
When: February 11, 2024
Where: St. Margaret of Scotland Church
(Address: 2431 Frazer Road, Newark, DE 19702)
More information/registration to come!
Painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
Prayer for Families
God, Our Father, loving and merciful, bring together and keep all families in perfect unity of love and mutual support.
Instill in each member the spirit of understanding and affection for each other.
Keep quarrels and bitterness far from them, and for their occasional failures instill forgiveness and peace.
May the mutual love and affection of parents set a good example.
Instill in children self-respect that they may respect others and grow in mature independence.
May the mutual affection and respect of families be a sign of Christian, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.