Congratulations on your engagement! Our Lady of Light is excited to help you begin this journey as husband and wife. Please contact Suzi in the Parish Office to begin the marriage preparation process with us.
Marriage Enrichment Resources:
While marriage is a special blessing for Christians because of the grace of Christ, marriage is also a natural blessing and gift for everyone in all times and cultures.
It is a source of blessing to the couple, to their families, and to society and includes the wondrous gift of co-creating human life. Indeed, as Pope John Paul II never tired of reminding us, the future of humanity depends on marriage and the family. Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan, A Pastoral Letter of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (2009)
US Bishops’ website for marriages: ForYourMarriage.org
Support for marriages in trouble: Retrouvaille
Retrouvaille is for couples with marital problems that want marriage help. Those who are considering marriage separation and those who are already separated or divorced are encouraged to consider the Retrouvaille Program. There is always hope of reviving your relationship. Some couples come to Retrouvaille during the initial signs of a marriage problem. Other couples are in a state of despair and hopelessness when they attend the program. Many lawyers and judges send couples to Retrouvaille as a prerequisite to filing for a divorce or rendering final decisions. Many marriage counselors and family therapists send their clients to Retrouvaille as a prerequisite to counseling. These professionals know that the tools of communication in marriage taught in the program are often what couples need.
For couples suffering infant or child loss, or loss by suicide: Red Bird Ministries
Learn Fertility Awareness (Natural Family Planning)
Our church has wonderful teachings on human sexuality, both in and out of marriages.
If you are just starting out and would like to understand the Church’s take on contraception in marriage…
here’s a secular article with a very logical approach: https://www.businessinsider.com/time-to-admit-it-the-church-has-always-been-right-on-birth-control-2012-2
here are some talks online to listen to:
a married couple talk about why they use NFP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq1xvPdvkCI
Jason Evert’s talk called “Green Sex” https://www.catholicmarriageprep.com/green-sex
Janet Smith’s “Contraception: Why Not” https://janetsmith.org/product/contraception-why-not-digital-download/
here is a podcast that talks a lot about marriage; the earliest of their podcast episodes are centered around sexuality in marriage:
Here is a chart of the most well known nfp methods. Search by the different methods to find teachers and training.