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Marriage & Family Life
News & Updates
April 2025
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Resurrexit sicut dixit! He is Risen as He said!
Happy Easter, everyone! I hope the end of Lent and the Triduum were graced times for you, your families, and all those you serve. We've spent 40 days wrestling with the world, the flesh, and the devil - it is now time to celebrate the victory of Christ! It's no mistake that the Church gives us more days (50) to celebrate the victory than she gives us days to focus on the battle.
Many of us now enter a busy time of year with sacraments, graduations, and vacations. Amidst all the activity, let's keep our eyes (and our schedules) fixed on Christ, to continue to live the "new normal" of Risen life. In addition, let's encourage the couples & families we serve to do the same with small acts of faith and devotion during this crazy end-of-year season!
In particular, let's keep our late Holy Father, Francis, in prayer. Consider praying this Novena from the USCCB for him and his successor. Find it in English or Spanish.
In Christ,
Doug
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We have several updates for our Joy-Filled Marriage program:
- Printed workbooks are back! Couples can once again add them to their registration to help them progress through the online course. Limited supplies are available, at which time we will direct couples to order them directly from Ascension Press.
- Online Course Cost | Regrettably, due to rising costs from our vendor, the cost of our online Joy-Filled Marriage course for marriage preparation will increase to $150 per couple starting on Monday, May 5. Our online course has remained $125 since it launched in 2020, making this the first price increase in quite some time. Thank you for understanding!
- Weekend retreat dates for 2025-2026 | Encourage your couples to join us for a full weekend in-person. Please also tell them to register early here, as retreats fill quickly. Retreats will be held:
- November 7-9, 2025
- February 20-22, 2026
- April 10-12, 2026
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May 24 | Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
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If you need Spanish-speaking facilitators for the FOCCUS assessment, please have them join our upcoming training on Saturday, May 24 from 9am-4pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Milwaukee. The cost is $125/facilitator couple and will be billed to your parish.
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July 17-19 | St. Monica, Whitefish Bay
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Registration for our Unveiled retreat for couples is open and filling fast! On this three-day weekend, couples will experience renewed intimacy with their spouse (of future spouse) and gain the tools to strengthen the bonds of unity, resolve conflict, restore passion, and heal from past hurt.
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The Archdiocese of Detroit has created an incredible resource called 52 Sundays to help families "live Sunday" better each week of the year! This is a great resource to share with families as the school year winds down and regular programs wrap up for the summer.
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The Lay Initiative office launched this year to support and equip lay staff leaders in parishes schools. Read all about Brenda and Meg's new adventure in their introduction letter here.
Brenda and Meg also want to learn how to best direct their efforts. If you are a lay staff person (paid or unpaid), would you fill out their survey here?
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Upcoming Events, News, & Links
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Our offices sponsor many events for you to receive deeper training and support to help you and your parishioners encounter Christ and be formed in ways your parish might not be able to do alone. Learn more about them below, and help us share the word to your parishioners (or come yourself!):
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Events & News from the Archdiocese
Marriage Preparation Links
More Updates from Us and Our Friends
- Anchored in Hope Family Camp | August 8-10, 2025 | Schoenstatt Retreat Center, Waukesha
- The Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University is offering several FREE webinars to support catechists, teachers, and leaders! Here are the dates:
- Tuesday, April 29 at 1:00pm - In Spanish: Como cultivar un corazon misionero en la juventud // How to Cultivate a Missionary Heart in Young People
- Tuesday, May 6 at 1:00pm - Transforming Work: Reaching the People with Whom You Share Your Days
- Tuesday, May 13 at 1:00pm - A Unique Catechetical Approach to Children's Formation: An Illustrated Journey Through the Apostles Creed
- Tuesday, May 20 at 1:00pm - Part II: Giving Strong On-Going Ministry Formation in an Effective, Affordable, and Local-Attuned Way: Changing Your Diocese with the Catcehcetical Institute
- Tuesday, May 27 at 1:00pm - In Spanish: La Quinceañera como oportunidad de evanelización // Quinceañeras: An Opportunity for Evangelization
- Tuesday, June 3 at 1:00pm - Where are People Spending Their Time in Communion with Others? How to Transform those Times toward Friendship-Oriented Evangelization
- Know someone who should be getting these emails? Email Steffany at garcias@archmil.org and we'll add you to our list!
- Position Changes: if your parish has changes to your catechetical staff (DREs, YMs, Adult Formation, etc.), please let us know! We want to make sure they get added to the correct email lists, and we often only know if you tell us.
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