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Marriage & Family Life
News & Updates
July 2025
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Dear Friends,
I hope the summer is treating you well! Many of you, like us, are busy on vacation or in preparing the coming year. Amidst that activity, I missed our Holy Father speaking about marriage last month in a homily! As far as I can tell, these are the first words Pope Leo XIV has spoken publicly about marriage and family - so they're worth our time! You can find the whole homily here. Here's a great excerpt:
"...Today's world need the marriage covenant in order to know and accept God's love and to defeat, thanks to its unifying and reconciling power, the forces that break down relationships and societies.
For this reason, with a heart filled with gratitude and hope, I would remind all married couples that marriage is not an ideal but the measure of true love between a man and a woman: a love that is total, faithful, and fruitful (cf. St. Paul VI, Humanae Vitae, 9). This love makes you one flesh and enables you, in the image of God, to bestow the gift of life."
Now, on to this month's news!
In Christ,
Doug
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It's Natural Family Planning Awareness Week this week, and there's still time to help spread the word in your parish. Check out last month's newsletter for all the materials Tori put together to help your parishioners!
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Saturday, September 20 | 8am-1pm
Mary, Mother of the Church Pastoral Center
$150 / facilitator*
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Do you need facilitators trained for pre-marital inventory work with your engaged couples? We will be offering in-person training for the Prepare-Enrich inventory for new facilitators.
*Facilitators can be individuals or a couple. The price is the same for either.
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This year we are adding a weekend retreat to our schedule, giving engaged couples three opportunities to spend a full weekend preparing for their marriage! Retreats offer couples the same content as our online Joy-Filled Marriage course, but with extended time for discussion, opportunities to receive the sacraments, and of course, in-person community with other couples.
Spots fill quickly, so please make sure your engaged couples know this option for their marriage preparation!
Dates for 2025-2026
November 7-9, 2025
February 20-22, 2026
April 10-12, 2026
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Summer Family Events in the Area
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There are several events aimed at families this summer. Please share with your parish families!
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Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob, Archbishop of Milwaukee, invites you to the 2025 Pallium Lecture!
Bishop Flores's presentation, "Synods and Councils and Creeds - Treasuring Our Catholic Inheritance Today" highlights this year as the 1700 Anniversary of Nicaea I and the 60th Anniversary of the closing of Vatican II. Bishop Flores was a member of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod at the Vatican and a participant in the Synod of Bishops. He also led the synodal process in the U.S. and is helping implement the synod's directives. We are all honored to have him as this year's guest speaker!
Thursday, September 4, 2025
7:00pm
Brookfield Conference Center
325 South Moorland Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
This event also features evening prayer sung by our own St. Francis de Sales Seminary Schola. The Pallium is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
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Beacons of Hope: 3 Days of Inspiration and Formation
Join us as we kick off the new catechetical year with three meaningful days of formation, networking, and prayer.
August 21-22 (Thursday & Friday): For Parish Catechetical Staff
These two core days include keynotes from Julianne Stanz, Mass with Archbishop Jeffrey Grob (Friday), office updates, workshops, and time to connect with colleagues and exhibitors. All parish catechetical staff across ministries are encouraged to attend.
August 23 (Saturday): Formation for Leaders & Catechists
This day is for catechists, team leaders, and volunteers. Enjoy keynote talks and workshop tracks for children's, youth, and adult ministry at both introductory and advanced levels. Saturday workshops will be offered in Spanish and English.
Be inspired, equipped, and connected - we look forward to seeing you!
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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
- The Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University is offering several FREE webinars to support catechists, teachers, and leaders! Here are the dates:
- Tuesday, July 29 at 1pm - In Spanish: Cómo responder cuando nuestros estudiantes vienen con heridas, Parte II: Lo único que yo necesito es amor // Part II: How to respond when our students come with wounds: All you need is love
- Tuesday, August 5 at 1pm - Humanitarian Service as a Vocation: Serving the Marginalized and Persecuted Worldwide
- Tuesday, August 12 at 1pm - Discipleship Quads: A Uniquely Effective Approach to Parish Small Groups
- Tuesday, August 19 at 1pm - Youth Ministry: How to Find a Path to Thriving, and How Franciscan University's Outreach Can Help
- Tuesday, August 26 at 1pm - In Spanish: El discernimiento ignaciano para líderes: las primeras tres reglas // Ignatian Discernment for Leaders: The First Three Rules
- Forming the Catechetical Spirit Program | September 2025 - May 2026 at St. Alphonsus in New Munster| Register by August 15!
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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