Have you been impacted by John Paul the Great's theology of the body?  Are you willing to respond to the Church’s urgent need to strengthen marriage?  Are you confident of the beauty of the Church’s teachings on marriage and sexuality and willing to boldly confront the culture’s contraceptive mentality? 

The Diocese is blessed to have the God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage program that clearly lays out the Church’s teaching on marriage and sexuality, teachings that are becoming more and more counter-cultural in our society. But the world is in great need of an authentic understanding of what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God, to love as God loves, to entrust your marriage to the Designer of Marriage. The program uses the Theology of the Body to lay a foundation of the Church’s understanding of marriage and love and provides practical insight into how we as married couples can live the gift of love honestly, in accordance to our marriage vows.

We are in need of individuals and married couples to facilitate the God's Plan program throughout the year.  Training is provided to all couples and the annual commitment is 20-30 hours.  Will you join us?

Upcoming Training for God's Plan Program

When:   To Be Announced
Where:  Bishop O’Connor Center, Madison.   
Time:    Friday/Saturday retreat-type training or multiple evenings training spread out over several months
Purpose:  Train attendees in the content, methodology and delivery of the God’s Plan Program.

Who should attend?  Any individual or couple that values marriage and is willing to commit their time to the effort.  Knowledge of theology of the body and church teaching on marriage is important, but what you may lack we can help prepare you!

What's the Cost?  All the costs of the training will be covered by the diocese, including materials, meals, and lodging .  Donations will be accepted but lack of money should not prevent any couple or individual from attending this training. In addition, childcare may be offered if necessary.

REGISTER TODAY!

To learn more about marriage preparation or upcoming God’s Plan training, please contact Andy Galvin at 608-821-4517 or andy.galvin@straphael.org.

The Real Life, Real Love program is a witness and dialogue day led by a team of married couples and clergy/pastoral ministers sharing their experiences on key relationship issues including self-awareness, communication, intimacy and marriage as a faith journey.  Engaged couples spend significant time dialoguing privately on these issues. 

What are the skills and experiences that would most benefit engaged couples as the prepare for marriage?  Are you willing to share your experiences with them?  If so, we need you to be part of the team!

New Team Couples are trained either individually or with another new couple by a seasoned Team Couple.  The couple prepares 2 presentations over a 1-2 month training period that can be scheduled according to their personal, work and family needs.  A training manual is provided that describes the procedures for the Day and guidance on how to write the presentations.  Click Volunteer Expectations for more.

Training can be started at any time throughout the year.  To learn more about training for Real Life, Real Love., Andy Galvin at 608-821-4517 or andy.galvin@straphael.org.  

St. Raphael's Pilgrims is a prayer group formed to support marriage preparation in the Diocese of Madison. Its members commit to a daily prayer, sacrifice, or devotion of their choice. The group has taken St. Raphael as their patron saint, not only because he is the patron saint of the Madison Diocese but also because of his role in the marriage of Tobiah and Sarah in the book of Tobit. Those interested in joining or in more information may e-mail eseyfert@straphael.org.

FOCCUS is an internationally used inventory designed to provide engaged couples and those working with them a personalized profile of what is needed in their marriage preparation process.  Many parishes around the diocese use this diagnostic tool, and it's a great way for engaged couples to form mentoring relationships with experienced married couples.  You don't need to be perfect, just willing to share your marriage and your faith!  Contact your parish to see if you can be involved in FOCCUS.

The training will cover the basics of facilitating the FOCCUS inventory, the handscoring process and the new online scoring process described below, and factors that will help new FOCCUS couples become comfortable in their facilitator role.  For more information, or to register, call 608-821-4517.

FOCCUS Training sessions

 *  the next training session is anticipated to be in the fall of 2009