Marriage & Family Life Office
Marriage & Family Life Office
The mission of the Marriage and Family Life Office is to serve as a resource center for our parishes to address marriage and family life ministry. The role includes listening and advocating for marriage and family needs, training, equipping and raising awareness; receiving and directing enquiries, providing information, advice and resources; and organizing events.
Marriage & Family Life Office Resources
Bereavement and Grief Ministry
Bereavement and Grief Ministry
Bereavement Counseling Referrals
Call the Marriage and Family Life Office
Elizabeth Ministry
Elizabeth Ministry is an international movement designed to offer hope and healing on issues related to childbearing, sexuality, and relationships. They address miscarriage and child loss.
The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents
The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents serves the spiritual needs of parents whose children of any age have died by any cause. As Jesus joined his distraught disciples on the road to Emmaus, we ask him to join each of us in this ministry as we struggle through this horrendous journey of grief every day.
Good Mourning Ministries
https://www.goodmourningministry.net/
Prayerful, practical and personal grief support. A Catholic bereavement apostolate since 2011.
St. Paul’s Catholic Church Nampa
Grief Ministry
Contact: Terry Burnett
Christian Friends in Recovery
THE 12 STEP REVIEW is a publication of the Western Dominican Province, a nonprofit organization of the Dominican Fathers and Brothers, and is edited by Fr. Emmerich Vogt, O.P. It is published four times a year through your donations.
Life Giving Wounds
www.lifegivingwounds.org
Life Giving Wounds’ mission is to help young adults and adults with divorced and separated parents give voice to their pain and find deep spiritual healing. They do this by providing unique means for Christ to transform their life-draining wounds into life-giving resources of faith, hope, love, and joy for themselves, their relationships, and the Church. They also seek to help them make and sustain a life-long gift of love in either the vocation of marriage or consecrated life.
NAMI-Boise
NAMI is a diverse organization transforming the community so that people living with mental illness and their families are empowered to achieve their full potential and are an integral part of the community.
Couple and Family Formation
Couple and Family Formation
Couples for Christ (CFC) USA
CFC USA Website: http://couplesforchristusa.org/
Global CFC Website: https://couplesforchristglobal.org/
CFC is a movement intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life. The members have committed themselves to the Lord and to one another so that they may grow in maturity as men and women of God and fulfill their primary vocation of raising up families under the lordship of Jesus Christ and for the service of the Kingdom of God.
To learn more about Couples for Christ in the Diocese of Boise, please contact
Mr. Robin Mitra at rob2906@yahoo.com or call 208-995-9024.
Teams of our Lady
Teams of our Lady is movement of "Married Spirituality" which brings together Christian couples united by the Sacrament of Marriage; and who wish, together, to deepen the graces of their Sacrament of Marriage.
Idaho Contact for Teams of our Lady
Yesenia Ineck
Witness to Love Witness (WTL)
WTL provides local churches with the tools to transform existing programs of marriage preparation into wellsprings of dynamic marriage discipleship that foster both parish connection and nurture authentic accompaniment before and after the wedding day.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME)
WWME is a weekend for married Christian couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together. Attend a Marriage Encounter weekend and learn the tools needed to keep your marriage strong.
Defense of Marriage
Defense of Marriage
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
http://www.marriageuniqueforareason.org
Marriage: Unique for a Reason offers resources to assist with the education and catechesis of Catholics on why marriage is unique and why it should be promoted and protected as the union of one man and one woman. Each of the videos in this initiative, with its companion written material, is intended to be used by a priest, deacon, catechist, or teacher.
Book Resource:
Getting the Marriage Conversation Right: A Guide for Effective Dialogue
Marriage is the only institution that unites children with their moms and dads and has been recognized by every culture, society, and religion, each according to their own competencies. Getting the Marriage Conversation Right shows how to get that interest recognized in laws, societal institutions, and individuals, and begin to rebuild a marriage culture.
Getting the Marriage Conversation Right: A Guide for Effective Dialogue teaches you how to promote and defend traditional marriage in non-religious terms. It’s a great how-to guide for answering those tough questions you’ve struggled with.
Author William B. May brings into the discussion of the legal definition of marriage the rights of children and provides sensible guidelines on how to avoid common traps that hinder communication. Getting the Marriage Conversation Right includes a substantial section of FAQs at the heart of the conflict.
Human Sexuality and Identity
Human Sexuality and Identity
Courage
Courage is an apostolate working with individuals dealing with same-sex attraction and offers a spiritual support system to assist men and women to live chaste lives.
Courage—Idaho Group
E-mail: courageidaho@rcdb.org
Confidentiality assured.
Gender Identity
Church documents:
Male and Female He Created Them: Towards a Path of Dialogue on the question of gender theory in education
www.educatio.va/content/dam/cec/Documenti/19_0997_INGLESE.pdf
Gender Theory/Identity—Select Teaching Resource from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC)
The NCBC established in 1972, conducts research, consultation, publishing and education to promote human dignity in health care and the life sciences, and derives its message directly from the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Person and Identity Project
https://personandidentity.com/
The mission of the Person and Identity Project (PIP) is to assist the Catholic Church in promoting the Catholic vision of the human person and responding to the challenges of gender ideology.
Liaison with Marriage & Family Life Apostolates
Liaison with Marriage & Family Life Apostolates
The Marriage and Family Life Office works with organizations and apostolates dedicated to marriage and family life ministries.
If you are a Catholic organization dedicated to marriage and family life ministries, please contact us.
Marriage Enrichment
Marriage Enrichment
The Alexander House
thealexanderhouse.org
The Alexander House Center for Enrichment and Healing is just that, a place for enrichment and healing. Here you will find classes that will educate and equip you with what you need to be a man, woman, and couple of Christ. You will also find the appropriate service to allow you to find healing for your marriage in the capacity in which you need it.
Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage
www.augustineinstitute.org/formed/beloved
In 12 sessions, Beloved explores the true meaning of Marriage and how to live it out together. Here you’ll discover the deepest spiritual, emotional and practical realities of Marriage through Scripture, Tradition and Church Teaching. You’ll see first-hand how to experience the wonder, mystery and joy of this Sacrament – from that first “I do” through the rest of your lives.
The Choice Wine
A marriage enrichment program of Paradisus Dei, an independent lay ministry dedicated to marriage and family life.
Institute for Marital Healing
The mission of the Institute for Marital Healing is to strengthen Catholic marriages and families by educating spouses, marital therapists and clergy about common causes of conflicts in marital self-giving and effective approaches to alleviating such conflicts. Through a combination of online resources, educational programs and publications, the Institute employs a time-tested approach to marital therapy that recognizes the importance of both science and faith in the process of marital healing.
Marriage Dynamics Institute
Our mission is to provide marriage workshops and courses that build safe environments, promote self-education, and produce extraordinary results. Our classes and workshops are developed by a unique group of talented professionals, therapists, marriage counselors, and ministers representing many different denominations, parts of the country, cultures and life experiences.
Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i)
Retrouvaille helps couples experiencing marital difficulty at all levels of distress including disillusionment and deep misery. The program is designed to provide the tools to help get marriages back on track. Thousands of couples headed for cold, unloving relationship or divorce have successfully overcome their marriage problems by attending the program.
Southern Idaho Contacts:
Paul and Barbie Bentley
retrouvailleboise@gmail.com
(208) 340-5338
Northern Idaho Contacts:
Steve and Laura Droke
(509) 520-4118
INW@retrouvaille.org
For more information visit Retrouvaille’s web site at www.helpourmarriage.com or ayudanuestromatrimonio.org or for confidential information call 1-800-470-2230 English or 1-800-966-7981 Spanish.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
www.foryourmarriage.org/the-vocation-of-marriage
Website of the U.S. Catholic Bishops to promote the vocation of marriage.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend for married Christian couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together. Attend a Marriage Encounter weekend and learn the tools needed to keep your marriage strong.
Idaho and Eastern Oregon Area Coordinators:
Kevin & Barb Acker
Hispanic Idaho Coordinators:
Rosa and Alfredo Morales
Marriage Preparation
Marriage Preparation
A Letter from Bishop Peter Christensen to Engaged Couples
Congratulations on being called to the sacrament of marriage! Marriage is the center of Catholic family life and the vocation through which most people live out their baptismal commitment. I rejoice with you as you approach the sacrament of marriage and wish to support you in living your married life to the fullest.
Cultural influences today can work against a personal commitment and development for a healthy marriage and a lifetime commitment. The Catholic Church wants to work with you to succeed with your vocation to marriage and offer you the resources which you can use to build a solid foundation for your marriage.
The cornerstones of the preparation process include meetings with clergy, attending a parish-based marriage preparation program, or a couples’ retreat like Catholic Engaged Encounter. You will also use an assessment tool to assess your strengths and areas for growth, both as individuals and as a couple. I strongly encourage you to develop a prayer life together as a couple. Most importantly through this process, you will discover that Catholic marriage is about making a total gift of yourself to your spouse. Through the sacramental covenant of marriage, you are no longer two but one flesh (Mt 19:6).
As your bishop, I urge you to make the most of the marriage preparation process. It is true to say that you will get out of it what you put into it. Please enter the process with open hearts and minds to God’s grace so that you might fully embrace the wonderful gifts and challenges of this state of life. Again, congratulations as you prepare for this life-long journey of grace.
Sincerely in Christ,
Marriage Regulations for the Diocese of Boise
Marriage Regulations for the Diocese of Boise—English
Marriage Regulations for the Diocese of Boise—Spanish
Couples Guide for Marriage Preparation for the Diocese of Boise
Preparing for Marriage in the Diocese of Boise Couples Guide—English
*Preparing for Marriage in the Diocese of Boise Couples Guide—Spanish
Basic Steps for Marriage Preparation in the Diocese of Boise:
-
Consult with your parish clergy or other minister a minimum of 4 months in advance of your intended date of marriage.
-
Attend a Marriage Preparation Program
-
Complete a Pre-Marital Inventory Tool
-
Provide Necessary documents to include: baptismal certificates, testimony of freedom, parental consent (as needed), and evidence of preparation
-
Obtain any necessary permissions or dispensations
-
Prepare spiritually and practically for the Vocation of Marriage
Catholic Engaged Encounter (weekend retreat)
Lewiston Catholic Engaged Encounter
www.ceelewiston.org
www.engagedencounter.org
Email: leaders@ceelewiston.org or registration@ceelewiston.org
Call: 208-962-2372
Treasure Valley Catholic Engaged Encounter
www.ceeboise.org
Russ and Rena VanPaepeghem
Email: Russvanp@msn.com or localcoordinators@gmail.com
Call: 208-939-5216
Online Marriage Preparation
CatholicMarriagePrep
CatholicMarriagePrep.com invites couples to a deeper relationship with each other and with Christ. Online, on-demand instruction rooted in Saint John Paul II's Theology of the Body, combined with personalized mentoring from a trained married couple, builds a foundation for a strong, healthy, Christ-centered marriage between a man and a woman. Available in English and Spanish.
Living Our Faith in Love (The Marriage Group)
https://themarriagegroup.com/courses/living-our-faith-in-love/
https://cursoscatolica.advancedministries.com/lista-de-cursos/
Our courses are trusted by Catholic parishes and dioceses around the world. Each month, hundreds of couples rely on the most comprehensive, convenient, and popular online programs to meet the requirements for marriage preparation in the Catholic Church.
Joy-Filled Marriage
www.ascensionpress.com/collections/joy-filled-marriage
Parishes need flexibility now more than ever. With our all-digital course or physical materials with included online access options, parishes can concentrate on the pastoral connection with couples.
Using the Joy-Filled Marriage program, couples will be presented with the truth and beauty of the sacramentality of marriage along with the life skills needed to live a joy-filled marriage.
Mentor Couple Model of Marriage Prep
Witness to Love
www.witnesstolove.org/mentor-couples.html
Witness to Love provides local churches with the tools to transform existing programs of marriage preparation into wellsprings of dynamic marriage discipleship that foster both parish connection and nurture authentic accompaniment before and after the wedding day.
Pre-Marriage Inventories
FOCCUS, Inc. USA
FOCCUS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building, promoting and enhancing healthy relationships by offering resources and training that "Facilitate Open, Caring Communication, Understanding and Study." FOCCUS, Inc. USA offers materials that are research-based, affordable, and user-friendly for both professionals and trained lay volunteers.
Fully Engaged
Fully Engaged is a Catholic catechetical premarital inventory designed to help engaged couples solidify the foundation upon which they, together with Christ, will build their Sacrament of Marriage. Grounded in Church teaching and loaded with catechetical content, this dynamic premarital inventory is a trustworthy guide that meets the real challenges today’s couples face.
PREPARE/ENRICH
Prepare/Enrich is the leading relationship inventory and skill-building program used nationally and internationally. It is built on a solid research foundation and significantly improves a couple's relationship. PREPARE/ENRICH is custom tailored to a couple's relationship and provides couple exercises to build their relationship skills.
Parish-Based Marriage Preparation Renewal
Contact the Marriage and Family Life Office to consult about your current parish-based marriage preparation program. The Office can work with you on updates and training your parish marriage preparation team.
Email: jwonacott@rcdb.org
Office Phone: 208-350-7535
Men's & Women's Ministry
Men's & Women's Ministry
MEN
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers—known around the world as the “Dynamic Deacon”—is one of the most sought after speakers in the Church today. He is a powerful and passionate evangelist and preacher whose no-nonsense approach to living and proclaiming the Catholic faith is sure to challenge and inspire those who hear him.
Idaho Catholic Men
www.idahocatholicmen.org
Join hundreds of men from around the state of Idaho for a one-day Catholic Men’s Conference featuring inspiring speakers, and powerful opportunities to encounter Christ.
Into the Breach
Diocese of Phoenix’s short film and pastoral exhortation to Catholic men.
That Man is You (TMIY)
www.paradisusdei.org/index.php/programs/tmiy
That Man is You honestly addresses the pressures and temptations that men face in our modern culture, especially those relating to their roles as husbands and fathers. The program harmonizes current social and medical science with the teachings of the Church and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of man fully alive!
The Knights of Columbus
Fostering men united in a faith that will continue the growth of Fr. McGivney’s dream ensuring the spread of Columbianism; becoming more visible through the good works of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity; creating an atmosphere which encourages and calls all Catholic men to serve with their Brothers.
WOMEN
Blessed is She
Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow together in their Catholic faith.
We create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to foster community and deepen faith, both online and in person.
Elizabeth Ministry
Elizabeth Ministry is an international movement designed to offer hope and healing on issues related to childbearing, sexuality, and relationships.
Endow
Endow is an educational apostolate that writes study guides for small groups of women that makes the rich wisdom of the Church accessible to the “woman in the pew.” By offering background information, definitions of theological terms, historical context, quotes from Scripture and the Catechism, insights from scholars and saints, and thought provoking questions for group discussion, an Endow study makes some of the most profound documents of the Church and writings of her saints accessible to teens and women alike.
Idaho Catholic Women
Join hundreds of women from around the state of Idaho for a one-day Catholic Women's Conference featuring inspiring speakers, and powerful opportunities to encounter Christ.
Idaho Council of Catholic Women
ICCW is the Idaho-based, statewide affiliate of the National Council of Catholic Women. We provide a number of services and trainings to CCW parish councils throughout the state.
National Council of Catholic Women
The National Council of Catholic Women acts through its members to support, empower, and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service. NCCW programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world.
Women in the New Evangelization
WINE is a Catholic Women's Ministry that brings women together to encourage & educate them in their Catholic faith and in their vocation as women. WINE unites the evangelization & formation efforts of leaders of existing women’s groups and leaders of parish women’s ministries.
Women of Grace
The mission of Women of Grace is to transform the world one woman at a time by affirming women in their dignity and vocation as daughters of God and in their gift of authentic femininity™ through ongoing spiritual formation. Exploring all aspects of the "feminine genius," Women of Grace® promotes the dignity of woman, the gift of true womanhood, woman's fundamental call and mission in the world, and presents the Blessed Virgin Mary as the exemplar of all women.
Natural Family Planning
Natural Family Planning
Natural Family Planning courses teach married and engaged couples the scientific sympto-thermal method of fertility awareness. NFP calls for shared responsibility by husband and wife, eliminates the use of harmful hormones and chemicals, can be used by women with irregular or painful cycles (and often improves them), and helps couples celebrate God's vision of human sexuality. Through NFP, fertility is viewed as a reality to live, not a problem to be solved. It is over 99% effective at postponing pregnancy and has greater success than other interventions at helping couples struggling with infertility. Couples regularly report a rediscovery of God's plan for married love and a strengthening of their faith.
The Couple to Couple League (CCL)
This CCL website is dedicated to describing the physical and spiritual benefits of Natural Family Planning.
Local CCL Courses
The next Natural Family Planning (NFP) instruction series in 2021 is March 20, April 17, and May 22 at St. Paul's Church in Nampa. These three classes will teach couples how to use the CCL Sympto-thermal Method of Natural Planning. It is open to any engaged or married couple preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony, or any other couple that may benefit. It is much easier for couples to learn the rules of NFP and how to chart data BEFORE they are married, so this is the prime series for couples planning on marrying the summer of 2021.
Please register here: https://ccli.powerappsportals.com/en-US/classdetails/classregistration/?classid=7b5e8b09-c07c-eb11-8ced-00155d466f64
Instructors are trained volunteer teachers. All costs go to print and digital materials the couple will need. If cost poses a hardship for any couple, please contact Erika or Jeff Cowman at erika_stelljes@hotmail.com.
Virtual and self-paced courses are available. Registration at ccli.org.
Contact Erika and Jeff Cowman at erika_stelljes@hotmail.com for local consultation.
FertilityCare™ Centers of America
FertilityCare™ Centers of America is a dynamic, growing group of affiliated centers that provide professional instruction in the CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System which features the new women's health science, NaProTECHNOLOGY.
Treasure Valley FertilityCare
www.treasurevalleyfertility.com
Ashley Jensen, RN, BSN, FCP
Phone: 208-505-0002
Email: treasurevalleyfertility@gmail.com
Living the Sacrament
Living the Sacrament provides a safe and supportive space for our members to share and grow with one another in the Catholic faith; to visit about the daily joys and struggles of using NFP; to meet with other like-minded individuals; to support one another; to pray for one another; and to encourage one another. We come here to be renewed in the Holy Spirit, so that we might return to our duties with renewed faith, hope and love.
Pearl and Thistle, LLC
Christiana Valenzuela
www.pearlandthistle.com
Specializes in fertility and cycle education for couples, individuals, parents, and teens.
Pearl and Thistle seeks to provide a supportive environment for women and families who are often underserved in these areas, both in medicine and sometimes in the parish community.
Natural Family Planning International
NFP International provides high quality and low cost instruction about Natural Family Planning in the context of Christian discipleship and the moral teaching of the Catholic Church. "Natural Family Planning" includes both ecological breastfeeding and systematic natural family planning. Via the Internet NFPI makes NFP instruction available all throughout the world.
NFP Outreach
NFP Outreach is a comprehensive clearinghouse for accurate, practical, up-to-date information on Natural Family Planning, its practice, its effectiveness, its benefits and its underlying moral principles.
Spanish language resources for NFP
Liga de pareja a pareja
www.ligadepareja.org
Conoce Tu Fertilidad
Erick Carrero ecarrero@ccli.org
Parish-based NFP Classes: Check with your parish office.
The Saint Pope Paul VI Institute
Saint Pope Paul VI Institute Founded in 1985 by Thomas W. Hilgers, MD, is internationally recognized for its outstanding achievements in the field of natural fertility regulation and reproductive medicine — They offer programming for couples and professionals; professional, caring, and morally acceptable patient services.
The Saint Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction is building a culture of life in women's health care through its major developments — Creighton Model FertilityCare System and NaProTechnology.
SymptoPro
Fertility education is an effective scientifically based method and Natural Family Planning that treats fertility as a normal, healthy process.
Parenting
Parenting
Catholic Connected Parenting Course, sponsored by Diocese of Boise
The Marriage and Family Life Office of the Diocese of Boise has created and successfully implemented a program called Catholic Connected Parenting education course for families in the Diocese of Boise, specifically for families who have faced any kind of trauma.
This program is based on a proven practice theory called Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). It includes information on brain development, attachment styles, connection strategies, empowering strategies, and correction techniques. Our program includes formation classes for parents and nurturing groups for youth.
We have added elements of Catholic teaching based on the need for Catholic identity formation and an emphasis on family prayer and rituals.
The program serves Catholic families with elementary aged children, who have experienced some form of trauma (i.e. birth trauma, early hospitalization, foster care, adoption, divorce, domestic violence, physical & sexual abuse, neglect, parental drug or alcohol abuse). However, the principles and parenting philosophy taught are applicable to all parents. To some degree, all families have experienced some form of trauma.
Contact: Jodi Fulford, Instructor
Dr. Gregory K. Popcak and Associates: Catholic Tele-Counseling Services
catholiccounselors.com
Whether you want to create a more intimate and godly marriage, celebrate a more faithful and fulfilling family life, or discover the path to a more grace-filled personal life, the Catholic Counselors at Pastoral Solutions Institute can help strengthen and support you on your spiritual and emotional journey!
Dr. Ray Guarendi
Website of clinical psychologist, author, public speaker and national radio and television host.
Families of Character
A nonprofit organization that assists in developing virtues. Families of Character is committed to provide parents the tools to live virtues, educate on what makes up character, reverse the breakdown of the family, and create happier, more unified families.
Love and Logic Parenting
The Love and Logic approach is the original world leader in changing the lives of parents, teachers and kids through practical, effective and fun techniques.
National Fatherhood Initiative
www.fatherhood.org
Creating a world in which every child has a 24/7 Dad.
The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse
An Office of Family Assistance (OFA) funded national resource for fathers, practitioners, programs/Federal grantees, states, and the public at-large who are serving or interested in supporting strong fathers and families.
The Family Life Center
dads.org
The Family Life Center is dedicated to defending the faith, family life, and fatherhood throughout the world. Founded by Steve Wood in 1990 in response to Pope John Paul II’s exhortation that the future of the world and the Church passes through the family, the Family Life Center seeks to renew society by renewing strong, moral families. The Family Life Center provides resources geared toward deepening a family’s love and knowledge of their faith. The Family Life Center places a special focus on fatherhood and providing resources which aid fathers in fulfilling their vocation.
The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life—Holy Cross Family Ministries
Created by Holy Cross Family Ministries in collaboration with Pastoral Solutions Institute, The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life was formed to create a collaborative think tank of distinguished theologians, social scientists, and pastoral ministry professionals noted for their work and writings on family life.
United States Catholic Bishops—Parenting Resources
https://www.usccb.org/topics/marriage-and-family-life-ministries/parents-and-parenting
Professional Counseling Referrals
Professional Counseling Referrals
Contact the Marriage and Family Life Office for a counseling referral.
Separated, Divorced and Widowed Ministries
Separated, Divorced and Widowed Ministries
CAST Ministries
CAST is a peer-to-peer ministry which offers a safe place to connect with other single Christians and those who have been isolated or hurt through their life’s journey. CAST is not a dating group, nor is CAST associated with one. CAST is an organization that recognizes the need within the Christian community to support those who are single, widowed or divorced. CAST Ministries works to bring a sense of belonging and acceptance within our Christian community by bringing together like minded, single mid-life Christians and Catholics. CAST Ministries seeks to encourage and enrich lives through personal development programs which deepen the understanding of God’s love, fellowship and social functions, and most importantly glorifying God while sharing His mercy and compassion with our single, divorced or widowed brothers and sisters in Christ.
Surviving Divorce
www.catholicsdivorce.com
The Surviving Divorce program was created to offer specific books, DVDs, websites, and other timely media to help in the healing of the human family. Regardless of where you are after a divorce or separation, we’ll help you and your family find answers to the questions you have.
Local Surviving Divorce Classes
Divorced? This is a 12-week group through St. Mark’s parish. Find the comfort and counsel consistent with Catholic teachings.
Deacon Terry or Rita Nelson
terrynelson@centurylink.net
DivorceCare
You don’t have to go through it alone. Separation and divorce are painful, stressful, and confusing. DivorceCare will help you overcome isolation and answer questions about issues you’ve never faced. These sessions include a video seminar featuring top experts on divorce and recovery subjects. Following the video, there is a discussion of the weekly topic and supporting one another through discussions about what’s going on in the lives of group members.
Local Divorce Care Classes
This group meets at Holy Apostles Church in Meridian.
Deacon Dave or Skye Shackley
holyapostlesdivorcecare@hotmail.com
Faith Journeys Foundations, Inc.
https://www.faithjourneys.org/
Provides churches and schools with the tools and expertise to offer faith-based group programs for children and adolescents from divorced or separated families, along with their parents, so families may heal more fully, grow stronger in their faith, and pursue their vocations free of the burdens of unresolved grief.
Book resources when parents divorce
Guide for Children: www.pauline.org/whenparentsdivorce
Guide for Parents:
https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/product/the-divorced-catholic-s-guide-to-parenting
Life Giving Wounds (LGW)
www.lifegivingwounds.org
Life Giving Wounds’ mission is to help young adults and adults with divorced and separated parents give voice to their pain and find deep spiritual healing. They do this by providing unique means for Christ to transform their life-draining wounds into life-giving resources of faith, hope, love, and joy for themselves, their relationships, and the Church. They also seek to help them make and sustain a life-long gift of love in either the vocation of marriage or consecrated life.
LGW accomplishes this work of spiritual healing through establishing peer-led diocesan, college campus, and parish retreat ministries and support groups, integrated within the community of parish life or campus ministry. We also provide online ministry and outreach, print resources, and presentations, trainings, and consultations.
If interested in being trained as a leader in this ministry for the Diocese of Boise, please contact Jay Wonacott at jwonacott@rcdb.org or call 208-350-7535.
Sexual Addiction
Sexual Addiction
"Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography"
US Catholic Bishops Conference
www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/pornography
Covenant Eyes
www.covenanteyes.com or www.protectyoungeyes.com
An internet accountability and filtering software company.
Exodus 90
www.exodus90.com
Exodus 90 gives you a concrete and actionable roadmap for overcoming that distraction and loneliness through prayer, asceticism, and fraternity.
Integrity Restored
Our mission at is to help restore the integrity of individuals, spouses, and families that have been affected by pornography and pornography addiction. Integrity Restored provides education, encouragement, and resources to break free from pornography, heal relationships, and to assist parents in preventing and responding to pornography exposure which is so devastating in the lives of our children. We also hope to be a resource that assists clergy in assisting families at the parish level, so that the domestic church truly becomes what it is, the human space in which we encounter Christ.
Matt Fradd
Fradd is a Catholic apologist and speaker dealing with the topic of sexual addiction and pornography.
Matt Fradd’s Strive 21
The 21-Day Detox from Porn with Matt Fradd. A step-by-step plan to break free from porn. Powerful videos and challenges delivered daily.
RECLAiM Sexual Health Online Recovery Program
RECLAiM Sexual Health offers a science-based, Catholic Online Recovery Program and other resources for those who desire to reclaim God’s plan for their lives and the lives of loved ones impacted by pornography or other unhealthy sexual behaviors. RECLAiM provides unique integration of the Theology of the Body, the brain science of change, proven cognitive tools, accountability, group support, faith practices and prayer all in one, online community. Working at your own pace in an anonymous and safe environment, you can begin to change your unhealthy sexual behaviors and reclaim God’s original plan for your life and your sexuality.
Resource for Adults for Seeking Recovery from Pornography
www.lincolndiocese.org/internet-protection-pornography/resources-for-adults
Theology of the Body
Theology of the Body
Amar Al Maximo
An institute founded to transmit the positive and beautiful vision of sexuality based on the personalisitic vision of Saint John Paul II and share ways of how to live it.
Somos un instituto que busca transmitir una visión positiva y hermosa de la sexualidad basada en la visión personalista de San Juan Pablo II y dar medios para vivirla.
Chastity Project
Chastity Project believes that young people play a pivotal role in the new evangelization and exists to promote the virtue of chastity so that individuals can see God, and be free to love (Matt. 5:8).
joytob
joytob is the new teaching ministry of Damon Owens dedicated to proclaiming the joy of being made in the image and likeness of God, male and female. Drawing on over twenty years of lectures, motivational speaking, writing, and TV/radio presentations, Damon joyfully acclaims the goodness, truth, and beauty of human sexuality and its deepest meaning fulfilled by men and women who freely choose motherhood and fatherhood through marriage or celibacy for the sake of Heaven.
Ruah Woods
It is for this time and this mission that Ruah Woods was established. Our work has confirmed that The Theology of the Body is the fresh perspective which announces and proclaims the Gospel for the New Evangelization in a new way that can speak boldly to today’s culture. Encountering this teaching through formation, restoration and adoration is changing lives in stunning ways.
The Theology of the Body Evangelization Team, Inc. (TOBET)
TOBET endeavors to teach and inspire others to encounter a personal relationship with Jesus so as to love as God loves by giving a unique and compelling vision of the human person based on Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body (TOB). This message brings hope and healing, for each person sees from this perspective that he/she is unique and unrepeatable, made to love and be loved. TOBET invites people to renewal, effecting a deeper sense of wonder at our being created in God’s image and likeness, stamped in our very bodies.
Theology of the Body Institute
Theology of the Body is a teaching on what it means to be fully human — male and female. Theology of the Body was St. John Paul II’s first major teaching project as pope. It is a grand proposal to the world of the deepest meaning of life and love made visible in the body. The Theology of the Body Institute offer courses, a certification program, a clergy enrichment program, speakers for your events, and much more. Check out what’s happening at Theology of the Body Institute and find out if an event is right for you!
TOB for Teens
Ascension Press presents a curriculum for 6th to 8th graders addressing the concepts of Christian identity, embodiment, sexuality and morality.
You
A beautifully produced curriculum for teens and young adults discovering the Church’s teaching on their Christian identity, embodiment, sexuality and morality.
Marriage Validation
You may be wondering if your marriage is fully recognized by the Catholic Church?
Upcoming Events
All the upcoming events for Marriage and Family Life will be displayed at the link below
What's Marriage for Life?
MEANING OF THE DESIGN
Marriage for Life Decal
The Marriage for Life decal is a great way to send a positive message to your fellow travelers about what you believe...
JUST A THOUGHT
Bishop Peter Christensen
I would ask you to consider placing a decal on the back window of your car to support and proclaim your belief that marriage is for life...
MARRIAGE POSTER
Downloadable Poster 8.5 x 11 PDF
The Marriage for Life campaign is to promote marriage as a permanent and life-giving vocation...
ROLE OF CATHOLIC FAMILIES
Being the Light in a Dark World
Bishop Peter F. Christensen gives the second keynote of the Idaho Catholic Congress Sept. 19, 2015, at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise...
The Office of Marriage & Family Life Contact Information
