Spare the Left-Overs

By Francine & Byron Pirola | December 23, 2022

It’s that time of year again – the season of joy and gluttony. By the time Christmas day is over, our refrigerator will be filled…

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Christmas Crazies!

By Francine & Byron Pirola | December 16, 2022

If there is one thing that takes the edge off our Christmas joy, it’s the pressure of the consumer culture to give better, more unique,…

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#5 Thoughts Emotions Needs

By Francine & Byron Pirola | December 9, 2022

We’ve already explored how to deepen our communication as a couple but focusing on sharing our interior life, specifically, sharing at the more intimate levels…

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Defiant Hope

By Francine & Byron Pirola | November 25, 2022

Advent is a season of anticipation. The birth of any child, not least the Messiah, gives us cause for hope. Earlier this week, we heard…

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Commitment

By Francine & Byron Pirola | November 18, 2022

In his book, ‘The Power of Commitment‘, Scott Stanley (USA) provides some very useful insights into the nature of commitment. He identifies two types of…

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#4 Communication

By Francine & Byron Pirola | November 10, 2022

Communication is one of the key topics that couples say is so important. While most engaged couples believe they are great at communication, many married…

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Natural Fertility

By Francine & Byron Pirola | November 4, 2022

True love cannot be contained; it always gives life in some form, bursting forth from the couple with irrepressible urgency. For most couples, this life-giving…

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Marriage is not a Partnership

By Francine & Byron Pirola | October 13, 2022

Housework: It’s often a topic of debate among couples, and truth be told, we’ve had our own dramas in this area over the years. We…

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#3 Your Family of Origin

By Francine & Byron Pirola | October 6, 2022

Our family of origin is the most influential formation because our early childhood experiences created the foundation through which all other experiences were interpreted. We…

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The Family is Holy Ground

By Francine & Byron Pirola | September 30, 2022

October 7 marks the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. How might this feast be relevant to marriage and family life?  In 1571, a…

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Change Reaction

By Francine & Byron Pirola | September 22, 2022

It’s easy to see how couples get stuck when ‘being right’ has become a habit. Clinging to our ‘right to be right’ is like gangrene in a relationship….

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Marriage Lessons from a Dog Trainer 

By Francine & Byron Pirola | September 15, 2022

A few months ago, our young Australian Shepherd went to doggie boot camp. Over five weeks she was trained by professional dog-handlers to walk calmly, socialise nicely and keep her…

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Senior couple

How Senior Couples Make Marriage Better

By Francine & Byron Pirola | August 23, 2022

In a culture that glorifies youth and sanctions the euthanising of the sick and elderly, it’s easy to lose sight of the gift of seniors.…

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The Power of Ritual

By Francine & Byron Pirola | August 12, 2022

Routines can be very useful in keeping our lives purposeful and organized. Rituals are like routines with one important difference – they have positive emotional…

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Catholic Courtship Summit 2022

By Francine & Byron Pirola | August 2, 2022

Do you have a family member or friend that is currently in a serious dating relationship, and you desire to help them discern with more…

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