Leader Formation Program 2022

The Marriage Kit is an online course for couples to strengthen and enrich their marriage. It includes multimedia input via SmartLoving's online learning platform, individual reflection and couple activities.

This Leader Formation program comprises:

The Online Course for couples to access in their own time and at their own pace over three months (April-June).
Five Online Gatherings with facilitators to unpack the material further, network with other leaders and pray together.

Online Gatherings: Wednesdays @7:30 pm | April 27, May 11, May 25, Jun 8, Jun 22

(Can’t make Wednesdays? If there is sufficient demand, we’ll schedule another series of Online Gatherings. Let us know when you enroll.)

Come and See

The Marriage Kit Leader Formation program is for married couples who wish to serve their community by supporting other couples through the Marriage Kit experience. The program is designed to enable you to experience the benefit of the Marriage Kit for your own marriage while accompanied by a community of marriage enthusiasts like yourselves.

At the end of the program, you'll be able to evaluate your experience as a participant, discern with your leadership team if the Marriage Kit is right for your community, and if so, access the resources and support to action it. There is no obligation to follow through with hosting a Marriage Kit in your community - this is a 'come and see' invitation.

How does it work?

Facilitated through the SmartLoving learning platform, from the privacy of your home, you will progress through the Marriage Kit course. The course includes 5 lessons of self-directed learning that you complete as a couple. There are individual reflection questions, quizzes, couple discussion and date night activities designed to make the content interesting and engaging.

Each lesson is divided into 5-7 bite sized topics that you can do in one shot, or spread out over two weeks. Some couples watch the video content separately as they have time and simply get together to do the couple activities.

Every two weeks, we'll gather online as a group to share insights from the previous lesson, pray together and support each other. You'll be able to ask questions, share your thoughts and connect with other couples.

Why you?

You have been nominated by your parish priest or SmartLoving representative to evaluate the suitability of the Marriage Kit for your community. After you experience the program, you'll be able to explore the idea of hosting a group experience for other couples so they can benefit from the life-changing ideas and tools. A Marriage Kit group experience is a great way to reach out to couples in mixed faith marriages, those loosely associated with the Catholic faith, as well as regular mass-goers.

Leader couples should be in a stable marriage, have an active faith and be open to where the Holy Spirit might lead them. Other parish leaders such as clergy or staff are also welcome to join.

Some Logistics

Once you enroll, you'll get a welcome email from us with instructions. MS Teams will be the host platform for all our online gatherings and group interaction. If you are new to MS Teams, you'll be able to practice chatting with us and explore the features throughout our time together.
From April 1, we'll email you instructions on how to create an account on SmartLoving and log in to the course. You will have three months to complete the course, but should be able to do so comfortably.
Every two weeks, we'll gather online starting on Wednesday April 27. To get the most out of these gatherings, please try to complete the relevant Lesson beforehand.
At the end of the course, we'll provide you with information on how to host the Marriage Kit in your community for you to take into your discernment. We'll be on hand to support you and your community every step of the way.

In a Nutshell

Date: April - June 2022

Online Gatherings: Wednesdays @7:30 pm

Apr 27, May 11, May 25, June 8, June 22

Cost: FREE

Requirements:

High speed internet connection (so you can stream the videos and attend the online gatherings)
A device to access the course (eg laptop or tablet). Ideally you will both have your own device so that you can access the online inventories and quizzes simultaneously. (NB: Smartphones are fine for watching the videos, but would be challenging for the interactive PDF handouts. Alternatively the handouts maybe printed if desired).
Writing paper/notebooks and pens x 2 (for some of the reflections)

If you have any questions you can contact us via [email protected] or 0434 346 280

Enrol NOW

Online Gatherings | Wednesdays @ 7:30pm AEDT

April 27 - Lesson 1: Mission: Marriage

After enrolment, complete Lesson 1 with your spouse before our first gathering.
Click here for the video instructions to open in a new tab.

Prayer
Review of Lesson 1 - Mission: Marriage
- Why Marriage?
- For Better or Worse?
- Attraction and Sexual Difference
- Affirmation
- Daily Appreciation
- Making Marriage Your Mission
- Date Night – Your Dream
‘Couple Homework’: Complete Lesson 2 before the next online gathering.

May 11 - Lesson 2: Love Deconstructed

May 25 - Lesson 3: Let's Talk

June 8 - Lesson 4: Let's Talk ... about Sex

June 22 - Lesson 5: From Me to We

First Online Gathering

Day

Hour

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Enrolment

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a marriage preparation course. If you are looking to enroll to our Engaged course click here to be redirected

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Online Gatherings

Wednesday 7:30pm is fine for us

Another weekday evening is preferred

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FAQs

What if we can't attend an online gathering?

We get it - family life is unpredictable. If you can't attend a gathering, let us know and we'll fill you in later if necessary. If only one of you can attend a gathering, or you attend with your camera off, that’s also ok.

If all the schedules gatherings clash with a prior commitment, please let us know when you enroll, and if there is sufficient demand we will look at hosting a second series.

How long is a lesson?

We've scheduled the online gatherings two weeks apart to allow couples to complete each lesson without too much stress. Lessons are comprised of 5-6 topics and take approximately 2 hours to complete. An additional 'date night' activity takes between 10 and 60 minutes. You can complete the whole lesson in one go, or break it up. You can also complete many of the topics remotely if one of you needs to travel for work. Simply record your reflections and save them to share together at a time when you are both available.

What else does a Marriage Kit Leader do?

We encourage MK leaders to supplement the experience with regular contact throughout the course. The Leader Pack includes suggested email and social media posts which link to articles and other content to reinforce, extend and complement each topic. A group chat using your preferred platform is also recommended so that leaders can be readily available to respond to questions and send reminders of gatherings.

What are our obligations if we sign up?

What happens after the Leader Formation program?

You get together with your parish priest to feedback on your experience and discern if the Marriage Kit is right for your parish. If you want to proceed, you’ll need to purchase a Leaders pack which gives you access to the online course, leader notes and support materials. We can coach you through your first group experience and be on hand to support your parish team.

If the Marriage Kit is not quite right, you might want to look into the SmartLoving Engaged-Sponsor system, or the BreakThrough course for spouses in difficult marriages.

I am not getting any notification emails

How do I log in to start the Marriage Kit

Why am I having trouble with the enrolment form?

Where does the Marriage Kit come from?

The Marriage Kit was developed some years ago as an online course and has served thousands of participants throughout the world. In 2021 a leader resource was developed so that it could also be offered as a group experience. In light of the many lockdowns then in place, the group experience was crafted in an 'online accompanied' model that enabled couples to explore the material privately, and encounter the benefit of the group encouragement through online gatherings.

Who is it for?

What’s in the Marriage Kit course?

Why run a group experience?

While the online course is fully complete in itself, there is great benefit in journeying together with others. Pope Francis knows this and has repeatedly called for couples to be ‘accompanied’ in their marriage and faith journey. While the online course may be accessed whenever you wish as individual couples, travelling the journey with others is an additional encouragement, keeping you on track, and allowing you to learn from other couples.

In addition, online gatherings enable accompaniment in a way that is lockdown-proof and readily accessible to parents of young children.

What happens in an online gathering?

Online Gatherings are led by a couple or other parish leader using the notes provided in the SL Marriage Kit Leader package. Each gathering includes a recap on the topics in the lesson, the opportunity for questions, sharing of insights and prayer. Ideally couples will have completed the lesson prior to the gathering, but if you haven't don't let that stop you joining us - there is always time to catch up on the lesson later. You will be sent a link via email to join the online gathering after you enroll. If you don't hear from us 24 hours before the event contact us via [email protected]

Resources

Nominate a Married Couple

Dear [insert first name] and [insert first name of spouse],

I would like to nominate you to attend the Marriage Kit Leader Formation program. It is an invitation only formation experience and a special opportunity for married couples to partake in an enrichment course hosted by the marriage apostolate – SmartLoving and the Marriage Resource Centre.

There is no cost to participate and in attending the program (online) your marriage will grow in faith and in love. If you enjoy the course you might consider running the Marriage Kit program as a marriage enrichment experience in your own parish or community in the future. There is no obligation for you to follow through with hosting the Marriage Kit program in your parish - this is a 'come and see' invitation. If you have any questions about the Marriage Kit Leader Formation program you can email: [email protected].

This formation program is tailored for couples that show leadership potential and could host a course in their community in the future.
Thank you for considering taking part in this experience. www.smartloving.org/mk-leader-formation

Letter to Parishes

RE: Marriage Enrichment for your Parish Leaders

Dear Father,

Over three months after Easter 2022, we are offering parishes the opportunity to send 1 or 2 couples to participate at no charge in the Marriage Kit Leader Formation experience. This offer is open to any parish in Australia and will be conducted online.

The Marriage Kit by SmartLoving is an online marriage enrichment course that couples access from home on their own timetable. It can also be run as a group experience in an Online Accompanied format with couples doing the course work privately and joining a series of onlinegatherings with other participants.

This Online Accompanied format is unique to SmartLoving and offers couples privacy through the immersive online learning platform as well as the benefit of community support in the online gatherings. At the parish level, it enables parish communities to provide quality marriage enrichment with ease to couples in the parish, school and wider community.

Hence the Leader Formation experience. Our hope is that once your couples encounter the life-changing benefits of the Marriage Kit group experience with other couples, they will be able to assess its feasibility as a parish initiative.

What we are asking of you

Identify one or two couples from your congregation who you recognise as people of faith with leadership potential. They should be in a valid Catholic marriage, but they do not need to have prior experience as marriage educators. As the course is accessed from home, parents with primary-aged children can be good candidates as they are often networked with parish and school communities.
Personally invite them using the enclosed letter. Feel free to add your personal message or download the template from the link overleaf to craft your own message. Be ready to talk more about your desire to build a marriage-affirming culture in the parish.
After the experience concludes in June 2022, meet with your parish couples to discern the next steps. If you want to take it further, we’re ready to assist your parish leaders.

Got questions?

We’d love to chat. Or you can visit the web link below for more info or download digital versions of these letters.

PS: If you’d like to join us in the course, (or another parish staff member), you’d be very welcome.

SmartLoving Marriage Kit Leader Formation | | Apr - Jun 2022

Web: smartloving.org/mk-leader-formation
T: 0434 346 280
E: [email protected]

More info

Letter to Parish Couples

Dear [insert couples names],

In the Amoris Laetitia Year of the Family, Pope Francis has dedicated this time to really focus on building up marriage and family life. It is so important that children experience the love of their family and that they see mum and dad caring for and enjoying each other as role models for their future marriage.

I’ve noticed that you have a beautiful love for each other, and I’d like to invite you to consider taking on a leadership role in marriage ministry in our parish. At this stage, all I request is that you participate in the Marriage Kit Leader Formation experience hosted by SmartLoving in 2022.

This leader formation experience is unique. You will have the opportunity to personally experience the Marriage Kit online course, interact with the SmartLoving founders, and connect with leader couples from all over the diocese. The online course can be done privately in your own time. Five online gatherings scheduled every two weeks will explore each lesson more and allow you to share your insights, learn from other couples and understand how the course can be hosted in our local community.

Once you complete the formation experience, I’d like to meet with you to get your feedback and discern together if, and how, this experience might be used in our parish.

Details are below, but as this invitation is only open to a maximum of two parish couples, I’d be grateful if you would give it serious consideration and let me know asap.

In Christ,

The Marriage Kit Leader Formation

April-June 2022 | Hosted by SmartLoving
Online Gatherings: Wednesdays @7:30 pm | Apr 27, May 11, May 25, June 8, June 22

Enrolment includes:

Access to the Marriage Kit online course (Apr 1 - June 30). The course is comprised of 5 lessons with each one taking approximately 2 hours to complete.
Access to Online Gatherings, community chat, file share, via MS Teams private group.

More Info & enrolment

Web: smartloving.org/mk-leader-formation
T: 0434 346 280 E: [email protected]

Download the WORD documents of letters