Search Results: St Valentine

Help For Marriages Under Stress

By Francine & Byron Pirola / January 12, 2018

January is typically the peak month for divorce applications in English-speaking countries. Having made the decision to divorce, many couples agree to postpone the application for one last Christmas together as a family. The parents hope that by delaying the devastating news until after Christmas, the children will be able to enjoy the day and then have a few weeks…

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Engaged Couples Ask Pope Questions

By Jess / February 17, 2014

On the feast of St Valentine’s Day, Pope Francis answered the questions of three engaged couples in St. Peter’s Square, with an audience of 20 000 other young engaged couples. Here are their questions: Question 1: The fear of the “forever” Holiness, so many today think that to promise faithfulness for the whole of life…

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Made for More

By Francine & Byron Pirola / February 10, 2023

For two decades we’ve promoted the idea of putting the ‘saint’ back into St Valentine’s Day. Every year we blog, pin, post, and remind the Catholic networks in our database of the day’s origin and significance. It’s become so much of a habit it now feels strange for us to mention the event without ‘saint’…

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st valentine

Smiling Saints

By Francine & Byron Pirola / February 10, 2022

St Valentine is the one saint with a feast day (Feb 14) that is known by millions of people, including non-Christians. But how many know why he is a saint?   The back story is that Valentine, a Roman priest at the time of Claudius II, was imprisoned for conducting secret weddings against the orders of…

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The M-Team

By Isabella Garcia / July 16, 2021

Building a Parish Marriage Ministry If families are the foundation of the society and marriage is the core relationship in the family, there’s an important parish ministry required if we are to have any hope of strengthen society. Church communities have much to offer in establishing local marriage initiatives but they need coordination and focussed…

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Parish Sponsors

By Isabella Garcia / July 16, 2021

Engaged – Sponsor Program Building a Marriage Ministry in your parish, using Sponsor Couples with the SmartLoving Online Engaged Course A Context for this Initiative Catholic Marriage Preparation in the 21st century is undergoing a radical transformation. Psychological sciences are developing deeper insights into what makes relationships work and theological advances are equipping Catholics to…

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Love Lesson

By Francine & Byron Pirola / February 11, 2016

Love is complicated…or is it? A message from kids on love for St Valentine’s Day.

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Francis: Three Magic Words

By Francine & Byron Pirola / April 20, 2014

Three Magic Words On St Valentine’s Day this year, Pope Francis gathered with 20,000 Engaged Couples to encourage them in their journey. Reflecting on the ‘art’ of married life, Francis noted that it is “a patient, beautiful and fascinating journey” which doesn’t end when we win over each other’s heart. On the contrary it is…

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Three Magic Words

By Francine & Byron Pirola / April 10, 2014

Three Magic Words On St Valentine’s Day this year, Pope Francis gathered with 20,000 Engaged Couples to encourage them in their journey. Reflecting on the ‘art’ of married life, Francis noted that it is “a patient, beautiful and fascinating journey” which doesn’t end when we win over each other’s heart. On the contrary it is…

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Growing in Love

By Francine & Byron Pirola / February 13, 2014

The popularity of St Valentine’s Day grew out of the joy of celebrating romantic married love. The celebration also encourages us to renew and develop that love. God is love and this year we focus on one particular aspect of deepening the love of a couple, whether they are engaged or married – that is,…

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