Wollongong Clergy Talk July 2024

Slide Deck - A Loving Change - The Marriage Catechumenate: How a Parish can Respond

Presentation to Wollongong clergy 

SLIDE DECK

Link for Wollongong Couples

When referring couples to SmartLoving, we would encourage you to use the Wollongong landing page for up to 50% discount

WOLLONGONG LANDING PAGE

SmartLoving Resources for Wollongong

SmartLoving Overview

SmartLoving offers a range of programs and resources to equip clergy, lay leaders, dioceses and parishes with the important task of marriage preparation and ongoing formation for married couples.

Explore our courses and discover how to set up a marriage catechumenate in your parish. Visit:

www.smartloving.org/leaders

Mentor Couple Orientation

Are there couples in your parish who are passionate about marriage, evangelisation and helping couples to thrive in their Catholic marriage?

If the answer is yes, please let them know about becoming a Mentor Couple.  

Information for Mentor couples

Companion Training

If you would like to know how to better support couples in distressed marriages consider becoming a BreakThrough Companion. Training Webinars are held quarterly. Next one in August 2024.

Register here 

Parish Website | Suggested Text

Your website is the digital front door of the parish. An internet search is often the first place an engaged couple or a spouse in a distressed marriage go looking for support. We rarely make the most out of our existing parish websites and the parish website is a great digital space to point couples to good Catholic resources.

Suggested parish website text 

Other Resources Mentioned

The Marriage Catechumenate Article

As a new idea, the definition of the Marriage Catechumenate is still evolving. Originally presented as a point of comparison with the RCIA, it applied to the period between engagement (corresponding to the catechumenate) and into the newlywed years (corresponding with the mystagogy). Read more.

Catechumenal Pathways for Married life

Quick Start Guide of the document from the Dicastery of Laity Family and Life, 2022.

Communio

Communio is a nonprofit that consults with churches equipping them with proven strategies and technologies to solve the family and faith crisis.

Slide Deck with key statistics 

Related Resources

Byron & Francine Pirola

Family as Key Evangeliser

Watch the presentation to the Sydney clergy conference 2023.

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Betrothal Blessing