FAMILY MATTERS. E-Newsletter of the Family Life Office, Archdiocese of Dubuque 1229 Mount Loretta, Dubuque IA Summertime = Family Time

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1 FAMILY MATTERS E-Newsletter of the Family Life Office, Archdiocese of Dubuque 1229 Mount Loretta, Dubuque IA May/June 2016 Summertime = Family Time Family Life Office Archdiocese of Dubuque 1229 Mt. Loretta St. Dubuque IA Family Life Director: Linda Manternach DBQCFL@dbqarch.org Secretary: Lynne Chapman DBQCFLsec@dbqarch.org The relationships within the family bring an affinity of feelings, affections and interests, arising above all from the members respect for one another. (No.2206) Catechism of the Catholic Church The office of Family Life offers support and training to parishes and individuals interested in this ministry. We invite you to volunteer for any of these ministries or to offer suggestions to our office. We re on the Web! See us at: The months of May and June provide many great opportunities for celebration and family time. This edition of the Family Matters newsletter offers suggestions for summertime activities to help your family plant and grow the seeds of faith. We offer tips for engaged couples as they plan and prepare for June weddings. We celebrate Mother s Day and Father s Day by offering parenting resources and prayers for Catholic Moms and Dads. And we pray for graduates as they close one chapter of their lives and move forward into the many exciting adventures life will offer them. In this edition, we also begin a series titled Marital Virtue of the Month, which will spotlight virtues that enhance marriage. Also featured is a celebration reminder for the upcoming 50+ Anniversary Masses, as well as information about Strong Catholic Families: Strong Catholic Youth, a process for Catholic parents and families to grow and strengthen their faith. Mother s Day May 8 Resources for Catholic Mothers: Divine Mercy for Moms Sign up to pray with other Catholic Moms, receive s, blog posts, and get free stuff! Catholic Mom - Catholic faith, family life, and cultural resources include daily articles, coloring pages, catechetical resources, Catholic book club and more! Father s Day June 19 Resources for Catholic Fathers: Catholic Dads Online A site to help build community among Catholic Dads, where they can share stories, discuss the issues of the day, give advice, and share their faith. Dads.org Features articles on family, faith and fatherhood.

2 Family Matters / Page 2 Date: Catholic Men s ConferencGe SUMMERTIME FAMILY ACTIVITIES Summertime can be the perfect time for strengthening family values, enriching faith, and making cherished memories. Consider these opportunities for planting seeds of faith with your family this summer: Take a Family Vacation o Visit churches and attend Mass as a family along the way. o Make a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. Raphael during this Year of Mercy. For more information: Realize your Family s Faith Heritage o Visit the church where parents were married, and share their story. o Take a closer look at the baptismal font where the children were baptized. o Sit with grandparents and listen to their faith stories from the past. o Visit the cemetery, and realize the roots of your family s faith. Plan a Family Service Trip Join other families in observing this Year of Mercy. Go on a Family Camping Retreat June is National Camping Month. Grow Family Memories by Planting a Garden (or) Participate in Vacation Bible School Planting Seeds of Faith The Year of Mercy As we continue to observe the Jubilee Year of Mercy, consider ways your family might incorporate works of mercy into daily life, forming and practicing merciful habits that will become ways of living. For more information about the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, see the following: Year of Mercy Message from Archbishop Jackels: Archdiocesan Works of Mercy Projects, Activities, Resources and More:

3 Family Matters / Page 3 PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS A Prayer for Mothers All-loving God, we give you thanks and praise for mothers young and old. We pray for young mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to our every need; May they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care for their families and themselves with great joy. We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us; May they continue to guide us in strong and gentle ways. We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty, or conflict; May they feel the loving embrace of our God who wipes every tear away. We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion. We remember mothers. grandmothers, and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love. Amen. A Prayer for Fathers God our Father, you protect your people and shepherd them with a father s love. You place a father in a family as a sign of your love, care, and constant protection. May fathers everywhere be faithful to the example shown in the Scriptures: steadfast in love, forgiving transgressions, sustaining the family, caring for those in need. Give your wisdom to fathers, that they may encourage and guide their children. Keep them healthy so they may support a family. Guide every father with the Spirit of your love that they may grow in holiness and draw their family ever closer to you. Amen. Graduation Prayer Loving God, we thank you for all graduating students. Give them direction, purpose, and perseverance as they enter the next phrase of their lives. Give them clearness of mind to move forward into the plans and purposes that You have for them. May these young people gain wisdom from You and have discernment for proper behavior. Raise up Christian mentors for these graduates so they have someone who holds them accountable for their actions. We pray that they will rise above peer-driven behaviors and have the boldness to stand up for what is right wherever they work, study, or socialize. Give them wisdom to spend their time and money wisely. Grant them success for their efforts at every turn and guide their feet to follow Your ways. May they be eager to do good and show mercy all the days of their lives. Use them in mighty ways. We pray in Jesus name, Amen.

4 Family Matters / Page 4 RESOURCES FOR MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT Marital Virtue of the Month: KINDNESS In this series, various writers will address virtues that characterize a holy and happy marriage. Each month we will spotlight a single virtue, considering how this virtue might be practiced in marriage. The first virtue, addressed in this edition of Family Matters, is KINDNESS. Marriage Planning Engaged couples enjoy talking about just about anything, but sometimes avoid uncomfortable disagreements. In marriage, you can t run away from prickly conversations. Mild differences can become serious disagreements once the initial excitement of new love becomes the comfort of secure love. Consider these must have conversations, necessary for all couples before marriage: Engaged in Conversation June is traditionally known as the most popular month for weddings. Planning a marriage can bring great joy to a couple, but it can also bring about many questions. ForYourMarriage.org reminds couples that discovering all the things that make a marriage work doesn t have to be by trial and error. By asking yourselves these questions and having in-depth conversations with your partner before the marriage begins, you will gain valuable insight into your partner s thoughts, hopes and dreams. Check out these Frequently Asked Questions by Engaged Couples: Natural Family Planning An updated list of Natural Family Planning (NFP) instructors of several NFP methods, including the Creighton FertilityCare System, Couple to Couple League Symptothermal Method, and Family of the Americas Ovulation Method can be found here: If you know of someone who teaches, but is not on the list, please contact the Family Life Office.

5 Family Matters / Page 5 STRONG CATHOLIC FAMILIES Partnering with Parents to Bring Home the Faith The Archdiocese of Dubuque is partnering with pastors, parishes and school leaders to engage parents in the life and mission of the family, the domestic church. This process of evangelization, titled Strong Catholic Families: Strong Catholic Youth, engages families as they grow in faith. Through reflection, evaluation and implementation of strategies, participants become part of an ongoing movement to empower and support family faith growth. To learn more about Strong Catholic Families: Strong Catholic Youth, check out the Archdiocese of Dubuque website: FUN FACTS May is National Date Your Mate Month. For simple date ideas for every day of the month, click here: The National Day of Prayer is observed on May 5 th. Americans from all socio-economic, political and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to unite in prayer on this and every day. The National Day of Prayer transcends differences, bringing together citizens to celebrate the freedom to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance in prayer. For information on the National Day of Prayer, see: World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 th. The UN uses this day to promote ways we can work together to improve the environment. The 2016 theme is: Join the race to make the world a better place. This slogan carries a clear message, inviting everyone to get involved. For more information on World Environment Day, see: To read Pope Francis encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si : On Care For Our Common Home, click here: For a discussion guide on Laudato Si, including prayers and other resources, click here:

6 Family Matters / Page 6 SAVE THE DATE Upcoming Events May: Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Dubuque 14 PreCana, Dubuque June: Engaged Encounter, AMRH 18 PreCana, Cedar Rapids July: (no events currently scheduled) August: Anniversary Mass, Reinbeck Anniversary Mass, Charles City Anniversary Mass, Dubuque Anniversary Mass, Cedar Rapids Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend May Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend for married couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together. Couples spend a weekend together away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, to concentrate on each other. Information and registration for Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends scheduled in your area can be found here: ANNIVERSARY MASSES The Archdiocese will be honoring all couples who are witnesses to God s love through fifty years or more in the Sacrament of Marriage. These couples are invited to join Archbishop Michael Jackels as he celebrates a Mass of Thanksgiving at the following churches in the archdiocese: Saturday, August 6, 2016: Sunday, August 7, 2016 Holy Family Parish/St. Gabriel, Immaculate Conception, Reinbeck 4:00 PM Charles City 2:00 PM Saturday, August 13, 2016 Sunday, August 14, 2016 Cathedral of St. Raphael, St. Ludmila, Dubuque 4:30 PM Cedar Rapids 2:00 PM Formal invitations will be sent out, and couples should register and respond by RSVP for this event as soon as possible. The deadline for receiving RSVPs is July 24 th. If you, or your parents/grandparents did not receive an invitation, please contact your parish to be added to the mailing list.