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Engaging the Engaged: A Marriage Prep Story
On a Saturday morning, at 8:45 AM, the parish center was bustling. Josh and Kristen, the presenters, who were in their late 30’s and married 10 years, were... Read More
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Young Adults and the Pain of Solitude: 6 Ways to Help
Over the next few months, I will witness the exchange of vows for several couples; most of whom are friends of my children. These are great young people... Read More
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Honey, the Pope Invited Us to Rome?!
Editor’s note: I wrote this article in response to a letter sent to me by a fellow marriage minister just after returning from Rome almost two years ago.... Read More
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God, Give Me Patience—RIGHT NOW!
God give me patience and give it to me NOW! I wonder how often this prayer jumps into your mind each week. If you are like me,... Read More
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It’s About the Journey—What NASA and Marriage Prep Have In Common
After five years of work, watchfulness and waiting, NASA’s Juno spacecraft has finally closed in on its destination: Jupiter. And the people in charge of the mission... Read More
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Please Call Me To Discuss The Claims You Made About Marriage
The email message said, “Please call me to discuss the claims you make about marriage in your presentation last evening.” This is a great way to start my morning,... Read More
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Don’t Let Your Kids Fly Solo Into The Dating World
All three of our children are married to wonderful spouses. Even though the outcome for each was the same (marriage), the paths traveled to the altar varied by... Read More
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How Do We Help Millennials Get Married?
Just three years ago, a Gallup poll revealed that most millennials want to get married. This is great news for those of us working in marriage ministry. Unfortunately, the... Read More
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Stop Trying To Get Married
Instead, start preparing to be married. A priest friend of mine shared an experience he recently had on his day off. Dressed in his regular clothes (aka—no collar identifying... Read More
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Piercing the Heart of Marriage Preparation
Have you ever asked yourself what is at the heart of marriage preparation? I first considered this question three years ago when a task force was formed in our... Read More
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When You Want a Turkey Dinner, But You Get a Turkey Sandwich
This Thanksgiving and Christmas will be spent without my family at the table and that makes me miserable. I am trying not to whine about this new reality.... Read More
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What Mother Teresa Teaches Us About Marriage Prep
In 1979, then Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace prize. Shortly thereafter, my mother-in-law printed off part of her acceptance speech, framed it and gave it to my... Read More
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How To Listen to the Holy Spirit—Even at the Spa
Here’s a true story for a marriage minister to contemplate. What would you say if this happened to you? It was my good fortune to win a “deluxe”... Read More
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Reading This May Be a Waste of Your Time
People love to talk about “time” and how they are going to spend it more wisely without wasting a moment. The first months of the new year provide extra... Read More
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Be Angry—This Is Not How It Should Be
Let me set the stage for this post by describing three people who crossed my path in the past year. The first is a wonderful, faithful woman who... Read More
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We didn’t click. Why?
We encounter people every day. Some are easy to connect with and others pose a struggle. Have you ever stopped to wonder why this happens? The only time... Read More
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If At First You Don’t Succeed—Just Quit
It was a privilege to travel to one of our southern states to give a presentation on the Holy Father’s call to accompaniment this spring. The point of the... Read More
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It’s Time To Shut Up And Let It Go
Most days seem long and draining when you work in marriage ministry. The good news, there is so much to do that we can’t work our self out of the... Read More
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Let’s Make a Deal: A Millennial’s Look at Marriage Prep
(Note: This post is primarily directed to marriage ministers. If you are reading this as an engaged or hoping to be engaged person, please comment on how parishes... Read More
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What I Learned About Marriage Ministry From the IT Guy
A few weeks ago, my computer went through a major update. When it was completed, I noticed that the navigation pane for my files had changed. The task... Read More
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