Beloved: Mystery and Meaning of Marriage

What if Marriage is more than a simple contract between two people, based on romance, mutual fulfillment and basic attraction? What if, created into the very design of humanity, God has placed a purposeful desire to unite a man and a woman into something mysterious, holy and eternal?


Beloved Trailer from Augustine Institute on Vimeo.

In 6 sessions, Beloved explores the true meaning of Marriage. Here you’ll discover the deepest spiritual, emotional and practical realities of Marriage through Scripture, Tradition and Church Teaching. You’ll see first-hand how to experience the wonder, mystery and joy of this Sacrament – from that first “I do” through the rest of your lives.

Mondays November 2nd to December 14th   

At 7 p.m.in the Steinhausen Center

We will be presenting a series on Marriage running for 6 weeks.  The Beloved program will begin with a prayer and brief introduction to the evening's video (about 10 min) followed by a 30-35 minute video.  The video will be followed by a short break with refreshments and then we will pose a series of questions for each table to briefly discuss. This discussion will be followed by a fostered Q and A surrounding those discussed questions.  We'll close with a prayer and give a real quick intro (1 min or less) on the following week's topic. Weekly topics are as follows:

Session 1: Does Marriage Matter?

Session 2: Entering the Story of Marriage

Session 3: Love Revealed

Session 4: The Total Gift of Self

Session 5: A Sacramental Bond

Session 6: Real Challenges Real Love


Registration is not required. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. Basic handouts will be available and student workbooks can be ordered at a cost of $10. Please contact ncook@saintcolumbkille.org if you desire a workbook.

A Lifeline for Marriages

Retrouvaille_™
... a lifeline for Marriages

A program to Help Couples Heal and Renew their Marriages.

• Do you feel lost, alone or bored in your marriage?
• Are you frustrated, hurt or angry with your spouse?
• Are you constantly fighting? Or, do you simply shut down?
• Have you thought about separation or divorce?
• Does talking about it only make it worse?

                                                                       ... Retrouvaille provides marriage help!

What is a Retrouvaille Program?

The word Retrouvaille_™ (pronounced re-tro-vi with a long i.) is a French word meaning rediscovery. The program offers tools needed to rediscover a loving marriage relationship. Thousands of couples headed for cold, unloving relationships or divorce have successfully overcome their marriage problems by attending the program.

The Retrouvaille Program consists of a weekend experience combined with a series of 6-12 post-weekend sessions over 3 months. It provides the tools to help put your marriage in order again. The main emphasis of the program is on communication in marriage between husband and wife. It will give you the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way.

For perspective from a parishioner couple, see page three of this bulletin.

You can sign up here>

How Much to Love

National Speaker Jason Evert spoke to 7th and 8th graders about chastity at St. Stephen the Marty. This included the 7th and 8th grade students from St. Columbkille Catholic School.

In a presentation that fully engaged the students, Jason answered questions like "How far is too far?" and challenged them to think about and pray for their future spouse.

Here's a clip from his presentation on how much men are supposed to love their wife:

Christ and your Marriage

Understanding that "Christ wants your marriage to be happier than you do," Deacon James Keating spoke to the Moms of Faith group Thursday morning.

Deacon Keating said that when he was first married, his idea of marriage was, "I live like a bachelor with a beautiful blonde roommate." For some reason his wife did not like that definition.

He said that "What we need the most about ourselves is the truth about ourselves." But often we do not want to hear the truth. When we are at a point of truth, there is either a breakdown or a breakthrough. He spoke of how to breakthrough and exoperience the joy Christ wants to bring to your marriage.

Miss Crowley became Mrs Reeder

On March 7th Miss Crowley (a third grade teacher at St. Columbkille Catholic School) became Mrs. Reeder. May of her students were there to celebrate with her.

The Wednesday before, there was a shower for her.

The classroom had made a project for Ceili, but a second one was created as a wedding gift.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Reeder!

Prayer and Fasting for Marriage

Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha, Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, and Bishop William Dendinger of Grand Island have us to pray and fast for marriage today.

In a joint statement they said, “We ask all Catholics and people of good will to continue to fast and pray that God’s plan for marriage and family life will be affirmed. Marriage was established by God before the state and before the Church, and the vitality of both depends on the fruitful union of husband and wife.”

This came after U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon’s decision which would have made same-sex marriages legal in Nebraska. The Eighth Circuit has chosen to stay Bataillon’s ruling so it does not go in effect today.

Still today is a time to defend our belief in a marriage as a sacrament defend “the authentic meaning of marriage.” The bishops have asked us to pray for marriage today  through such means as Eucharistic adoration, daily Mass, prayer with Scripture, the Rosary, and time in private prayer.

Here at St. Columbkille we will have Eucharistic Exposition starting after the 8:15 Mass and finishing with Benediction at 10:00.

In a January column, Bishop Conley wrote that “The world is very confused about the meaning of marriage, about the importance of families and, ultimately, the world is very confused about happiness, and joy, and peace. The world is a dangerous place for anyone who is seeking real love. Christ’s love – and his plan for each one of us – is the antidote to that danger.”

Farewell Miss Senger...

...she is now Mrs. Olson.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs. Adam Olson!

Call to Prayer

90 Seconds! That's all it takes to watch A Call to Prayer from the U.S. Bishops. Join the movement! Your prayers and sacrifices matter! 

The Omaha Archdiocese's Response to the Supreme Court

In response to the Supreme Court's decisions yesterday, the Omaha Archdiocese had this statement:

Those struggling with same-sex attraction should be assured that the Catholic Church is and always will be welcoming of any person who seeks a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Catholic Church’s clear teaching is that everyone should be treated with respect, dignity and love and condemn any form of unjust discrimination.

The Church strongly affirm that marriage, as authored by God, is the joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong, loving union that is open to children, ordered for the good of those children and the spouses themselves.

It is disappointing that the Court did not affirm that the federal government has an obligation to promote traditional marriage, its contribution to the common good and the family, and can therefore justly give married couples rights and benefits it does not extend to others. Fortunately, the Court did not hold that the Constitution requires states to recognize so-called same-sex “marriage.” Thus, the Court’s decision was not based on a constitutional defect in the definition of marriage as one man and one woman.

Marriage and the Council of Jerusalem

The first readings this week have concerned the Council of Jerusalem in the first century. While the Israelites had lived under the 613 commandments of Mosaic law, there was the question of what must the gentiles have to do to become a Christian? Did they need to follow all the laws? Did they need to become circumcised?

In the 15th chapter of Acts it is decided that not all of the Mosaic laws needed to be followed. However, they did decide that there were four rules that all Christians must follow. Three of those rules involved food (such as not drinking blood) and the fourth was to avoid unlawful marriage.

While that was the decision of the Church in the first century, the importance of lawful marriage is just as important to bishops in the 21st century.

Click here for information on how the US Bishops' response to Frequently Asked Questions About the Defense of Marriage.

Couples' Stories

This is National Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week. The dates of NFP Awareness Week highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25) which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood.

Below are links to the stories of couples who are living NFP:

"My Husband the Gentleman" by Sarah Hammond. A blog-like reflection on a husband’s chivalrous treatment of his wife.

"Be Her Joseph" by Tom Mealey. A husband reflects on his appreciation of NFP and his spiritual journey in striving to be a better husband and father.

"Escape from Fuddledom"  by Sharon and Mike Phelan. A funny and thoughtful reflection on spiritual conversion by an NFP couple.

"Connections" by Jennifer and John Campbell. A young couple shares their experience on how NFP has strengthened their marriage.

"NFP, the Theology of the Body and Our Marriage" by Michael and Alysha Chambers. A couple's witness story.

"How Natural Family Planning changed my Life"  by Dawn Farias. A reflection on the personal and spiritual growth fostered by the practice of NFP by a wife and mother.

Happy Anniversary!

Deacon Eldon Lauber works with many engaged couples in their Marriage Preparation. When he talks with couples he can bring the experience of 50 year of marriage as he and Judy celebrated that milestone last week.

Happy Anniversary!

Marriage & Annulments

There are numerous misconceptions about the Church's stance on marriage, divorce and annulments. Unfortunately many divorced people are given incorrect information from their well meaning Catholic friends or family. Our own Deacon Jerry Overkamp, who works in the Omaha Archdiocesan Tribunal Office, will help clear up how the Church approaches marriage and annulments at the next session of BASIC (Beginning Apologetic Studies In Catholicism.)
Agenda:

• 7:00 -- A look at the readings for this weekend
• 7:30 -- Deacon Overkamp's presentation on "Marriage & Annulments"
• 8:00 -- Fr. Wee answers some questions from last session. You can also ask anonymous questions.

Friday, February 11th

7:00 p.m. in the Steinhausen Center

Bring your Bible & your Catechism if you have it