For The Married

2023 Wedding Anniversary Mass

Couples celebrating their 25th, 50th, 60th and 70+ anniversaries of marriage are celebrated annually in the fall with the Bishop at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. During the Mass, couples will renew their marriage vows.

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Couples celebrating their 25th, 50th, 60th and 70+ anniversaries of marriage are celebrated annually in the fall with the Bishop at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. During the Mass, couples will renew their marriage vows. For all the couples to be honored, please used the following form and either email or fax the form to the Office of Pro-Life at (716)847-2206 by September 30, 2022. Questions? Call the Pro-Life Office or your parish as they will also have more information. 

Marriage is a vocation to holiness

FOR YOUR MARRIAGE: The U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) provides information and resources about a healthy marriage in general and Catholic marriage in particular. Offerings include a Daily Marriage Tip, regularly changing features like the monthly Marriage Quiz, Book of the Month review and Marriage in the News. They continue to add to the content on a regular basis. Go to this user friendly website: www.foryourmarriage.org. Click on Caring For Your Marriage, then Resources.

“Together with Jesus COUPLE PRAYER SERIES.”  The Couple Prayer Series Home Edition provides six sessions of Videos on DVD plus supportive print materials.  Couples grow into genuinely closer love relationships with God and one another by gradually sharing a wide variety of supportive prayer experiences including thanking God together, asking God’s help together, forgiving together, blessing each other and more.  For more information, contact Bob and Kathy Ojies Couple Prayer Series e-mail host@coupleprayer.org.  Mail P.O. Box 1270, Royal Oak, MI 48068.  Phone 248 546-7253.

WORLD MARRIAGE DAY is observed in February, generally on the second Sunday of the month. Liturgical suggestions and ideas for celebrating the gifts of Christian marriage and family are provided annually to parishes or individuals.  Please check out the World Marriage Day website!

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER weekends offer a couple an opportunity to deepen one’s love relationship with each other and God as well as revitalizing one’s marriage using a technique of loving communication.  National Events: For more information, call  Rob & Beth Knoff at 877- 697-9963 or visit www.wwme-wny.org for more information.

 HEART TO HEART:  Heart to Heart PAIRS workshops help married couples learn the tools to communicate skillfully, to problem solve constructively, and to build lasting love in their relationship with their spouse.  The rippling effect benefits their children and family as well.  PAIRS teach skills that not only strengthens their marriage but prevents separation or divorce.  Instructors are certified. This program is for couples who are married, not for those who are currently engaged to be married. For information, contact Dan and Irma at www.hearttoheartworkshops.com, or call 716 652-5884.

In Need of Strengthening Marriage?

RETROUVAILLE (Rediscovery) is a lifeline for troubled marriages.  Are you frustrated, hurt, or angry with each other?  Have you thought about a separation or divorce?  This is a program for married couples of all faiths.  

It begins with a weekend experience where husbands and wives are helped to re-establish communication and to gain new insights into themselves individually and as a couple.  Over 75% of participating couples are not only still together but definitely have improved their once strained marital relationship. Go to www.HelpOurMarriage.com for an overview of this program.  Or for more information and registration, contact 716-474-9371.

Marriage Counseling Center:  Services include couple counseling which can assist couples to end destructive emotional cycles and work toward rebuilding trust.  The Center can help one with problems that can trouble any relationship such as communication, conflict, sexuality, addictions, blended family, affairs, separation and more.  o schedule an appointment, contact the Marriage Counseling Center directly at 716 839-4406.  They believe your counselor should “be the last one in the room to give up on your marriage.”

Pastoral Solutions Institute:  An organization dedicated to providing resources religiously committed Catholics need to live more faithful and abundant marriage, family and personal lives.  The Institute created by Gregory Popcak, MSW, Ph.D nationally recognized Catholic psychotherapist, offers resources and professional services to help overcome difficulties like marital conflict, childrearing problems, depression, anxiety, stress and the difficulties associated with major life transitions.

For an initial, free, informational interview, call 740 266-6461.  For articles and much more, go to www.exceptionalmarriages.com or e-mail counseling@exceptionalmarriages.com.