“As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”
― John Paul II
A family often begins with a marriage. In these cases, the marital relationship is the foundation upon which all other family relationships are built. Please click here to access a wealth of resources to help strengthen and sustain your marriage.
Family Resources
“Whatever you do for your family, your children, your husband, your wife, you do for God. All we do, our prayers, our work, our suffering, is for Jesus.”
– Mother Teresa
Catholic Digest: This site uses the stories of real life people to demonstrate that a life guided by faith can be exciting, challenging, enlivening, and joyous. Published 9 times per year, each issues contains meaningful ways to connect faith with everyday life: stories that inform, inspire and entertain, tips for strengthening family ties and friendships, plus recipes, jokes, puzzles and more. Catholic Digest is owned and published by Bayard US.
Family Matters: This Catholic site provides weekly suggestions for marriage enrichment and family spirituality enrichment. (Think: weekly bulletin blurbs) The site also offers lengthier suggestions for couples to implement and ideas for strengthening parish support of marriage and family. The author, Susan Vogt, does workshops and there is a considerable bibliography as well. She has worked in family ministry/counseling, including for the USCCB and as part of NACFLM.
In her welcome, Susan Vogt explains the purpose of her website: “Learn how to negotiate those bumps and deepen the most important relationships in your life. I don’t promise a quick fix, but I can give you a place to start, a path, a coach. I would like to help you increase your communication skills, deepen your values and spirituality, and achieve a more satisfying lifestyle. My goal is to help you become the best person, spouse, or parent you can be, because – Your Family Is Your Job!
Family Prayer Resources
Vibrant Faith at Home: This website, written by Catholic and mainline Protestant parish ministers, offers reflections and prayer experiences for families of all stages as well as for individual adults. A variety of topics are covered. Everything you need is free and easily accessible, including links to helpful resources. This site also has options for paid subscriptions for parish-friendly teen, family, and child-based reflection in group settings.
http://www.vibrantfaithathome.org/
Parenting Resources
The home is the first school of Christian life and “a school for human enrichment.” Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous — even repeated — forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1657).
Articles on Parenting from foryourmarriage.org, a website for catholic couples sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Child protection/safe environment
https://www.dioceseofscranton.org/child-protection-victim-assistance/
Cyber safety:
- http://www.netsmartzkids.org/
- http://www.connectsafely.org/
- https://www.dhs.gov/blog/2013/06/18/internet-safety-children
Education on Parenting:
Contact any one of the diocese’s Catholic Social Services Offices
Wilkes-Barre – 570-822-7118
Scranton – 570-207-2283
Greater Hazleton – 570-455-1521
Stroudsburg – 570-476-6460
Milford – 570-296-1054
Carbondale – 570-282-0460
Resources for Mothers
“The Interior Conflict of Career and Motherhood” by Stacy Noem
http://www.foryourmarriage.org/the-interior-conflict-of-career-and-motherhood/
Prayers by and for Mothers – from Creighton University http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Mothers/
Books:
- Pocket Prayers for Parents, by Kathy Hendricks, Twenty-Third Publications
- Embracing Motherhood, by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, St. Anthony Messenger Press
Resources for Fathers
“The Positive Roles of Fathers” by Pope Francis, Feb. 4, 2015
http://www.foryourmarriage.org/the-positive-roles-of-fathers/
“Enjoying Marriage and Fatherhood”
http://www.foryourmarriage.org/enjoying-marriage-and-fatherhood/
Prayers for Fathers and Husbands –from Creighton University http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Fathers/
Books:
- Man To Man, Dad To Dad: Catholic Faith and Fatherhood, edited by Brian Caulfield, Pauline Media
- Pocket Prayers for Parents, by Kathy Hendricks, Twenty-Third Publications
Camp Kelly offers a father/son weekend each summer. Click here to learn more.
Resources for Pregnant/New Parents
Books:
- A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy by Sarah Reinhard, Ave Maria Press
Resources for Families Struggling with Infertility
Resources for Adoptive/Foster Families
https://www.stjosephscenter.org/adoption/
“The Blessing of ‘Unanswered Prayers’: An Adoption Story” by MaryPat St. Jean
http://www.foryourmarriage.org/the-blessing-of-unanswered-prayers-an-adoption-story/
“Setting the Record Straight on Adoption and Single-Parent Children” by Joe Towalski
http://thecatholicspirit.com/spotlight/setting-the-record-straight-on-adoption-single-parent-children/
Resources for Single Parent Families
Catholic Dads Headquarters (Single Parents Welcome)
http://catholicdadshq.blogspot.com/2010/03/out-reach-to-san-diego-catholic-single.html
“Setting the Record Straight on Adoption and Single-Parent Children,” by Joe Towalski
http://thecatholicspirit.com/spotlight/setting-the-record-straight-on-adoption-single-parent-children/
Books:
- Pocket Prayers for Parents, by Kathy Hendricks, Twenty-Third Publications
Resources for Grandparents and Extended Families
“Kinship Care in Pennsylvania: Support for Families with Grandparents and Other Kin Raising Children,” 18 page brochure from http://extension.psu.edu/publications/ui383/view
The PA Kinship Care Network https://aese.psu.edu/extension/intergenerational/program-areas/kinship
“Grandparents More Likely to Raise Grandchildren” by David Gibson
http://www.foryourmarriage.org/grandparents-more-likely-to-raise-grandchildren/
Resources for Blended/Step Families
https://smartstepfamilies.com/
National Stepfamily Resource Center based in University of Auburn, AL, dedicated to sharing solid research on step-families http://www.stepfamilies.info/
Resources for Widowed or Divorced Families
Retrouvaille, https://www.helpourmarriage.org/ or 1-800-470-2230
Annulments Contact the Office of the Tribunal, Diocese of Scranton
Annulments FAQ, http://www.foryourmarriage.org/annulments/
Divorce FAQ, http://www.foryourmarriage.org/catholic-marriage/church-teachings/divorce/
Other various resources: http://www.catholicsdivorce.com/Resources
Books:
- Healing after Divorce: Hope for Catholics by Susan K. Rowland, St Anthony Messenger Press
Resources for Interfaith Families
Diocesan Office for Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations
https://sites.sandiego.edu/interchurch/ is a terrific resource for discussion starters and recommendations for many aspects of combining faith lives.
www.interfaithcommunity.org is “…a community and resource for Jewish/Christian families”
Family Retreats
Marianist Family Retreat Center: Offers retreats for family members at all stages: youth and young adults, married couples, widows and widowers, single-parent families, two-parent families and individuals.
417 Yale Avenue, PO Box 488, Cape May Point, NJ 08212-0488; 609-884-3829 www.capemaymarianists.org
Ministry with Persons with Disabilities
Diocesan Office of Ministry with Persons with Disabilities
National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities: sponsored by the USCCB http://www.ncpd.org/
Finances/Stewardship
“Money must serve, not rule…”
Pope Francis
https://compasscatholic.org/ This website is designed to help Catholics with money management. There are many free resources available, as well as programs for purchase.
www.ascensioncatholic.net/Living-a-Stewardship-Way-of-Life
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/stewardship/
http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/giving/
Volunteering as a Family to Help Others
Read about the “What?” and “Why?” of Catholic social action in America at Catholic Social Teaching, the USCCB webpage with related articles
https://www.dioceseofscranton.org/parish-life/service/parish-social-ministry/
For many varied ideas about how your family can help others, click here.”
What can we do?
- Your parish bulletin is a great place to start! See how your parish is reaching out to the needy in your neighborhood and volunteer to help out. If you know of a need that is not being met, attend the next parish Social Action or Ministry Coordinating Committee meeting and discuss what it would take to make your idea a reality.
- Volunteer at one of the diocesan soup kitchens
- Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen– Wilkes-Barre
- Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen–Scranton
Pro-Life Ministry
Miracle of Life video from Catholic Media House on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/3091491