SUPPORT FOR HURTING MARRIAGES
“We are all aware that the perfect family does not exist, nor does the perfect husband, nor the perfect wife. We exist, and we are sinners. Jesus, who knows us well, teaches us a secret: never let a day go by without asking forgiveness, or without restoring peace in your home. If we learn to apologize and forgive each other, the marriage will last.”
+Pope Francis
Meeting with Engaged Couples at the Vatican, St. Valentine’s Day 2014
Most marriages will experience periods of challenge. This does not mean your marriage is a failure, it means it is normal. The key is to seek help and support if it is needed, in order to move through and get beyond the tough times. God, the Universal Roman Catholic Church, and the Diocese of Scranton want to support your marriage. Below are listed many resources which may help the two of you find help and healing in your marriage.
For further help or information, please contact your pastor or the Office for Parish Life.
Online Resources
Retrouvaille sponsored by the Diocese of Scranton
Finding Help When Your Marriage Is in Trouble: an article from www.ForYourMarriage.org
Difficulties Married Couples Face from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Information on Domestic Violence
The Catholic Church teaches that violence against another person in any form fails to treat that person as someone worthy of love. Instead, it treats the person as an object to be used.
From the U.S. Catholic Bishops ’ Committee : When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence against Women: http://bit.ly/usccb_dv
Life Matters: Domestic Violence: an article by Frank J. Moncher, PhD
Local hotline/resource center for anywhere in PA: sponsored by PA Coalition against Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or http://www.thehotline.org/
Domestic Violence information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Contact any one of the diocese’s Catholic Social Services Offices.
www.catholicsforfamilypeace.org
Retreats for Relationship Healing
Retrouvaille: Sponsored by the Diocese of Scranton and others, Retrouvaille is a weekend program for married couples who may be experiencing tension, stress and loneliness in the marriage relationship. The program helps couples — even those separated and divorced — to communicate better and resolve conflicts in their relationships.
Beginning Experience: The ecumenical Beginning Experience weekends are an approved program designed for those suffering the loss of a spouse through death, divorce or separation.
Rachel’s Vineyard Post-Abortion Healing Retreat: This confidential weekend retreat facilitates spiritual and emotional healing for men and women struggling with the pain of abortion.
Annulments/Divorce
Information about the annulment process in the Diocese of Scranton –the Diocesan Tribunal website
“Understanding Annulments” by John T. Catoir, J.C.D from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/
“Pope Francis Reforms Annulment Process: Nine Things You Need to Know and Share” by Jimmy Akin, Sept 8, 2015, on www.catholic.com.
Annulments Information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Divorced Catholic: “Our mission is to help get you started – and keep you going – on the path to recovery, rebuilding, and renewal from divorce by providing you with information, resources, and encouragement.” https://divorcedcatholic.com/
Book and Workbook Resources: Divorced. Catholic. Now What? by Lisa Duffy and Vince Frese
St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation: Offers prayerful accompaniment to individuals and families affected by divorce and separation.
In addition to this ministry, offers prayerful support for families in crisis. This site also offers many helpful resource links to other organizations which can support a family in crisis. https://www.nonnatus.org/
Resources for Adult Children of Divorce
Life-Giving Wounds is a ministry dedicated to helping adult children of divorce navigate the complexities of their adult relationships. Visit the site here: https://www.lifegivingwounds.org/
Primal Loss: The Now-Adult Children of Divorce Speak is a book written and offered for free by the author, Leila Miller. This book offers a window into the experience of divorce as written from the perspective of the now-adult children who lived through it. You can access the free digital copy of her book here: https://www.leilamiller.net/digitalbook
Finances
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.