Matrimony and the Parish Church

Marriage is a private and a public vocation in which everyone has a stake.  It’s a Sacrament, not only for the couple themselves, but also for the good of the whole Church.

How can parishes help couples build healthy, holy marriages?  How can parishes do more to make marriage a shared public concern of the whole community and to offer support to married couples?
* Start by including marriage in our prayer for vocations.
* Preach and teach about marriage as a Christian vocation.
* Put marriage on the public agenda of our parish life by:

1. organizing support groups, educational and social activities;
2. praying for engaged and married couples;
3. offering counseling services;
4. recognizing wedding anniversaries, and
5. asking couples to witness publicly, to serve together in ministries, etc. 
 
from a presentation by Dr. Richard McCord,
Director, US Bishops, Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth
October 27, 2001

Family Life Apostolate, Archdiocese of New Orleans, (504) 861-6243 or 861-6245