Families

What I wish I had known when I got engaged

When I got married in August, my wedding day was filled with joy. Eight months later, I am happy to report that the joy has only continued and multiplied since that day. But I’ll be honest – wedding planning was not my favorite activity, to say the least. As Pope Francis describes, the details of wedding planning “tend to drain not only the budget but energy and joy as well” (Amoris Laetitia, 212).
Expecting the unexpected

Each year couples who attend our marriage preparation classes come with the hope to start a new life with the blessing of God.
Married love is a generous love

If you are preparing for marriage, you might enjoy watching the classic 1950s movie Father of the Bride. The opening scene introduces Stanley T. Banks, the forlorn father convincingly portrayed by Spencer Tracy, who reflects back on the family’s comedic panic that went into planning his daughter’s wedding.
Teaching couple says Natural Family Planning offers theological, environmental and relational benefits

In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis wrote, “begetting and raising children, for its part, mirrors God’s creative work.” To preserve both the unitive and procreative dimensions of conjugal love that allow married couples to participate in this work of creation, the Catholic Church teaches that couples should use Natural Family Planning (NFP) rather than artificial contraceptives.
Survey: Women say Eucharist, helping poor is what it means to be Catholic

American Catholic women are increasingly disengaged from the church although they remain affiliated and say helping the poor and receiving the Eucharist are the most important aspects of what it means to be Catholic.
Christmases of fun and faith

Advent, a time of waiting and preparation, often gets a bit of a short shrift. It’s hard to not think ahead to Christmas, and our school and church activities begin to transition to the Christmas spirit sooner than Dec. 25. Waiting is difficult, especially when you’re excited about something, and for most of us, Christmas is a joyful time of family, friendship and fun. I hope that deep down inside it is also a time of faith.
Advent and infertility: Rediscovering a season of hope

Advent is meant to be a season of hope and expectation. We're busy getting ready for Christmas, and, in the middle of all the shopping, wrapping, baking, and decorating, we're preparing ourselves spiritually for the coming of Christ.
The ‘Little Way’ to a big Advent

Like all boys and girls, I loved Christmas when I was growing up. I loved the excitement of the Christmas trees, cookies, decorations and, of course, the presents from Santa Claus and my family. It was a magical time, and I still enjoy seeing Christmas through the eyes of children and their joy as they prepare for this wonderful season.
Christ’s love inspires us to accompany people with special needs, says homilist at White Mass

All Christians are called to walk together in hope, trust and forgiveness, accompanying those who struggle and the marginalized in society, said the homilist at the eighth annual White Mass.
At home with Our Lady of Fatima

One hundred years ago, in the tiny remote Portuguese hill town of Fatima, the Mother of God appeared on the 13^th day of the month from May to October 1917, to three young shepherd children, delivering an urgent heavenly message of penance, prayer and sacrifice necessary for the conversion of sinners and peace on earth.
Conference offers a journey of hope to divorced Catholics

Standing among a crowd of other divorced and separated people, one woman struggled to speak over still-painful emotions.
Advocates urge more awareness about natural family planning options

There are plenty of myths that surround natural family planning, but advocates say the Catholic Church can help dispel those myths and raise an awareness of which fertility-awareness options exist for married couples that embrace church teaching.
Jubilarian couple has spent 25 years being ‘each other’s best friends’

Sussie and Ephraim Okoro, parishioners at St. Bernard Parish in Riverdale, said the main things that have sustained them through 25 years of marriage are the love they have for each other and the faith they have in God.
Through 58 years of marriage, couple finds joy in serving Church and each other

Every morning, John and Cora Landicho start their day together with daily Mass at St. Joseph’s Parish in Beltsville. The couple, who often had to spend long periods of time apart when John traveled for work, said one of the greatest joys of their 58 year-long marriage is spending time together, doing things as simple as going to the grocery store.
Jubilarian couple of 50 years says it is important to ‘believe in each other’

Three months after meeting one another, Nicola and Iolanda Fresco got married on Sept. 21, 1967. They will be celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary this year, and recently renewed their vows at the Jubilarian Mass celebrated by Cardinal Donald Wuerl on June 25 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

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