Marriage and Family

The Department of Marriage and Family Life seeks to contribute to the transformation of society by strengthening marriages and families according to Gospel Values.

The Department serves the needs of households of faith through marriage preparation and enrichment, natural family planning and parenting resources.  In addition, the department provides coordination of support groups for those undergoing marital difficulties, adjustment following divorce, and widowhood.  Other services include training parish teams for programs of marriage and remarriage preparation, family ministry, and enrichment programs.

In addition, the Department provides ongoing training of parish teams for these programs, as well as collaboration for family ministry and enrichment.

Who We Are…

The Department Director is Louise Ritz, available by email at ritzl@ptdiocese.org, or by phone at (850) 435-3533

The Department Administrative Coordinator is Bill Michie, available by email at michieb@ptdiocese.org, or by phone at (850) 435-3532. Mario Sacasa, liaison in Tallahassee, (850) 201-0254, e-mail: mariosacasa@gmail.com. 

Planning to get married?
To help you with your plans please click here to read the FLORIDA PROVINCE POLICY FOR MARRIAGE PREPARATION.  Hint:  The first step is to contact a priest or deacon to oversee your preparation.

Helpful Links:

Marriage and Family Life Directory of Events and Ministries:

Marriage and Family LIfe Directory of Events and Ministries, click here.

For a rich source of information for those who are married or are planning a marriage or just to learn more about marriage in the Catholic Church see the website established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: www.ForYourMarriage.org

The Office of Marriage and Family Life is a member of the National Association of Family Life Ministries
Web Site: www.nacflm.org

Attend the 2009 NACFLM Conference, June 25 - 28, 2009

Click here for details about this conference

Domestic abuse awareness information:
http://www.usccb.org/laity/women/violence.shtml

State of Marriage Report 2007 -  National Marriage Project 

A Family Ritual: Eating Together?
Having "a place at the family table":

~ Keeps us in touch with one another's lives
~ Helps us feel grounded (we're important to our family)
~ Increases our longing to be at "The Eucharistic Table"
~ Helps us learn how to find our place in the world.

Family Challenge: Together...
Think back to times you did eat together more often.
What have you lost?
Decide in advance at least one day to eat together each week.
See more at www.casaFamilyDay.org

Newly Married?  Check out this website:
www.avemariapress.com

Engagement & Military Deployment
Engaged couples, where one or both are active duty or in the reserves, this link provides an opportunity to discuss important issues related to deployment. 
http://healthymarriageinfo.org/docs/downloads/faq_military.ppt

Deployment/Family Separation Guide Information
www.afcrossroads.com/famseparation/guide_sec01.cfm
http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/deploy/family/family_support.shtml

Do You Have A Family Altar? Click Here.

Institute For American Values
http://center.americanvalues.org/?p=5

Strengthening Families, Communities, & A Nation: One Marriage At A Time
www.healthymarriageinfo.org

The Social Health Of Marriage In America Document
http://marriage.rutgers.edu/Publications/Print/PrintSOOU2006.htm

Debate about "Same-Sex Marriage"

Marriage is a basic human and social institution.  It originated from God not the state.  It is the union of a man and a woman and must remain such in law.  It makes an irreplaceable contribution to the good of society especially through the procreation and education of children.  

Official Church Statements About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions:

"Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions"; US Conference of Catholic Bishops (Nov. 2003)2. Promote, Preserve, Protect Marriage; Administrative Committee of US Conference of Catholic Bishops (Sept. 2003)3. Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons; Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (July 2003)
**information taken from Family, Laity, Women and Youth of the USCCB

United States Bishops Website for More Information

http://www.usccb.org/laity/marriage/

Church Ministry to Homosexual Persons

Are you or a loved one experiencing homosexual attractions and looking for answers? Courage Pensacola-Tallahassee, an apostolate of the Roman Catholic Church and endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family, ministers to those with same-sex attractions and their loved ones. Confidential help can be found by emailing couragetallahassee@yahoo.com, or by contacting Amy 850-261-8330, Frank at 850-320-0088 or Ricardo 954-309-1474 (Spanish speaking).

 

Additional Links