Diocese to offer marriage enrichment model

By KATIE LEFEBVRE , Globe staff reporter
October 12, 2006

Couples seeking marriage enrichment look no further. The Diocese of Sioux City is offering a marriage enrichment model to train couples how to provide marriage enrichment for couples in parishes and clusters throughout the diocese.

According to Bev Hurni, director of adult and family ministries, focus groups were held last year on marriage.

"When we asked them about the support they receive from their parishes, they indicated that they would like to receive more support for their marriage," said Hurni. "However, when we asked them about various options of programs, they say because of their busy lives and other responsibilities with children and jobs they really wanted a program offered in their own parish or cluster that would be a shorter time frame than a weekend-long program."

The Adult and Family Ministries Advisory Board took a look at the feedback and decided to sponsor a marriage enrichment model at two sites in the diocese.

"Living a faithful, life-long marriage is almost counter cultural today, when 50 percent of marriages end in divorce," said Hurni. "Marriage enrichment is important to sustain marriages. It is important for our society and our church because we need stable and secure families to give a good solid foundation to our church and society."

Parishes are invited to send two to three couples to experience the enrichment model. The program can be replicated at the couples' home parish/cluster.

"One of our members has been using the Love Never Ends program as marriage enrichment tool because they are involved in marriage encounter," said Hurni. "There are dialogue sheets - his copy, her copy." Love Never Ends appeared to be a good program so the diocese opted to use it.

The two dates for the model are Nov. 5 in St. Francis of Assisi Church Hall in Rockwell City and Jan. 14 in St. Mary School Cafeteria in Remsen.

"On both days, what we are asking is parishes who would like to offer a marriage enrichment program in their own parish and cluster to send two or three married couples to our event, so that they can first experience the program themselves," said Hurni. "Then we will give them some advice and tips aobut how to go back to their own parish and cluster and replicate the program."

On both days, the couples participating will experience the Love Never Ends program from 2 to 4 p.m. Then they will learn how to implement the program at the parish from 4 to 4:30 p.m. A dinner for the couples will be served at 4:30 p.m.

"There will be two witness talks by two married couples who are involved with the advisory board," said Hurni. "The participating couples will have time to answer some questions privately and then dialogue just with their spouse about those things."

Hurni explained that she hopes the couples attending gain confidence to be able to share this experience with other couples in their parish or cluster.

The registration fee for each couple is $15 which includes the Love Never Ends dialogue package; an experience to enhance their own marriage relationship; guidance for facilitating the program in their own parish/cluster; and dinner for two.

There will be Love Never Ends books available to parishes once the program starts at the parish level, added Hurni.

The registration deadline is one week prior to the chosen date. For questions please call (712) 233-7530 or e-mail sandiw@scdiocese.org.