National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers
Strengthening the Church’s Commitment to Families
Thanksgiving Day Prayer
Lord, we thank you for the goodness of our people
and for the spirit of justice that fills this nation.
We thank you for the beauty and fullness of the
land and the challenge of the cities.
We thank you for our work and our rest,
for one another, and for our homes.
We thank you, Lord:
accept our thanksgiving on this day.
We pray and give thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
November News Nugget
In honor of All Soul’s Day, here is a quote from Karl Rahner:
The great and sad mistake of many people is to imagine that those whom death has taken leave us. They remain.
Where are they? In the darkness? Oh, no. It is we who are in darkness. We do not see them but they see us.
Their eyes, radiant with glory, are fixed on our eyes. Though invisible to us, they are not absent.
They are living near us, transfigured into light, power, and love. Karl Rahner, SJ
Is there a bereavement ministry in your parish or diocese? It’s a wonderful form of family ministry.
Resources From Our Organizational Members
Our Organizational Members provide NACFLM members, other family life parish ministers, and clergy with resources they can use in their local communities to strengthen marriages and families.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION
In response to COVID-19 and social distancing required by local or state governments, the following is provided as a list of online marriage preparation course options. Courses listed here are not necessarily endorsed by the Association but are provided for informational purposes.
Online Marriage Preparation Courses – (In alphabetical order)
Agape Catholic Marriage Preparation – https://www.catholicmarriageprep.com/ – Fee: $194 – $245 – Languages: English, Spanish, French
For Better and For Ever – https://marriagepreparation.com/ Fee: $20 per set of workbooks – Training of Sponsor Couples on ZOOM is free – Languages: English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese
Joy Filled Marriage – https://ascensionpress.com/ – Fee: $50 – Language: English
Living Our Faith in Love – https://themarriagegroup.com/ – Fee: $195 20% discount: $156 – Languages: English, Captioning in English and Spanish
Smart Loving – https://smartloving.org/engaged/ – Fee: $68 – $273 – Language: English
Unveiled – http://www.unveiledmarriage.com/home – Fee: $190 – Language: English
DOMESTIC CHURCH RESOURCES
In response to COVID-19 and social distancing required by local or state governments and families staying home the following are provided as helpful resources to the family.
Lord God, we thank you for the gift of family. We acknowledge that our image and name as family come from you.
We believe that within our family lies a home-made holiness. We affirm that it is this household of faith that we experience Your presence. Your forgiveness, and Your love.
We are family. We give thanks to You, for the many joys and blessings that have come to us through our family.
As family, we sometimes feel pain.l And so we offer to You our disappointments, frustrations, and hurts. Help us to forgive those members of our family, including ourselves, who have caused pain.
We pray for the strength to be a light within our family. May we open our hearts, our eyes and ears and carry our light to those in need.
God, Creator of the earth and all its people, help us to be mindful that, as members of one global family, we are equal in Your eyes. Help us to continue to appreciate the diversity of persons in our homes and in our world. As members equal in human dignity, may we build a better world and proclaim our willingness to be the holy people you call us to be.
Amen