Marriage Enrichment Ministry Offers Support System and Fellowship for Wedded Couples

In a 2018 sermon, Pope Francis stated, “Man and woman are created in God’s image and likeness; and for this reason, marriage likewise becomes an image of God. This makes marriage very beautiful. Matrimony is a silent homily for everyone else, a daily homily.”

Those of us who are married, or have been married, can certainly attest to this. Marriage is a beautiful sacrament, carrying both joy and struggle. It can be a daily example to all those we encounter. Here at All Saints, we have a special ministry for all married couples, no matter their age or how long they have been married. The Marriage Enrichment group meets every other month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on a Saturday. David and Christi Mora took this ministry over about nine years ago because they believed in the ministry and saw its value.

“This is the first time we had seen a parish have a program like this,” David says. “It was one of the things that drew us to All Saints.”

Whether a couple has been married for one year or 50 years, they are invited to the Marriage Enrichment gatherings. Those of us who are married all know we can use help to make our marriage the best it can be.

“I think most of us could say we can do better at communicating,” David says. “We’ve had discussions and speakers on that topic.”

On average, five to 10 couples come to the gatherings, each of which is different. Sometimes, there’s a discussion, video, or speaker, and other times it’s held at a restaurant as a chance to have fun and enjoy a night out together. Other times, attendees play games.

Thanks to the ministry, David and Christi say they have made friends that they probably wouldn’t have met otherwise.

“When you are out in society, people may not have the same view of marriage as Catholics do,” David says. “It’s nice to meet people who are on the same page. It’s nice to have that support system and people praying for you.”

“It’s just really inspiring to be with other couples who share the same views,” Christi adds.

The group even met during COVID-19 closures, making the switch to virtual programming.

David and Christi would love to see more couples come to the gatherings. It would also be nice to have volunteers help choose topics, speakers, video series, and fun events.

“This isn’t an average date night,” Christi says. “Often, you walk away learning something about how to make your marriage better. It has even spawned further discussions for David and me at home.”

“I’ve really enjoyed some of the educational series we have done,” David adds. “There’s always some ideas of things we can work on. We’ve learned ways to enhance our marriage spiritually.”

Watch the bulletin for information on the September Marriage Enrichment gathering to kick off the year! Childcare is provided at All Saints during the gatherings. It’s $5 per child with a cap of $10 per family.

Christi and David Mora