Although not officially a Marian organization, members of Teams of Our Lady rely on the intercession of their patroness, Mary our Mother. (New Earth)
Teams of Our Lady
Catholic couples enrich their marriages through Mary’s example
C
By Paul Braun
ouples arrived at the home of their host couple at 6:30 p.m. They exchanged pleasantries, hung coats, and found a place at the table, where a light supper was served. Seven couples crowded around the table, filling the dining room with little room to move around. They didn’t mind the close-quarters. They’re all friends and are reveling in each other’s company. This could be the scene of any gathering of good friends, but this gathering was a monthly meeting of a team from the Teams of Our Lady (TOOLs) movement. These seven couples, along with their spiritual advisor, meet monthly to discuss scripture, life, family, and what it means to be married Catholics. Teams of Our Lady is an international lay movement designed to enrich marriages spiritually and make good marriages even better. The movement was formed over 80 years ago in Paris, France just before the beginning of World War II. It is an officially recognized movement within the Catholic Church, and spread internationally in the late 1950s. Father James Ermer, pastor of St. Leo’s Church in Casselton, first became involved in the movement as a spiritual advisor during his seminarian training. He brought the movement to the Diocese of Fargo in 2005. At first, there were only two active teams in the diocese, but that number has grown to 11, with each team consisting of six to seven couples and their spiritual advisor. “This is much more than a book club or a study-topic group,” said Father Ermer. “It’s really marriage and family enrichment and is built around the Word of God. These couples can become a support for others in their group. Their own marriages are encouraged, enriched, and they can become missionary disciples
14
NEW EARTH APRIL 2019
