Marriage and Family Life
October 2023
Diocese of Boise
Director's Message
October 2023
October is my favorite month! I love the cooler weather and autumn colors! I also love warm sweaters and the MLB playoffs and the World Series! I hope your October is blessed.
I want to share with you some information about what's happening in Marriage and Family Life, Respect Life and Mental Health Ministries. Please take some time to scroll through this e-newsletter.
The big news is that next weekend we are holding our Brick-by-Brick Diocesan Respect Life Conference at Holy Apostles on Saturday, October 14. This is going to be a great day to come together as a Catholic community to discuss the life issues. Our keynote for this day is Camille Pauley of Healing the Culture. The day includes Mass, panel discussions, keynote talks, pro-life exhibitor tables, continental breakfast and a lunch catered by Treasure Valley Catering. See below for more information. The cost is only $15. Or if you don't want lunch, you can sign up for FREE. Sign up today!
We are also hosting a healing retreat for adult children of separation and divorce. We are offering again the Life-Giving Wounds Retreat the weekend of November 3-5, 2023, at St. Paul's Student Center at Boise State University. This retreat was very well-received last year. If you are an adult child of separation or divorce who is seeking healing, please consider attending this retreat. Ages 18+.
Our Annual Milestone Anniversary Mass with Bishop Peter Christensen has been set for Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Come to Boise to celebrate your milestone wedding anniversary with Bishop Peter Christensen in our beautifully restored, century-old Cathedral. We invite all couples celebrating their 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th or 50+ wedding anniversaries in 2023 to this special Mass and luncheon.
For those in healing ministry, check out the Zoom link recording of my conversation with Steve Porkorny of Freedom Coaching. We had a great presentation and honest conversation about the pandemic of pornography in our culture and how Freedom Coaching can help. Check out the link and password below in the e-news.
I hope you can join us for one or more of these events. Please check out the content of this newsletter for more details on events and other ministry resources.
We appreciate when you share this e-newsletter with others who may benefit. If you are a parish leader, please consider putting a link to this newsletter in your regular e-news. If you are an individual, please forward the links to others who might want to attend one of our events.
Blessings,
Jay Wonacott, MTS
Marriage and Family Life
Respect Life
208-350-7535
Email: jwonacott@rcdb.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
Respect Life Ministry
Diocese of Boise Respect Life Conference
Brick-by-Brick: Building a Culture of Life
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Holy Apostles Catholic Church, Meridian
Keynote Speaker: Camille Pauley, President of Healing the Culture
The conference day will begin with Mass, to be followed by breakfast, keynote talks, ministry panels, pro-life exhibitors, and boxed lunches.
Click here to register: Brick by Brick: Diocesan Respect Life Conference
See the registration page for more information.
Attention: Respect Life Parish Coordinators
Respect Life Social with Camille Pauley
All Respect Life Parish Coordinators (plus one guest) of the Diocese of Boise are invited to join Camille Pauley, CEO and President of Healing the Culture, for a casual evening of conversation and fellowship at Legends Sports Pub & Grill in Boise. Join other leaders in Respect Life ministry for this post-conference gathering.
Each registered person will receive a ticket for one entrée (up to $15). Drinks and other food are available for purchase at your own cost. Limited space. Please RSVP by October 9.
Saturday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Legends Sports Pub and Grill
7609 W. Overland Road, Boise, ID 83709
Please RSVP as soon as possible to Emily at 208-848-4399 or email prolifeRSVP@gmail.com
This event is sponsored by the Diocese of Boise's Respect Life Office.
8th Annual Milestone Anniversary Mass and Celebration with Bishop Christensen
It is time to celebrate your milestone wedding anniversary!
Come to Boise to celebrate your milestone wedding anniversary with Bishop Peter Christensen in our beautifully restored, century-old Cathedral.
We invite all couples celebrating their 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th or 50+ wedding anniversaries in 2023 to this special Mass and luncheon.
Saturday, December 2, 2022
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Check-in: 10:30 a.m. Mass: 11:00 a.m.
Registration Required; Closes Nov. 24
To register, go to: www.catholicidaho.org/events
See attachments below for printable flyer and registration forms in English and Spanish. Please print out and use in your parish.
Natural Family Planning at St. Mark's
Men's Ministry
Catholic Men's Retreat - Inland Northwest 2023
Friday, October 20 - Sunday, October 22
Lutherhaven Camp on Coeur d'Alene's Mica Bay
Retreat masters are Father Jeff Lewis, Cale Ahlquist, and Dr. Tom Curran
For more information and to register, go to inwmensretrreat.org.
See flyer below.
Healing for Adult Children of Divorce
Life Giving Wounds Retreat
SAVE THE DATE: November 3 - 5, 2023
St. Paul's Student Center, BSU
Are you an adult child of divorce or separation? Are you interested in a healing retreat?
The Life-Giving Wounds retreat is a unique opportunity for adults (18+) with divorced or separated parents to reflect intentionally on the wounds caused by their family’s breakdown, together with others who know this pain and are knowledgeable, compassionate retreat leaders. With the help of God, retreat attendees learn to see how their life-draining wounds can become a life-giving mission of love for themselves, their relationships, and others. The “path” of the retreat follows a Paschal journey through first the pain (death) of their parents’ divorce or separation by uncovering and grieving various layers of the wound, then the deep joy (rising) of accepting their deepest identity as a beloved child of God and becoming more aware of Christ in their lives and wounds, then to discovering a way forward (going forth) to sustain healing and a mission in the midst of their suffering.
The Life-Giving Wounds Retreat will be held at St. Paul's Student Center on the Boise State University campus. It will be a commuter retreat for participants. We will be providing several meals during the weekend. Hotel information is pending. Scholarships are available.
Click here to register: Life-Giving Wounds Retreat Boise Nov 3-5
For more information, please contact Jay Wonacott at 208-350-7535 or jwonacott@rcdb.org.
OTHER MINISTRY RESOURCES
Respect Life
USCCB Radical Solidarity Statement
Since 1973, the Catholic Church in the United States has observed October as “Respect Life Month.” This year, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities invites Catholics to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Respect Life Month by embracing “radical solidarity” with women facing difficult or challenging pregnancies.
Bishop Burbidge echoes Saint John Paul II, who coined the term “radical solidarity” in reference to the care owed to vulnerable pregnant women: “In firmly rejecting ‘pro-choice’ it is necessary to become courageously ‘pro woman,’ promoting a choice that is truly in favor of women. … The only honest stance, in these cases, is that of radical solidarity with the woman.”
While our efforts must remain strong to end legalized abortion, Bishop Burbidge affirmed the personal responsibility of all Catholics to “thoroughly surround mothers in need with life-giving support and personal accompaniment.”
Read Bishop Burbidge’s full statement, “Living Radical Solidarity” attached below.
2023 Digital Respect Life Materials from the USCCB
The 2023 Respect Life poster, prayer, reflection, and select graphics are available at www.respectlife.org/respect-life-month. The novena text, homily helps and additional graphics will be posted as soon as they become available, and the chairman's Respect Life Month statement will be posted in September.
Respect Life Month - Resources from USCCB
NEW Webinar Recording + Free Resources for Respect Life Month
This introductory overview gives easy ideas for celebrating Respect Life Month in your parish in October. USCCB staff walk through the 2023 Respect Life materials as well as the Pro-Life Action Guide
Walking with Moms in Need
Attached is a flyer with a QR code that links to this website. Feel free to print this flyer for display at events and/or publish it in your parish bulletin.
Diocese of Boise Matching Grant for Women in Crisis Pregnancy
The Diocese of Boise Human Life and Dignity Office received a generous donation of funds for the purpose of giving women direct financial assistance due to a crisis pregnancy situation. We are accepting matching grant requests for specific needs not met generally through pregnancy resources centers, food banks, or other community resources.
FREEDOM from PORNOGRAPHY
Recorded: Zoom Meeting with Freedom Coaching with Steve Pokorny and Diocese of Boise's Jay Wonacott
Topic: Freedom Coaching with Steve Pokorny
To watch the recording, click this link: Freedom Coaching Presentation Passcode: X88+L1m%
freedom-coaching.net: One-to-one mentoring to break permanently the attraction to pornified images in both men and women through a transformation of mind, heart & vision.
Redeeming Our Vision
(FORMED.org): 12-part video series designed for parish group study, providing solid catechesis on learning how to see the Truth about who we are as male & female and dismantle forever the power of the pornified culture. Available for FREE with a subscription to FORMED. Study guide available as well.ff
Mental Health
2023 Mental Health Grant for Parishes
The world has been experiencing a mental health pandemic in the wake of world events these past several years. The Church can be a place of healing and help for all people, especially for those suffering with mental illness. Mental health is an important aspect of caring for the whole person—body, mind and spirit. We welcome creative ways you would like to use some funding to promote mental health awareness or education in your faith community.
Marriage Enrichment
Dynamic Marriage
Dynamic Marriage equips couples to take their marriage to the next level. This course provides the vital tune up needed to keep the complex dynamics of marriage healthy and strengthen the intimate connection between husband and wife. • Discover each other’s innermost emotional needs and expectations • Learn ways to better communicate and demonstrate your love for each other •Develop ways to deepen your intimacy and keep your marriage fresh and exciting.
Class size is limited! Classes are via Zoom every Tuesday starting October 10 through December 5, 2023, 6:30-8:30 p.m. MST
Cost $150.00
For more information and to sign up, contact: Shelly Batman shelly.batman63@gmail.com or call 208-863-8568
See attachment for more information.
Building a Eucharist Marriage
The Diocese of Boise Marriage and Family Life Office has teamed up with Building a Eucharistic Marriage to offer a 7-part program for your parish to help couples grow in love and focus their marriage on Christ! This parallels the important work our Church is doing to embrace a Eucharistic Revival. This program does both--it deepens our love of Jesus in the Eucharist while helping couples to build a Eucharist marriage. We are receiving a 20% discount for parishes to purchase and offer this series in their communities. Please see the link on the Marriage and Family Life home page for more information. I encourage you to consider offering this program in your parish this year. Learn more about it, click here: Eucharistic Marriage.
Catholic Online Marriage Support: RESTORE
https://www.restorecatholicmarriage.com/restore-part-1
https://www.restorecatholicmarriage.com/affair-recovery-triage
Marriage for Life Decal
“Marriage for Life” English and Spanish decals are available. The cost of a single decal packet in English or Spanish is $3.00. However, the bulk rate price is $2.50 for the purchase of 25 or more decals. These funds go toward sustaining the Marriage for Life Campaign. Each packet includes a decal, instructions for application and a beautiful Marriage for Life prayer.
“Marriage for Life” lapel pins are also now available. The cost is $2 per pin. Orders can be made through the Marriage and Family Life Office. You can contact us directly at 208-350-7535 or email jwonacott@rcdb.org.
Please continue to support this effort by directing your parishioners to the www.marriageforlifedecal.com webpage.
Calcomanía de Matrimonio para toda la Vida
Tenemos calcomanías disponibles en inglés y español de “Matrimonio para toda la vida”. El costo de un paquete de calcomanías en inglés o español es de $ 3:00. Sin embargo, el precio de mayoreo es de $2.50 por la compra de 25 o más calcomanías. Estos fondos se destinan a sostener la campaña Matrimonio para toda la vida. Cada paquete incluye una calcomanía, instrucciones para la aplicación y una hermosa oración de Vida Matrimonial.
Los pines de solapa “Marriage Life” ahora también están disponibles. El costo es de $2 por pin. Los pedidos se pueden hacer a través de la Oficina de Matrimonio y Vida Familiar. Puede contactarnos directamente al 208.350-7535 o enviar un correo electrónico a jwonacott@rcdb.org
Continúe apoyando este esfuerzo dirigiendo a sus feligreses a la página web http://www.marriageforlifedecal.com/