Couples of Faith 2011
Join Couples of Faith as Part of Your Marital Journey
A ‘come as you are’ and ‘come when you can’ program for married couples sponsored by St. John Neumann Catholic Church.
Growth throughout the marital journey requires openness and flexibility. For people of faith, it also means being alert to the mysterious working of the Holy Spirit. Contemporary culture wants answers and certainty; faith requires trust and surrender. The invitation to the marital journey, and the resources to undertake it, come from God. God gives us enough clarity to take the next few steps, even if we cannot see the entire road and where it will end.
The above quote is from US Conference of Catholic Bishops Web site, by Paul R. Giblin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pastoral Counseling and Pastoral Studies at Loyola University in Chicago and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Be sure to check out this website for great articles about the Sacrament of Marriage.
This new once a month program will kick off with our first meeting the second Saturday (the 8th) in January, 2011. An information meeting will be held on Sunday, December 19th at 10:15am in the St. Timothy Rm. Most meetings will be held on the second Saturday of the month, but the meeting may move to other Saturdays depending on other events at the parish (see the schedule below for detailed scheduling).
Couples of Faith – Important Dates 2010-2011 (our 2011-2012 program is now online)
Sunday, Dec. 19, 10:15am
Information Session at Between the Masses, 10:15-11:15 am
St. Timothy Room
Babysitting: free for Between the Masses
Saturday, Jan. 8, 7:00pm
First monthly meeting, St. Timothy Room, 7:00-9:00 pm
Program: Our Special Gifts as a Couple
Presenters: Donia and James Crouch
Bring your favorite beverage (juice, soda, wine, beer) and a generous appetizer to share with other couples.
Hosts: Jon and Hilary Olson, Couples of Faith Core Team Members
Babysitting available
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2:00pm
World Marriage Day event at St. John Neumann, 2:00-8:30 pm, cost $50/couple, includes retreat, mass, dinner and live entertainment (with members of Tapestry Dance Company and the UT Butler School of Music)
“For Better, For Worse and Forever” with Charlie and Beth Balsam
A prayerful afternoon reflection on the radical definition of sacramental marriage by the Second Vatican Council as ‘an intimate partnership for the whole of life.’
Saturday, Mar. 5 (1st Saturday due to Spring Break), 7:00pm
Monthly meeting, St. Timothy Room, 7:00-9:00 pm
Program: Healing and Forgiveness
Presenters: Jose and Marilyn Garcia (parishioners, St. Thomas More Catholic Church)
Bring your favorite beverage (juice, soda, wine, beer) and a generous appetizer to share with other couples.
Hosts: Dennis and Roseann Ciani, Couples of Faith Core Team Members
Saturday, Apr. 2 (1st Saturday due to CRHP the following weekend), 7:00pm
Monthly meeting, St. Timothy Room, 7:00-9:00 pm
Program: The Five Love Languages
Presenters: Raul and Dora Gonzalez (parishioners, St. Ignatius Catholic Church)
Bring your favorite beverage (juice, soda, wine, beer) and a generous appetizer to share with other couples.
Hosts: Drew and Laura Dutton, Couples of Faith Core Team Members
Saturday, May 14, 7:00pm
Monthly meeting, St. Timothy Room, 7:00-9:00 pm
Program: Our Image of God
Presenters: Jon and Hilary Olson (parishioners, St. John Neumann)
Bring your favorite beverage (juice, soda, wine, beer) and a generous appetizer to share with other couples.
Hosts: Sam and Ali Clare, Couples of Faith Core Team Members
(see below for babysitting reservation link)
Saturday, June 11, 5:30pm (please note earlier time)
Summer Dinner-Date Night
Hosts: Jon and Hilary Olson (RSVP to holson@sjnaustin.org by Friday, June 10th so we can get enough table space)
Meet at the following Restaurant at 5:30 pm: El Chile Cafe y Cantina, 1025 Barton Springs Rd. in Austin (RSVP to Hilary at holson@sjnaustin.org by June 10 so we can save some table space)
No babysitting at the church during the summer months
Saturday, July 9, 6:00pm (please note earlier time)
Summer Dinner-Date Night
Hosts: Michael and Lisa Glenn (RSVP to Lmbiry61@gmail.com by Friday, July 8th so we can get enough table space)
Meet at the following Restaurant at 6:00pm: Zax, 312 Barton Springs Rd. (RSVP to Lisa at Lmbiry61@gmail.com by July 8 so we can save some table space)
No babysitting at the church during the summer months
Saturday, August 13, 6:30pm (please note earlier time)
Summer Dinner-Date Night
Hosts: Sam and Ali Clare (RSVP to Ali at alison.clare@sbcglobal.net) by Friday, August 12th so we can get enough table space)
Meet at the following Restaurant at 6:30pm: The Grove, 6317 Bee Cave Rd. (RSVP to Ali at alison.clare@sbcglobal.net by Friday, August 12th so we can get enough table space)
No babysitting at the church during the summer months
Contact info:
Hilary Olson (holson@sjnaustin.org)
Jon Olson (jolson@mail.utexas.edu)
General Babysitting Information:
*small fee for babysitting, online reservations required
Pre-register for babysitting by Friday noon, the day before each monthly meeting.