Conferences

National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers (NACFLM)

This organization strives to implement a new vision of family ministry through personal and professional enrichment and support for those who minister to families.
 

NACFLM is committed by offering support to members through family ministry resources and professional enrichment, to further an understanding of the realities of family life today, to promote the development of the family ministry, and to foster a family perspective in all of the Church and society.

To visit the NACFLM site go to www.nacflm.org

If you would like to become a member of NACFLM click here for the application form.
 

Annual NACFLM Conference

Held every year

Click on www.nacflm.org for more information.
 

The NACFLM conference will be held in conjunction with the Smart Marriages (see below).

Smart Marriages Conference

Successful couples have the same number of disagreements as the couples who divorce.  Even more interesting, all couples disagree about all the same basic issues - money, kids, sex, housework, in-laws and time.

The difference between successful and unsuccessful couples is how they handle their differences.  Successful couples disagree in a way that makes their relationship stronger.  They also have other skills and attitudes that help them build long-term happiness and satisfaction.

The good news is that anyone can learn to do it better and smarter. Couples can unlearn the behaviors that destroy love and… replace them with behaviors that keep love alive. Learning the skills also gives couples a new "can do" attitude.  This conference is a good resource of different topics that can help anyone to improve their own relationship or others.

To get more information please visit http://www.smartmarriages.com/conferencedetails.html to download an informational flyer and (beginning Feb. 2008) the conference registration brochure.

Annual Grief Teleconference

Every year, the Hospice Foundation of America broadcasts an annual live-via-satellite teleconference hosted by Family Life Ministry in Houston.

Our next teleconference will be held at St. Dominic Center on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 1:30pm-4:00pm EST.

The HFA's 2008 Teleconference will focus on the experience of grieving children and adolescents and the ways that hospice professionals, teachers and school administrators, grief counselors, funeral directors, and parents can best support these populations as they cope with loss and grief. The program and newly published book will focus on the most current theories and practices in this area and, as always, will combine academic research with hands-on ideas for use in hospice support groups and other settings.

At the conclusion of the 2008 teleconference, participants will be able to:

•   Describe the situations that might engender grief in children and adolescents as well as the particular ways that grief may be manifested in children and adolescents;

•   Describe and evaluate strategies for work with grieving children and adolescents, including counseling, support groups, expressive and play therapies, school-based programs, and camp-based programs;

•   Discuss effective strategies to empower parents and other support systems, such as schools and faith communities, to assist grieving children and adolescents; and

•   Describe the unique issues that grieving children and adolescents pose for professional caregivers and offer strategies for effective self-help and professional support.

For more information please contact mroman@archgh.org or call (713) 741-8711

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Retreats

Living Covenant

A Scripture-Based Lenten Retreat for Married Couples sponsored by this Office, presented by a couple and a priest team.

This is a weekend retreat for married couples geared to taking a step back from all that is going on in everyday life and to examining the basic relationships of marriage-with each other, with our family, with God, with society.  There is an opportunity for the couples to privately consider these important relationships and to grow in faith and love.

We do not accept registration over the phone, all you need to do is to send your completed registration form along with the payment. Space is limited, please register early. For more information, contact Margie Costner at (713) 741-8706 or mcostner@archg.org .

•   The cost including room and meals is $195 per couple.

•   Please complete the registration form with a $25 deposit payable to:

          Family Life Ministry

          Attn. Living Covenant

          2403 Holcombe Blvd.

          Houston, TX 77021-2023

•   Check-in begins Friday at 7 p.m. with the program following promptly at 7:30.

•   There is no evening meal Friday

Dates offered • Download brochure • Download registration form: Microsoft Word

Family Retreats at Circle Lake Retreat Center

FLM promotes and organizes diverse types of family retreats in which the family members can grow closer to God through praying, sharing faith, learning, and playing together. The Circle Lake Retreat center in Pinehurst, off highway 249 between Tomball and Magnolia is designed to comfortably accommodate family retreats, reunions and other family gatherings. Parishes and other organizations are encouraged to also promote and organize family retreats and to reserve space at Circle Lake. Families are able to participate in a diverse quantity of programs organized by Circle Lake retreat Center. To get more information about Circle Lake retreats and facilities please contact Monica Frazier at (281) 356-6764 extension 202 or by e-mail CLRprograms@sbcglobal.net

For more information and fees please visit www.archgh.org/CircleLake/programs.htm

Retreats: External Links

For programs and events at Circle Lake Retreat Center

Cenacle Retreat House

Retreats and activities in English and Spanish

Retreats for lay, clergy, married couples, youth and other programs

Christian Renewal Center - for interdenominational retreats

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Workshops

Greater Houston Healthy Marriage Coalition: Couples Communication Workshops

The Greater Houston Healthy Marriage Coalition offers to all couples that are married, engaged or considering marriage free workshops on communication.  These workshops are guaranteed to bring you and your partner closer together. Financial assistance is available to pay for childcare, for children 12 and under, and transportation costs. Meals or refreshments are served during the workshops. Sharing personal information is not required.  Workshop locations and dates.

African- American Couples

This workshop is directed to all couples in the African-American community.

Asian Couples

This workshop is directed to all couples in the Chinese and Vietnamese community.

Spanish-Speaking Couples

These workshops are directed to all Latino couples.

English-Speaking Couples

This workshop is directed to all couples in the English Speaking community.

For more information and free registration, call Dr. Daphine Lambert at (713) 802-7852

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Wedding Anniversary Jubilee

This is an Archdiocesan program honoring couples celebrating their 50th or 25th wedding anniversary in the current year, Jubilee Masses presided over by the Archbishop and are celebrated in the fall at (location to be determined). This ceremony is celebrated in English and Spanish.  All couples receive a certificate signed by Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo.

Dates and Registration Process

•  For registration arrangements you should contact your parish from late August to early September.

•  The ceremony is usually celebrated in the month of October of each year. For this year’s dates click here. 

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Other Events

Loving Embrace

A Catholic/Christian support group for couples who have endured or are presently enduring the pain and suffering of infertility; a place where they can encounter support, love and hope.  For the next Loving Embrace meeting, please click here.

To view a list of other upcoming events, please click here.

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