Marriage & Family Month June 2020
An Archdiocesan gathering for Marriage & Family Sunday would normally take place in June. Due to COVID-19 restrictions we have decided instead to create a series of live streamed presentations taking place directly after the 11am online Cathedral Mass on Sunday 14th, 21st & 28th June.
Not only will you hear great content relevant to marriage, you will also be able to chat with the presenters online. Tune in to the 11am Mass at https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/mass-online/ and stay with us, or join in as Mass concludes at around 11.45am.
A Spirituality for Every Day of Marriage
Building on an insight in St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, this talk explores the idea that the wedding vows which unite a couple function as a prophecy of their whole life together, embracing all the ways in which their commitment to love is ‘spoken’ across the years of their marriage. This talk will draw on theology, spirituality, and John & Claire’s own lived experience of 35 years of marriage.
This 15 minute talk will be followed by the opportunity for audience questions and comments online
Professor John & Claire Grabowski
Appointed Professor of Moral Theology at the age of 28, John has taught moral theology at the Catholic University of America for the last 29 years. He served three times as a theological consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and in 2015 was appointed an expert (adiutor) at the Synod on the Family by Pope Francis. John and Claire have been married for 35 years and have raised 5 children, each of whom has a vibrant adult faith of their own. They have ministered for 25 years in marriage preparation programs and for 10 years in marriage enrichment. Together they have written several books on Catholic marriage & family life and in 2009 were appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Council for the Family.
The Five Love Languages
In his book The Five Love Languages Dr Gary Chapman outlines five main ways spouses express and experience love. Learning to speak your spouse’s primary love language equips you to help keep their ‘love tank’ full. This creates an environment of friendliness and mutual regard in which differences can be accommodated and problems negotiated. Helena & Richard will share how this knowledge has proved helpful in their 35 year marriage.
This 15 minute talk will be followed by the opportunity for audience questions and comments online
Richard Marson & Helena Zobec
Richard and Helena have been married for 35 years and are actively engaged in mentoring young couples entering into the sacrament of marriage or in the early stages of their marriage as part of the Ministry to the Newly Married Program. Helena is the Library Manager at ACU Canberra & Richard is a policy officer in the Australian Public Service. Since their first date in 1984 they have continued to share a passion for motorcycling.
Called to Behold
Reflecting on the call to become “one body” Derek and Karen have developed a marriage enrichment program for couples who want to experience, in new and deeper ways, the joys of becoming one body in faith.
In this talk they will elaborate on what they call ‘a nuptial spirituality of beholding’ – a unique way of encountering Christ for married couples
This 15 minute talk will be followed by the opportunity for audience questions and comments online
Derek & Karen Boylen
Derek is a marriage counsellor and Director of the Centre for Life, Marriage and Family; an agency of the Archdiocese of Perth. He is also a sessional lecturer in Counselling. Karen is a practicing Speech Pathologist and home-schooling Mum. Derek and Karen have been married for 19 years. They have seven sons, one daughter, two dogs and a cat. It’s a crazy household but they’re passionate about cultivating their faith in marriage and family life. Together they enjoy grocery shopping date nights, curry and red wine.