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Family Ministries and Support

EFLM

Pastoral Letter on Family by Archbishop Samuel Aquila

The Church worldwide has focused on the family for the past year at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family (2014) and the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family (2015) as well as the World Meeting of Families (2015). This pastoral letter written by Archbishop Samuel Aquila addresses issues important in family life including the family’s meaning and mission, challenges to the family, and how to live the family’s mission.

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On this page you will find resources for enriching your Catholic family life as well as help and support for when family life is challenging.

”Every threat to the family is a threat to society itself. The future of humanity, as Saint John Paul II often said, passes through the family. The future passes through the family. So protect your families! Protect your families! See in them your country’s greatest treasure and nourish them always by prayer and the grace of the sacraments.

-Pope FrancisAddress to families, Manilla, Philippines, January 16th, 2015

For the Whole Family

Families of Character

Families of Character 

This course is a self-taught course for either a group of parents (recommended) or an individual parent or couple. The content engages parents to challenge themselves to learn what human character is and how to better develop it in themselves and in their families. Families of Character encourage that small groups, headed up by a facilitator, meet in the comfort of their homes once a month as a primary means of connecting parents and exploring what it means to have a family of character. Groups usually consist of 2-8 couples/single parents.

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For Adult Children of Divorce

Ministry resources designed to help adults heal from the trauma of their parents’ divorce or separation

Experiencing and living through a parents’ divorce is traumatic. The negative effects last a lifetime often endured silently. Most people never seek healing or even recognize the many ways in which this damaging experience has affected them. Oftentimes, individuals are only aware of brokenness and loneliness, feeling unable to move forward on a path of healing.

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For Adult Children of Divorced Parents

For Divorced and Single Parents

St. John the Evangelist (Loveland): Catholic Single Parent Ministry

The Catholic Single Parent Ministry provides a faith-based support group to affirm the dignity of the single parent through their relationship with Christ and the Church. This is a place of connection and community for Catholic single parents. This group meets the second Friday of the month (January – October) at 7 PM in the parish school.
More information: singleparentministry15@gmail.com

St. Thomas More: Single and Raising Saints

A spiritually supportive group that provides fellowship and guidance to single-parent families as well as helps them become disciples of the Catholic faith in our neighborhoods and parish community. Cost is $15.00 for resources.
More information: Melanie Lauer, 303-221-9234 or melaniel@stthomasmore.org

St. Thomas More: Surviving Divorce

Join our 12-week Surviving Divorce program, which covers shock, grief, anger, forgiveness, finances, annulment and remarriage. Cost is $25.00 for resources.
More information: Melanie Lauer, 303-221-9234 or melaniel@stthomasmore.org

St. Mary’s (Littleton): Divorce & Beyond

Join our 10-week program about divorce and beyond for divorced Catholics. Topics include self-image, stress, anger, guilt, loneliness and forgiveness. Cost is $10.00 for resources.
More information: Cheryl Cummins at cacummins@comcast.net or Deacon Mike at mseback@stmarylittleton.org

Spirit of Christ: Divorce Ministry

The mission of this ministry is to provide compassionate Christian education and awareness that helps those dealing with separation or divorce to heal and rebuild their lives. This group meets throughout the year on Thursdays at 7 PM.
More information: Deacon Charlie at deaconcharlie@spiritofchrist.org OR divorceministry@spiritofchrist.org

Dealing with Grief and Loss of Loved Ones

Precious Lives Burial 

The loss of a child in pregnancy or at birth is a very difficult time for families. Often, the child is left at the hospital without knowing that the precious life that died should be placed, reverently in a cemetery. Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of Northern Colorado would like to take this precious life into our care for placement in Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery at no cost. As a ministry of the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, we live our vocational call of the Corporal Work of Mercy to Bury the Dead. No matter if families are Catholic, Protestant, another Faith Tradition or of no faith, we serve all families and want to serve you and yours. 

For more information, call 303-502-9666 

Life After Loss

Parish Based Grief Support Groups

Most Precious Blood Life After Loss – Grief Support Group meets every second Tuesday of the month in the Parish Center, Conference Room A, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

The mission of the support  group is to allow individuals to share their experiences, feelings, and emotions following the death of loved ones with others who are on the very same journey.  In the sharing, we often discover new ways of coping and begin to discover new strength and hope.  The group is facilitated by Rosemary Claassen, a MPB parishioner and an experienced grief group facilitator. 

For more information, call Rosemary at 303-953-2443. 

Same Sex Attraction

“We do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, …for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.”

– Colossians 1:9-12

Courage | A Roman Catholic Apostolate

Courage is a support group for men and women who have same-sex attraction and who desire to live a chaste Christian life. The group meets once a week.
Encourage is a support group for their family and friends. The group meets once a month.

Denver Chapter Contacts:
Fr. Dan Norick at 720-434-2638 or Deacon Dennis Morales at 303-333-0878

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Overcome Ministry

An outlet of love and hope for adults who struggle with same-sex attraction. Founded by Kim Zember, this website is a go-to resource for those who struggle with same-sex attraction, or their loved ones. Kim’s work as a speaker and author is to share her own conversion story, from living the homosexual lifestyle to discovering Christ’s liberating love for her. This website is created from Kim’s desire that every person would know the merciful love of Jesus and the plans for their life.

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Catholic Counseling Services

Catholic based counseling can be found at the following organization for individuals, couples, children, families.

St. Raphael Counseling | Couples Counseling

A branch of Catholic Charities, St. Raphael Counseling Services assists men and women, married couples, children, families and adolescents. They offer counseling and mental health services that are faithful to the Catholic Church, and help to restore and strengthen the family and parish communities. They also provide psychological assessment, pre-marital counseling, and highly confidential porn recovery groups.

Visit the website or call 720.377.1359

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Can’t find what you are looking for?

Find more information on Resources for the Family and on Family Catechesis at the links below!