The love between Christ and his Church, between the Bridegroom and his Bride--and the fruitfulness that springs from that love--is experienced most personally within the first "cell of communion" at St. Anthony's: each parish family.

Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love): An Apostolic Exhortation on the Family by Pope Francis – a beautifully written pastoral document directed to both church leaders and parents. Developed over the course of two years of Synod gatherings, listening sessions and past and present papal letters and reflections.

All parents welcome!  Join this online google groups forum to stay abreast of child-related events, programs, playdates, workshops, meal-trains and volunteering.  Email the St. Anthony's Moms group at [email protected] - to request an invitation to the google group, or go to it directly and click on "Apply to join group".

an initiative for men by the Knights of Columbus.  Whether you are a seasoned dad, a new dad, a dad to be, or a single guy wanting to know more about fatherhood, this Web site is for you.  There is a role only a father can fill and gifts only a father can give. In a culture that often does not favor fatherhood or masculine virtue, we wish to highlight the unique contributions of men, husbands and fathers. The world would be lacking without them.  We also welcome wives who want to support their husbands in becoming the best fathers they can be. See the website here

Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue, or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i) helps couples through difficult times in their marriages. This program has helped many couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage. For confidential information or to register for the upcoming program
 please visit: www.HelpOurMarriage.org, call (443) 400-7017, or email: [email protected]

https://adw.org/categories/office-of-family-life/

https://www.jp2shrine.org/jps/en/events/index.html

for more information on parent resources for catholic families see facebook page here.
and website here.

Strong Catholic Families Resources

• Family Mission Statement Activity – A downloadable worksheet to help families create their own family mission statement. Encourage them to add a family picture and hang it in the home as a powerful reminder of who and Whose they are.
• Living and Sharing Your Faith – a session to assist parents with specific skills for leading faith sharing within their families
  • English PDF Outline and accompanying PowerPoint
• Partnering with Parents Video Series
  • Conducting a Family Faith Inventory
  • Bridging the Generational Divide
  • Creating Family Mission Statements
• Creating Strong Parent-Teen Connections – an interactive intergenerational session for use with parents and their older children (middle through high school ages).
  • English PDF Outline

Pope Francis on "the joy of Yes forever"
Pope Francis speaks to children
Blessed John Paul II's Letter to Families

Do your relationships need support?

• Alpha Omega Clinic 
  Catholic Based Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Mental health services.

• Natural Family Planning Classes
  Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the general title for the scientific, natural, and moral methods of family planning that can help married couples either achieve or postpone pregnancy.
  NFP methods are based on the observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy.
  Since the methods of NFP respect the love-giving (unitive) and life-giving (procreative) nature of the conjugal act, they support God's design for married love!

• Isaiah's Promise

       a support group for families who receive an unexpected or fatal diagnosis during             pregnancy 

• Into the Light Ministry

       a ministry honoring preborn children in heaven.  Guiding couples through the loss           of their unborn child.  They have resources for mothers and fathers of preborn                 children who have died, as well as immediate and extended family members and             friends.

"The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection."

- Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2357-2358.

Courage

Courage is an apostolate of the Roman Catholic Church to assist those with same-sex attractions (SSA). Endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family, Courage seeks to help persons with SSA develop an interior life of chastity and move beyond the confines of the homosexual identity to a more complete identity in Christ.

Weekly Courage meetings provide members a place to share their concerns and struggles, to support one another and find support for themselves. Strict confidentiality is maintained. CourageRC.net
 

EnCourage

EnCourage is a ministry within Courage dedicated to the spiritual needs of parents, siblings, children, and other relatives and friends of persons who have same-sex attractions.

Standing by the true teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, EnCourage members support one another and their loved ones through discussion, prayer and fellowship.

https://couragerc.org/encourage/