May 6, 2018 - "Newly Married Couples"

Cardinal Wuerl promulgated a Pastoral Plan to implement Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia (AL), on Sunday March 4, 2018.  The fourth section of the Pastoral Plan stresses the importance of parish life.
 
Today I want to present some thoughts for accompanying newly married couples that are presented in this section of the pastoral plan.
 
Newly married couples begin building their life together as a family with hope, welcoming children, and laying down roots.  Yet couples can also encounter unexpected struggles and unmet expectations early in their marriage.  Pope Francis encourages them that “Young love needs to keep dancing toward the future with immense hope.  Hope is the leaven that, in those first years of engagement and marriage, makes it possible to look beyond arguments, conflicts and problems and to see things in a broader perspective” (AL, 219).
 
Our parishes are rich with potential in helping young married couples find support for their marriage and family life.  Newly married couples can benefit from experienced mentor couples to help them navigate the early years of married life, sharing responsibilities for the daily tasks of family life, preparing to welcome children, learning to pray as a family, and moving toward the inevitable challenges that come with work, extended family, financial concerns, etc.
 
Young married couples report that other ways in which they can be enriched by the graces of the Sacrament of Marriage include:
 
· Being generous with others in how you spend your time and money;
· Not waiting until you have children to get involved in spiritual and social activities at your parish community;
· Seeking out other young Catholic couples for mutual support and friendship;
· Forming habits that you want to continue when you have children eat dinner together at the table, pray before meals, continue to attend Mass together every weekend, incorporate your family traditions, etc. (e.g., Advent wreaths, house blessings, celebrating your baptism day or feast days); and
· Looking for ways to deepen your marriage, sharing date nights and experiences, such as Theology on Tap, marriage retreats, and joining a marriage enrichment group.  Do not wait until your marriage is in trouble to invest in it.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John