Connection / Photo Exhibit / Should I Fall Behind / Pastoral Initiative - 4/18/08

[Smartmarriages]

- CELLPHONES: INTO THE FUTURE
- IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND
- BLACK MARRIAGE DAY PHOTO EXHIBIT: AN IDEA TO COPY!
- BISHOP'S MARRIAGE INITIATIVE

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- CELLPHONES: INTO THE FUTURE

This is NON-marriage article that I'm sending anyway because I think it
provides a mind-blowing, fascinating glimpse into the future. The title
sounds like it's about poverty.  It's NOT....read it for the futurist
eye-opening perspective on technology and globalization.  It's long but
trust me on this one. As I said, I  can't think of any way it relates to
marriage...except that it shows that we humans need CONNECTION as much as we
need air and water. Just sending it because I want everyone on the Smart
Marriages list to be smart and informed about the cutting edge and what's
coming.  - diane 

Can the Cellphone Help End Global Poverty?
By SARA CORBETT 
The New York Times
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/6njffz

  - diane  
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- BLACK MARRIAGE DAY PHOTO EXHIBIT: AN IDEA TO COPY!

You know what they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words!"

Diane, 
Our Dallas Black Marriage Day Exhibition has now moved from the African
American Museum of Dallas where it was featured as a special exhibit to the
Dallas Love Field Airport where it will be displayed until the end of May.
We're told 600,000 use the airport each month and will see the photos and
read about the Marriage Secrets of our 10 Hall of Fame couples. We're
exceedingly pleased with the response and plan to repeat this next year.
Check out the beautiful photo exhibit slide show at:
http://tinyurl.com/47u878

Erin Kincaid
ANTHEM Program Director
Dallas, Texas 
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- IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND

By Bruce Springsteen - not only a beautiful marriage love song, but it's a
marriage EDUCATION (marriage skills and communication) song. We should be
able to use these verses, for sure:

> We swore we'd travel darlin side by side
> We'd help each other stay in stride
> BUT EACH LOVER'S STEPS FALL SO DIFFERENTLY

> Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true
> But you and I know what this world can do
> SO LET'S MAKE OUR STEPS CLEAR SO THE OTHER CAN SEE

IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND

We said we'd walk together baby come what may
That come the twilight should we lose our way
And, if as were walkin a hand should slip free
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me

We swore we'd travel darlin side by side
We'd help each other stay in stride
But each lover's steps fall so differently
But I'll wait for you
And if I should fall behind
Wait for me

Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true
But you and I know what this world can do
So lets make our steps clear that the other may see
And I'll wait for you
If I should fall behind
Wait for me

Now there's a beautiful river in the valley ahead
There neath the oaks bough soon we will be wed
Should we lose each other in the shadow of the evening trees
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Will you wait for me
Darlin Ill wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me

LYRICS by Bruce Springsteen listen on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OCnm6cdZvQ

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- BISHOP'S MARRIAGE INITIATIVE

Bishops¹ National Pastoral Marriage Initiative: What is it, and how will it
help?
By Deacon Randy A. Grosse
4/21/2008
The Catholic Voice

I'm sure you will be brought up-to-date on this stepped up Pastoral
Initiative at the NACFLM two-day preconference Institute at Smart Marriages
San Francisco. Let Catholic family life educators, deacons, mentor couples
in the SF area know about this FREE Institute.

>  116  Two Days - Tuesday & Wednesday, July 1 & 2 - FREE Admission - NO CEU
> NACFLM: National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers
> Steve & Kathy Beirne, MA and panel of speakers
> Learn a variety of approaches for strengthening marriages and families based
> on four areas of family ministry: family as a developing intergenerational
> system; family diversity; partnerships with social institutions; and Christian
> vision. Also plan to attend the Banquet,6:30pm, Tues night, July 1, co-hosted
> by NACFLM and featuring For a schedule of NACFLM speakers and details:
> http://www.nacflm.org
 
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OMAHA, Neb. (The Catholic Voice) - Even though it¹s been more than three
years since the U.S. Bishops¹ National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage was
approved, the initiative is hardly a household word.

That could begin to change over the next several months, as the bishops
prepare to release a pastoral letter on marriage and plans are developed for
a variety of pastoral resources.

Valerie Conzett, director of the Archdiocese of Omaha¹s Family Life Office,
said the pastoral letter from the bishops will be released this fall, and is
expected to focus on marriage commitment.

That topic will be addressed as a promise to stay married, as a vision of
what marriage can be in the world today and as a means of growth in a
marriage.

The essence of the letter, Conzett said, is to ³reinforce the value of
marriage.²

Conzett said the general lack of awareness about the initiative was expected
during the early stages of the project, which will continue for the bishops
through 2011.

Much of the early work centered on information gathering, including focus
groups with married couples, separated or divorced persons and single
adults. Married couples involved in focus groups include interfaith couples
and couples in second marriages.

Other focus groups involved priests, and the information gathering also
included consultations with social scientists and theologians, and
discussions on marriage preparation and marriage enrichment.

Reversing the trends

According to the bishops¹ Web site on marriage ‹ ForYourMarriage.org ‹ the
bishops¹ focus on marriage was prompted by the ways marriage has suffered in
recent years.

³The persistent high rate of divorce, rapid rise of non-marital
cohabitation, and falling marriage rate testify to its (marriage¹s) social
decline,² according to the site. ³

The bishops believe that the Catholic Church can make a distinct
contribution to shaping public awareness about the value of marriage.²
Through the initiative, the bishops hope to: offer a Catholic witness on
marriage, its meaning, value and sanctity; work with people on public
policy, laws and strategies to support marriage; strengthen marriage
ministries; and support dioceses and church organizations to help in this
work.

As the bishops move toward the pastoral letter, local dioceses are being
encouraged to promote marriage, the Web site and the initiative.

Conzett said her office has printed cards about the Web site, distributed
information to the clergy and used parish bulletins to increase awareness.

Her office offers training and resources, as well as retreats relating to
marriage and family enrichment, Conzett said, but much of the activity will
be at the parish level.

Holy Family Parish in Lindsay, for example, had a special couple blessing at
one weekend¹s Masses, plus offered a marriage enrichment program, attended
by 65 couples.

More than 55 participants from 25 parishes (14 rural and 11 urban) recently
completed training in the Strengthening Catholic Families: Marriage
Enrichment and Parent Training program. The program outlines some of the
³how to² as well as available resources. Those parishes are considering a
variety of programs to serve people at the parish level.

While programs that draw attention often are those designed to help couples
with some of the practical aspects of marriage (communication and finance),
Conzett said the bishops also will look at the spiritual side of marriage.
Not being open to the Holy Spirit often is a factor in marriages failing to
grow, she said.

³Spirit is mystery, surprise and paradox and often does not provide answers
and certainty which are so valued by contemporary culture,² she said.

³The spiritual journey, which is the vocation of marriage, is an invitation
from God to couples to grow in holiness throughout their lifetime. God¹s
grace is the resource which allows them to respond faithfully throughout
their lifetime.²

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12th Annual Smart Marriages® Conference, Hilton San Francisco Hotel,
June 30-July 6, 2008  (General Conference July 2-5)
Pre-Conference Training Institutes June 30-July 2
Post-Conference Training Institutes July 6
DOWNLOAD a conference brochure and register at:
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