Fully Engaged Summer 2021 Quarterly Newsletter (320) 258-7611 www.getfullyengaged.com

Fully Engaged Website Launching

After several unexpected details, we are launching our new website next week . We are doing a "soft launch" this week to maneuver through it and find any concerns. If you would like to be part of the "soft launch" let us know., by calling Jill at (320) 258-7611. When we launch, you will receive an email from us indicting your new login information and how to reset your password. The email will be sent to the email addresses we have on file for billing and/or results. Your new user name is your email address, however, since it must be a unique email for each account, if you have several parishes, we may have had to use an alternate email address from your parish. Please be alert to this new information sent to you. The new site is more user friendly, with most of the items you typically use readily available on your front page after you have logged in. To make a smooth transition, our development team is creating several short video tutorials to help guide you in new procedures. These tutorials will be on each page as an option to assist you. We will also answer any and all questions via email or phone call during our office hours. Our anticipated price increase will be implemented with the launch of the new site. We thank you for your patience and your continued support of Fully Engaged.

Fully Engaged Training Opportunities

Fully Engaged Pre-Marital & Convalidation Inventories are offering New Facilitator Webinar Trainings via Zoom. The following options are available:   English: Saturday, August 7, 2021 - 9 am to 3 pm CDT. English: Saturday, September 18, 2021 - 9 am to 3 pm CDT.   There is no cost for the webinar, but you will need a Pre-Marital Preview Package which is $45 plus shipping and handling. To register, call Jill at (320) 258-7611 or email her at jill.svihel@gw.stcdio.org. Please register at least 10 days prior to the class. Spanish: Saturday, August 14, 2021 - 9:30 am to 4:30 pm EDT  This Spanish webinar is brought to you through the generosity of the Archdiocese of Miami. Register at least 2 weeks ahead, using the following link: https://conta.cc/3n1qYrl The cost is $60.00 per couple to cover the materials and shipping. Spanish: Saturday, October 9, 2021 - 9 am to 3 pm EDT To register for this webinar, contact Jill at (320) 258-7611 or email her at jill.svihel@gw.stcdio.org The pre-recorded training videos are now available on a flash drive in an MP4 format in both English and Spanish. The cost is $25 each. Coming soon... MP4 Fully Engaged training files will be available to purchase and download from our new website. Cost will be $25.

All Couple's Workbooks In our most recent printing of the 4 sets of Couple's Workbooks (English Premarital, Spanish Premarital, English Convalidation and Spanish Convalidation) the bookmark for homework assignments has been added to the inside back cover. When ordering new materials, you will no longer need to order the bookmark separately.

Q & A about Blended Families

Divorce and Depression A 2019 study looked at how divorce after the age of 50 affects mental health. The study also looked at the effects of re-partnership on those who were divorced or widowed. Unfortunately, divorce later in life is becoming more common. The study looked at American couples born before 1960 who participated in the 1998 to 2014 Health and Retirement Study.   Researchers found that divorced individuals reported the highest level of depressive symptoms, followed by those who were widowed. Those who remained married reported the least depressive symptoms. Further, the depressive symptoms lessened at a faster rate for widows than for divorcees, whose symptoms sometimes lasted for several years.   Lastly, researchers found that divorced participants were three times more likely to find a partner than widows, and that levels of depressive symptoms quickly decreased following re-partnership. However, the level of depressive symptoms gradually increased after re-partnership for both widows and divorcees.   To read the full study, click here.

Physical Touch & Human Flourishing Studies have consistently supported the idea that physical touch is essential to human flourishing. One 2021 study looked at the effect of hand-holding by a significant other while recounting an emotionally painful event. Those who held another's hand rather than a squeeze ball experienced more comfort and less pain. The higher the relationship satisfaction, the more comfort a person got from the physical touch.   Another 2018 study looked at the effect of hugs on men and women after conflict. Researchers found that both men and women experienced suffering from conflict, and women felt significantly worse on the second day. But both men and women's feelings benefited from hugs after conflict, although women more so than men. From Abstinence Clearinghouse

Read Apostolic Letter Podcast of St. Joseph, Fatherhood, and A Quiet Place with Bishop Konderla (USCCB) The Church Celebrates the Family News, Events, and Resources from the USCCB for the Year of Amoris Laetitia Prayer for the X World Meeting of Families The Holy Father's most recent video post 12 Ways to Walk with Families Following Amoris Laetitia Year of Amoris Laetitia Family Brochure (English and Spanish) The Parish: "A Family of Families" (coming soon!)

Thank you for your commitment to forming couples for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

Chris Codden – Director, Fully Engaged ccodden@gw.stcdio.org       320-250-9778                                                                 Jill Svihel – Coordinator, Fully Engaged Jill.svihel@gw.stcdio.org       320-258-7611 Dawn Gohmann—Clerical Support, Fully Engaged dgohmann@gw.stcdio.org (320) 258-7617