Fully Engaged

November 2022 Newsletter

(320) 258-7611 www.getfullyengaged.com

Phasing out old website
Postage Increase
Blessing of Engaged Couple (with video)
Another Way to discuss the "Tack-On" Sections
What a Woman Should Know about Birth Control
Our Best Marriage Advise (video)

New Research:

Marriage impacts Aging Health
Teens Plan to Cohabitate
Brain changes with Fatherhood

Other:

New Streamlined Procedure for Adding a Couple
Training Opportunities
My sacrifice and yours - Article

PHASING OUT OLD WEBSITE

Starting January 2, 2023, we will begin phasing out our old system. You will no longer be able to add new couples or order materials. You will be able to retrieve results of couples you have already put into the system and view past invoices until March 2023.

If you have couples enetered into the old system who have not completed their inventory, please alert them to do so before January 1st

In March, we will be integrating invoices into the new system so if you were using the old system, you will only receive one bill. At that time, the old site will no longer be able to be logged into.

Note: The old site is no longer up-to-date with materials available or current pricing. It also does not automatically sending out instructions for couples to take the inventory.

If you have any questions, please contact us. We appreciate your assistance as we move forward.

Postage Increase

January 1, 2023

The United States Post Office will be raising their rates effective January 1, 2023. We will continue to use the mail delivery system that is both the most economical and efficient.

We currently offer monthly statements via email or mail. If you are receiving your statement through USPS mail please consider going to email billing.

To change your mailing option, log into your account and on the Dashboard, click on the purple "Manage" button near the top. At the bottom of your parish profile, go to " How to send invoice:" from the drop down menu choose "Email" and click on Update.

OR, simply drop us an email and we will change it for you. Send email to" fe@gw.stcdio.org

Betrothal Rite - Order of Blessing an Engaged Couple

This has been a long desire for me is to have parishes offer the Betrothal Rite. My preference is to have it at a weekend Mass so friends, family and the whole community are aware of the couple’s upcoming marriage and would pray for them. I have also hoped that the assigned mentor couple is part of that, making it visible to the church of this vital ministry in preparing couples for the sacrament of marriage. This public witness shows how seriously formation for the sacraments is taken by the Church, acknowledging marriage is it the back bone of society.

In the new "Order of Celebrating Matrimony" book, released in 2016, an “Order of Blessing an Engaged Couple” is included. This has the full instructions for the Blessing outside of Mass.

An article from 2020, highlights this blessing incorporated into Mass:

Step by Step Process of Blessing at Mass

“The rite itself is short and may take place within the celebration of Mass. It begins with the recitation of Psalm 126, after which the priest outlines the meaning and blessings associated with betrothal.

He begins: “It is the dispensation of divine Providence that you are called to the holy vocation of marriage. For this reason, you present yourselves today before Christ and his Church, before his sacred minister and the devout people of God, to ratify in solemn manner the engagement bespoken between you.”

After the priest’s allocution, the couple join hands and make vows to one day be joined in marriage. The priest then places the ends of his stole in the form of a cross over their hands and witnesses to their vows, declares them officially betrothed, and blesses the engagement ring.

If Mass does not follow, then Scripture from Tobit 7:8 and John 15:4-12 may be read. The couple may also sign a betrothal contract.

Most importantly, the ceremony centers the couple’s relationship around God, viewing their vocation as the manifestation of God’s will in the world.

Blessing of Engaged Couple at Mass - Fr David Maciej

Another Way to discuss the "Tack-On" Sections

The three specialized sections: Ecumenical Marriage, Second Marriage and Blended Family are located on the printout , as well as in the Couple's Workbooks and Facilitator Guide, at the end of the materials. This is to due to the fact that not all couples will respond to these sections.

However, when we go to discuss these topics with our engaged couple, is it the best time to bring up these specialized categories, or should they be integrated in elsewhere in the process?

Looking at each section, discussing the Ecumenical section after the Catholic Identity section would continue the same type of context and may be helpful.

The Blended Family section would make a smooth transition after the Catholic Parenting section.

The Second Marriage section is a bit different. Since this section touches on conflict areas, family of origin, sacrament, and very unique situations, this may do well to have it just before the Sacrament of Marriage section at the end of the regular sections.

These are only suggestions. As you work with each individual couple, areas of concerns may surface prior to the statements contained in these sections. Handling at the time they come up or waiting to the end depends on on your judgement to facilitate the discussion.

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What a Woman Should Know about Birth Control

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According to the National Survey of Family Growth, between the years 2015-2017, the birth control pill was used by over 9 million women in the US. Over 37 million women used other methods of birth control, and almost 18 million of these were either sterilized or living with a sterilized man. Long-acting reversible contraception (including the use of the intrauterine device and the Implant) were used by more than 7 million of women. Other widely used methods of birth control included condoms (nearly 6.2 million women), contraceptive injections (1.5 million), withdrawal (2.8 million).

Startling Facts:

1. In 2005, the World Health Organization officially classified oral contraceptives as Group I carcinogens (Group I being the most dangerous from Groups I-IV).

2. The results of two major world studies have shown that women who take Depo-Provera for two years or more before age 25 have at least a 190% increased risk of developing breast cancer.

3. The condom has a failure rate for avoiding pregnancy that is estimated to be between 10-30%

4. Toxic Shock Syndrome has been associated with the spermicide sponge.

5. Use of all IUDs has been associated with an increased incidence of PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease).²³ The use of IUDs have been associated with actinomycosis, an infection that can cause long term complications such as pelvic mass and infertility.

6. Tubal ligation does not always prevent conception. When conception does occur, it is associated with a much higher incidence of ectopic pregnancy,²⁶ which, is, the leading cause of death in pregnant women.

Reprinted from One More Soul

NEW RESEARCH

Read Full Study

Marriage Impacts Aging Health

A study published in 2021 by the National Library of Medicine examined the effects of marital satisfaction and social support on age-associated biomarkers, or health benchmarks as couples aged.

Researchers found that older couples with high marital satisfaction and social support had the highest functionality and health. While older age generally leads to inflammation, the couples with high satisfaction and more support also generally had lower levels of inflammation. A healthy, satisfactory and supporting marriage has a pronounced positive impact on an individual's health.

Teens Plan to Cohabitate

The Marriage Strengthening Research & Dissemination Center recently released new research regarding teenagers and cohabitation. They found that marriage is not viewed favorably by the majority of teenagers ages 15 to 19, despite the fact that 95% of the teenagers in the study said they expect they'll get married someday.

Researchers also found that 80% of teenagers expect that they will cohabitate with a significant other outside of marriage someday. While about 10% more teenage boys expect to cohabitate than teenage girls, the biggest disparity is in religiosity. Teenagers who attend church weekly or more are almost 20% less likely to plan on cohabitation someday.

Young people need to understand the many benefits of marriage over cohabitation. Young people who choose to get married without cohabitating are more financially secure, more likely to experience sexual satisfaction, less likely to get divorced and overall experience better physical and mental health. Reported in Abstinence Clearinghouse blog

Read Article

Brain Changes with Fatherhood

New research from neuroscientists at the University of Southern California found that a man's brain changes significantly when he becomes a dad. They found that the cortex, the part of the brain that is responsible for high-level functions such as reason and emotions, changes in size and shape.

The neuroscientists who were studying neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to re-wire itself, found that this "rewiring" resulted in the ability to better empathize, a skill that is especially useful when bringing a new baby home.

To read more about how fathers' brains change, click here.

New Streamlined Procedure for Adding a Couple

Over the last few months, we have been working on streamlining some of the processes on our new website.

The first of these is Add Couple. Below is outlined the new procedure.

The first step remains the same, click on the green ADD COUPLE button on your dashboard. Your next screen, add the wedding date and click on NEXT.

Now you will see the purple box +ADD BRIDE INFORMATION. Click there.

Here you will enter the Bride's email address, her First and Last name (or initials), language and click SAVE.

Note: We are no longer asking for phone number.

Now you will see the purple box +ADD GROOM INFORMATION. Click there.

Here you will enter the Groom's email address, his First and Last name (or initials), language and click SAVE.

Now click on the green button ASSIGN INVENTORY.

Choose from the drop down menu: Premarital or Convalidation (Premarital is default) AND On-line or Parish Scored (on-line is default and Fully Engaged Staff is reserved for those we score). Click SAVE.

You're Done!

If you have chosen for the couple to take the inventory on-line, they will automatically be sent the Welcome Email to complete the inventory.

If your parish is manually scoring, complete as before.

Training Opportunities

Fully Engaged Pre-Marital & Convalidation Inventories are offering

New Facilitator Webinar Trainings via Zoom.

The cost for the webinar is $25 per couple which includes the couple taking the pre-marital inventory and receiving the results. Each couple will need a Pre-Marital Preview Package which is $45 plus shipping and handling. To register, click here (español) or contact Jill at (320) 258-7611 or jill.svihel@gw.stcdio.org. Please register at least 10 days prior to the class.

The following options are available:

English

Saturday, January 21, 2023 – 10 am to 4 pm EST
Saturday, March 18, 2023 – 10 am to 4 pm EDT
Thursdays, May 4 & 11, 2023 – 7 pm to 9:30 pm EDT
Saturday, August 5, 2023 – 10 am to 4 pm EDT
Thursdays, October 5 & 12, 2023 – 7 pm to 9:30 pm EDT
Saturday, December 2, 2023 – 10 am to 4 PM EST

Español

Sábado, 4 de febrero de 2023 de 10 am a 4 pm EST
Sábado, 1 de abril de 2023 de 10 am a 4 pm EDT
Sábado, 3 de junio de 2023 de 10 am a 4 pm EDT
Sábado, 16 de septiembre de 2023 de 10 am a 4 pm EDT
Sábado, 4 de noviembre de 2023 de 10 am a 4 pm EDT

‘My sacrifice and yours’

“At the core of the Eucharist is the sacrifice of Christ. The Revival reminds us that sacrifice is also the pattern of our discipleship.” From the Central Minnesota Catholic Magazine from the Diocese of St. Cloud