Care for Marriage and Family Life
Renewal
of Promises
Each year on the Feast of the Holy
Family, the Sunday after Christmas, there is a renewal of
commitment to marriage and family life at each Mass. On
special wedding anniversaries (1st, 10th, 20th, etc) we
invite couples to renew their promises at Mass and to
receive a special blessing. As a parish community, we
would like to celebrate with you and share in your joy.
See one of the priests if you would like to celebrate in
this way.
Jubilees Mass
Each year in the Summer, there is a
special celebration Mass on a Friday evening at 7.30 for
couples celebrating key wedding anniversaries. There is a
renewal of promises, a special blessing, and a social
afterwards. Please let the priests know if you are
celebrating an important anniversary this year (25th,
30th, 40th, 50th, 60th).
Ups and Downs
Married life demands plenty of loving effort, working
together to grow ever deeper in unity, to know and
understand each other better, to communicate and share
with each other. Love always means being ready to say
‘I’m sorry’, and a willingness to forgive
and to move on together. Married life is a pilgrim
journey together, sometimes rather an uphill struggle.
You will need plenty of support from family and friends,
and from the community of the church. Never hesitate to
contact any of the priests and deacons if you need to
talk - together or alone.
The
Mulberry Group
Our parish marriage support group is made
up of volunteers who provide, primarily, a listening
service in support of marriage and family life. They are
not there to give advice, but if necessary they will
point people to qualified people or organisations. It can
be a lonely time when problems occur in a family, and
being able to talk to someone totally outside the
situation can make an enormous difference. There are
leaflets in the church porch. They have their own 24-hour
phone line. The number is given in the leaflet.
Pregnant?
Had an abortion?
You may not be sure whether you are
pregnant or not. Your pregnancy may be planned or
unplanned. You will have many questions about being
pregnant and what that involves. To answer some of your
questions, click HERE.
If you are pregnant or have had an
abortion, and need help, click HERE or
phone LIFE on 01926-311511. See under 'Justice and Peace'
for our local LIFE centre in Tunbridge Wells.
Couple
Counselling
Contact Elizabeth & Raymond Partridge 01303 873835
Marriage
Care
Formerly the Catholic Marriage Advisory Service,
Marriage Care is a professional, confidential counselling
service for individuals and couples. To find out more, or
to make an appointment, contact Medway Marriage Care, The
White House, Riverside, Chatham, Kent ME4 4SL (tel.
01634-828839).
Marriage
Encounter
Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a
movement within the Catholic Church, which began in the
1960's to give married couples and others the opportunity
to take responsibility for what is happening in their
lives. Marriage Encounter Weekends offer couples an
opportunity to grow closer, helping them to refocus on
the values that are really important to them and to live
more joyful and purposeful lives. It is not aimed at
marriages in difficulty, but rather enriching and
strengthening marriages. For more information, click HERE.
Domestic
Violence
The Church rejects as an inexcusable evil violence of
any kind on women by male members of the family. Call the
Domestic Violence Helpline on 548672 on a 24-hour
service, or the Women's Aid National Helpline on 0345
023468. Never hesitate to contact one of the parish team.
You CAN do something about it.
Association
of Separated
& Divorced Catholics
This association is committed to cooperation with the Church, and
aims to give spiritual and practical support to separated and divorced
Catholics, helping members to come to terms with being on their own and
to gain confidence to face the world again. The local group is based at
St Augustine’s, and serves the Tunbridge Wells deanery, and meets every
third Thursday of the month at 8.00 p.m. in Meeting Room 3 at St
Augustine’s. The group organises social events, often in each other’s
homes. New members will be warmly welcome.
The
Beginning Experience
‘Beginning Experience’ is a ministry to those who know the pain and
loneliness of losing a loved one through separation, divorce or death.
The work is carried out by a trained team of volunteers at special
weekend gatherings which encourage participants to share their need, and
deal with the natural process of grief and loneliness.
More Needed
Family life is at the very heart of our existence as a
society and as a parish community, and there is no doubt
that we need to do far more as a parish to give support
to couples and their families. This is something which we
are currently exploring together, especially through the
Parish Pastoral Council. How can we better support young
couples in their first years of marriage and parenting?
How can we better support couples in times of difficulty
in their married lives? How can we better support single
parents, and the separated, divorced and widowed? Any
ideas and suggestions will be warmly welcome. This must
be priority for the development of our life as a parish
family.
EnCourage
EnCourage is a spiritual support group for homosexual
Catholics wishing to live according to the teaching of
the Catholic Church. It meets regularly and offers
confidential group and personal support. Write to P.O.Box
3745, London N2 8LW. The parish team would like to seek
ways to develop our pastoral care for homosexual people
within the community of the Church.
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