…and we’re back. Over the last couple weeks, unemployment malaise has taken its toll, and I’ve just not had the desire to write, neither on the blog nor any of my freelance work.
But this past week I got the chance to sit in on the first night of a weekday marriage preparation seminar called God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage, something that was launched here in Denver, and is done in Madison, Wisconsin as well (where I moved from). Besides being the wordiest marriage prep moniker out there, it’s in my opinion one of the best, if not the best marriage preparation supplement out there.
It’s a supplement to the usual life skills/reflection and the other aspects of marriage preparation, but it’s foundational and indispensable in the marriage prep process. It’s based on John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, a contemporary and life-changing way of explaining life, vocation, love and sexuality that’s beautiful, difficult, engaging and freeing. It’s essentially a full day seminar (or done on two week nights or retreat format) with six talks explaining what the big deal about sacramental marriage is, and why the Church teaches what she teaches, using Theology of the Body (infused with other resources) as it applies to the vocation of marriage.
It’s not all talks, though. It’s interspersed with reflection time, breaks, and DVD’s of Christopher West giving the talks. Actually, the curriculum comes with West doing the entire day, so you could play the DVD’s for the whole day if you wanted to, though I wouldn’t recommend it. The best combination is to plan your own talks (using the curriculum as your guide), weaving in your own witness and experience. I recommend using West at points throughout the day because, though he’s not everyone’s favorite, he’s got mad gifts, and can explain TOB in an accessible way many, many people find engaging and ultimately, enlightening.
The bottom line is that most people view the Church’s teaching on marriage & sexuality as a long list of “no’s”, but it’s a love story, and invitation to love as God loves. I’ve lived my way, and I’ve lived God’s way of love and life, and I’ve found so much wholeness, healing, joy and (yes) humor in embracing the latter, and discovering Theology of the Body has just made it so much more profound.
My husband and I used to facilitate these days back in Madison, and next week, I get to jump back into things by giving an NFP talk. My inspiration is returning….
What about yours? My challenge for you: suggest alternate names for the GPFJFM program!
Any other God’s Plan Facilitators out there? How’s it going? Difficulties? Joys? Do share….
9 Responses to Nourishment for your Marriage Prep Program
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We got to see Christopher West at the BOC last night. It was spectacular! I’m so glad Madison’s marriage prep program is teaching it and I really wish CCL had incorporated some of CW’s points/analogies into their revamped program. I think it’s a lot more accessible than the priest they have talking about TOB during Class 1. At least a lot of our students have recently taken the marriage prep in Madison and already have an understanding. ; )
Yay! I was praying that it went well. I totally agree with you about the TOB element in the CCL course. When I saw Father’s teaching on it, it was certainly very accurate and good, but the style is less engaging and personable than West. Well, at least this way, you can use those analogies in class should you get specific questions! I highly recommend getting the God’s Plan CD’s or DVD’s (you should be able to borrow them from the Marriage Prep Office), and just getting used to the style, and memorizing some of his analogies and anecdotes. Yes, I’m so so glad Madison uses the God’s Plan Program, although the majority of the couples don’t end up taking NFP. At least the numbers have increased since GP has started, though!
May I ask your credentials on such a serious topic? How long have you been married? How many children do you have now? How successful has NFP been for you? Where is your research? I’ve been reading your blogs and find you take everyone on from Archbishops to the Mayo Clinic without much (your favorite word, discernment). Who are you to judge someone’s “style”? Pompus, preachy & presumptious are you!
Mary J, it seems I’ve touched a nerve here. I’d be happy to answer your questions, except I have no idea how they pertain to this blog post. What about this blog post spurred you to this critique and personal attack? I’m certainly far from perfect, and have a lot to learn, but what specifically do find pompus, preachy and presumptious here?
Where, may I ask, did I “take on” an Archbishop? And how is encouraging the Mayo Clinic to change a very obvious mistake any NFP advocate would know all of a sudden “taking on” the Mayo Clinic?
Mary J, my guess is that you may be a fan of a particular school of teaching NFP, or a close friend of said priest referred to in the comment above, hence your comment about “style.” Just because I stated MY OPINION about someone’s STYLE does not mean I am attacking their person or judging their soul. If I’ve done so in an uncharitable way, you’re more than welcome to state so. As a matter of fact, I admire Father very much. Just because I have a constructive criticism about someone doesn’t make me a heretic or somehow automatically make it grounds for questioning my character.
However, JUDGING MY PERSON to be pompous, preachy and presumptious is not productive here, to make an understatement. If you continue to comment in this manner, I will not publish your comments (see the comments policy section 6 & 7). If you would like to have a genuine conversation about my credentials and my person, I would be happy to do so over email or the phone, but the combox is not the place to attack me or my credentials, Mary J.
Have a blessed Lent.
Jessica,
Welcome back and Blessed Lent! Thanks for the nod to this great program.
I have been presenting – and training folks to present – the God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage program since it was published in 2005. It is challenging, beautiful, compelling, and a testament to how the truth and beauty of our sexuality can and must be proclaimed today.
A few stats from anonymous exit surveys of the first 2000 couples who went through the program: 91% sexually active, 48% (of the 91%) said they would save sex until marriage after the day, 31% said they would “definitely” use NFP in marriage, 45% said they “may” use NFP in their marriage (http://joyfilledmarriage.com/results/).
Exuberance? Perhaps. But, knowing that most NFP programs would bust at the seams with say 5-10% of engaged couples attending full instruction, actualizing these numbers would be culture changing. This is the major reason my NFP focus has shifted these last few years to “tilling the soil” with this marriage prep and marriage enrichment work.
Blessings,
Damon
Thanks, Damon, for your thoughts, and for stopping by to put some data up, and lend some support to my anecdotal experience with God’s Plan. I very much value your experience and opinion. I agree that the effects of this program are potentially culture changing when implemented correctly, which is why I feel so strongly about it.
Wow! Those are some nice stats, Damon. Will have to reference in an article in the marriage section of our newspaper…
I’ll admit I’m a bit jealous of the people I have talked to over the past few years in our diocese who’ve gone through the GPfaJFM program. It didn’t get started up here until Paul and I were already long through marriage prep, so we never had the chance. I wonder if they take married couples.
An article on God’s Plan would be awesome, Kat! Check with Andy for Madison’s stats, too. He keeps meticulous records, so he’d be able to give you a good scope of God’s Plan and its results locally. As to participating in God’s Plan, ask Andy! Last year there were plans for doing God’s Plan at parishes for married couples, so he’s def aware of the interest….shoot him an email.
[...] prayers, as I’m facilitating an entire Marriage Prep day, God’s Plan (which I’ve previously written about), by myself in Fort Collins Saturday, April 25th. I’m looking forward to [...]