Resources for Marriages & Families
Praying for your Family
Healing the Family: Rosary Reflection by Kathleen Beckman
Catholic Prayer for Healing the Family Tree (St. Joseph, Patron of Family Life, Pray for Us)
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES
US Conference of Catholic Bishops - Marriage & Family Resource Page
Marriage - Unique for a Reason
Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage (VIDEOS)
Watch all 12 videos with our Parish Subscription to FORMED.ORG. Sign up at formed.org using Parish Code 1514ed
The Humanum Series (VIDEOS)
6 Extraordinary Short Films on Marriage and the Family
In 2014, the Vatican held an international and interreligious colloquium on men, women, and marriage called Humanum. As part of the conference, organizers released six extraordinary videos on marriage and the family. Filmed around the world and containing interviews with people like Fr. Robert Barron, Dr. Peter Kreeft, and N.T. Wright, the short films display timeless truths in extraordinary ways. What Fr. Barron’sCATHOLICISM series did for the Church’s beauty, this series does for marriage and the family.
If you serve in marriage preparation, youth and young ministry, or any ministry concerning the family, relationships, or parenting, you should definitely consider using them.
ForYourMarriage.org (Spanish version: http://www.portumatrimonio.org/)
This website is a Marriage Resource Center from the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). Here you will find a wealth of resources for Dating & Engagement, Marriage, Parenting & Family, and more. Articles, blogs, tips & advice, shared stories and book recommendations are available for almost every topic to help us nurture our marriages and families.
Examples:
- Grade Your Marriage
- Top 10 Reasons to Communicate
- What Makes Marriage Work
- Enrich Your Marriage: A Do-It-Yourself Marriage Retreat
- Parenting & Family Topics
- Must-Have Conversations for Dating & Engaged
FIREPROOF My Marriage - for Catholics
The FIREPROOF Movie was a powerful story of a couple whose marriage was on the edge of divorce, and the steps they took, through God, to save it. This site has Catholic resources including 6 1-page study guides to walk you through the scenes in the movie as you consider similar challenges in your own marriage.
Examples:
Retrouvaille - A Lifeline for Marriages
A Program to Help Couples Heal & Renew Their Marriages
Marriage Encounter - Make a Good Marriage Even Better
Blended Families - Resources for Blended Families
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Money Management - Dave Ramsey Get out of debt and gain control of your financial life.
COUNSELING RESOURCES
St. Joseph Beacon of Hope Ministry
Offers FREE counseling for grief and healing. Kathy has years of experience and would love to help you find support and healing. Contact her at kkordsmeier.com or 501-269-1998.
Recommended Counselors in the Conway Area
Our St. Joseph parish family members have used and recommend the counseling options listed here.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
FOR MARRIAGE
NOTE: The Adult Faith Formation Office (501-327-6568) & Beacon of Hope Office (501-269-1998) has several books & DVD's to check out. (not all of these listed here, but some of them)
Catholic & Christian: An Explanation of Commonly Misunderstood Catholic Beliefs (helpful for converts and multi-faith marriages)
Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You to Be
The 21 Undeniable Secrets of Marriage ($5.95 from Dynamic Catholic)
The Good News About Sex & Marriage: Answers to Your Honest Questions About Catholic Teaching
Amazing Grace for Married Couples: 12 Life-Changing Stories of Renewed Love
SEXUAL ABUSE
Beginning to Heal, Revised Edition, by Ellen Bass & Laura Davis
Counseling Survivors of Sexual Abuse, by Diane Mandt Langberg, Ph.D.
On the Threshold of Hope, by Diane Mandt Langberg, Ph.D.
Conquered Legacy, A Healing Journey, by Dr. F. Felicia Ferrara
Divine, by Karen Kingsbury; a book of fiction that is full of hope for healing;
DEPRESSION
New Light on Depression: Help, Hope, and Answers for the Depressed and Those Who Love Them, David B. Biebel, D. Min. & Harold G. Koenig, M.D.
A Joy I’d Never Known, by Jan Dravecky
Why I Jumped, by Tina Zahn. Her true story of depression, dramatic rescue & return to hope.
GRIEF
Tear Soup, A Recipe for Healing After Loss, by Pat Schwiebert & Chuck DeKlyen
The Grief Recovery Handbook, A Step-by-Step Program for Moving Beyond Loss, by John W. James & Frank Cherry
One-Minute Prayers for Comfort and Healing, by Hope Lyda
My Beautiful Broken Shell, Words of Hope to Refresh the Soul, by Carol Hamblet Adams
Let in the Light; Facing the Hard Stuff with Hope, by Patricia H. Livingston
When Life Doesn’t Go Your Way; Hope for Catholic Women Facing Disappointment and Pain, by Katrina Zeno
Lord, I Hurt! The Grace of Forgiveness and the Road to Healing, by Anne Costa
The Tree That Survived the Winter, by Mary Fahy
The Grief Recovery Handbook, A Step-by-Step Program for Moving Beyond Loss
Tear Soup, A Recipe for Healing After Loss
Dare to Trust, Dare to Hope Again; Living with Losses of the Heart, by Kari West
Holding Hands with God; Catholic Women Share Their Stories of Courage & Hope, Edited by Ronda Chervin
A Grief Unveiled – One Father’s Journey Through the Death of a Child; with added section of “Fifteen Years Later”; by Gregory Floyd; this is very user friendly and appropriate for dealing with any kind of loss. (Catholic author)
From Hurting to Happy – Transforming Your Life After Loss; by Barbara Bartocci (Christian Perspective)
SUFFERING & SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer – 10 Life Changing Stories of Hope & Healing, by Jeff Cavins & Matthew Pinto
The Road Less Traveled, 25th Anniversary Edition, by M. Scott Peck, M.D.
Wounds That Heal, Bringing Our Hurts to the Cross, by Stephen Seamands
Trusting God through Tears, A Story to Encourage, by Jehu Thomas Burton
Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody, by Allen Hunt (Dynamic Catholic.com) (FREE copy in the Adult Faith office)
DEPENDENCY & CO-DEPENDENCY
Facing CoDependence- What it is, Where it comes from, How it sabotages our lives, by Pia Mellody
Codependents’ Guide To The Twelve Steps, by Melody Beattie
Codependent No More - How to Stop Controlling Others & Start Caring for Yourself, by Melody Beattie
Beyond Codependency, And Getting Better All The Time, by Melody Beattie
Playing It by Heart – Taking Care of Yourself No Matter What, by Melody Beattie
Choices – Taking Control of Your Life & Making it Matter, by Melody Beattie
Boundaries – When to Say Yes, When to Say No, by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES & HEALING
Adult Children of Alcoholics, by Janet Geringer Woitiz, Ed.D.
Forgiving our Parents, Forgiving our Selves, Healing Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families, by Dr. David Stoop & Dr. James Masteller
A Child Called “It”, One Child’s Courage to Survive, by Dave Pelzer
The Lost Boy, A Foster Child’s Search for the Love of a Family, by Dave Pelzer
HOPE & ENCOURAGEMENT
Holding Hands with God, Catholic Women Share Their Stories of Courage and Hope, Edited by Ronda Chervin
To Heaven and Back, A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, And Life Again (A True Story), by Mary C. Neal, MD
The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven, A remarkable account of miracles, angels and life beyond this world; a true story; by Kevin and Alex Malarkey
Waking Up In Heaven, A True Story of Brokenness, Heaven and Life Again
God’s Heart for You, Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman, by Holly Gerth
His Princess- Love Letters from Your King, by Sheri Rose Shepherd