Marriage Enrichment
Emotions: The Heart and Soul of a Marriage
Sunday, January 11, 6-9 pm
Loyola University Chicago, Water Tower Campus
820 N. Michigan Avenue, Lewis Towers, 12th Floor, Room 1202
312-915-7400 to register
Shared emotions are the basis of marital intimacy. Marriage helps partners clarify and heal emotions. Emotions motivate decision-making and are at the heart of a marital spirituality. Emotions can also overwhelm partners and make for considerable conflict. During this evening we will explore what we have learned about emotions and marriage, i.e., 1) how we acknowledge, express, contain, sooth, and repair emotions and breaks in connectedness; 2) what we learned in our families of origin and what we now practice; 3) what our beliefs and practices are, especially with regard to love, anger, fear, sadness and shame; and 4) the importance of some form of spiritual practice for marital well-being.
Time Shifting in Marriage: An Evening for Couples
Sunday February 8, 6-9 pm
Loyola University Chicago, Water Tower Campus
820 N. Michigan Avenue, Lewis Towers, 12th Floor, Room 1202
312-915-7400 to register
Our culture values a fast pace, doing many things simultaneously, and moving progressively from task to task. Many of us often feel we never have enough time. We feel stressed. What is good for the culture is not good for a marriage. Partners need to be able to slow down or “stop, calm and go deeper.”We need to be able to make space and time for ourselves and for each other. During this evening we will explore strategies for “timeshifting”and for changing the pace of out lives. These will include shared rituals, breath and the body, prayer and meditation, among other strategies.
Marriage: Do We Have a Prayer?
Sunday March 14, 6-9 pm
Loyola University Chicago, Water Tower Campus
820 N. Michigan Avenue, Lewis Towers, 12th Floor, Room 1202
312-915-7400 to register
How, when, where, and why do couples pray? When things are going well or during crisis? Individually and/or together? How does prayer influence a marriage, especially its communications, problem solving, conflict-resolution and sense of purpose? How do our understanding and experience of prayer and marriage change over time? How might prayer contribute to growth and development of a happy and satisfied marriage?
Couples are invited to spend an evening exploring the reality and possibility for prayer and marriage. The format will include input on prayer and marriage by the facilitator, time for partners to talk with each other, and opportunity to talk/listen to the larger group. Come explore and share your experiences as we together try to better understand this important dimension of life.
Filed under: Marriage Encounter
