Read Time: 4 minutes
Moving in together is a big step in any relationship. You’ve just been married, and now you’re ready to take on your world together in a new home. However, one of the biggest reasons couples fight at this stage, or any stage, is financial difficulties. There are a few proactive […]
Read Time: 7 minutes
Congratulations! If you’re reading this you have successfully survived engagement, marriage preparation, wedding planning, and hopefully had the best day of your life with a lovely honeymoon to boot! When my husband, Joshua, and I got married in June 2021, it was 4 weeks after we both graduated from college. […]
Read Time: 2 minutes
Here you go again. You’re working with a couple who hasn’t darkened the door of a church in years. You guide them through the marriage prep process, preside at their Catholic wedding, then watch as they carry on with their life journey leaving faith by the side of the road. […]
Read Time: 5 minutes
Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow Together If you’re together for any length of time, walking through a season of grief with your partner is inevitable. Depending on the nature of your partner’s relationship with the deceased, the season could involve weeks, months, or years of working through the […]
Read Time: 6 minutes
When looking for advice on handling marital conflict, sometimes the answer is in the simplest place. It may be a single line of scripture, [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. – Ephesians 4:32 …or a question from your 4-year-old, […]
Read Time: 5 minutes
If there’s something in your past you haven’t revealed to your partner, it may seem like it’s not that important. Especially if you’ve made it from dating to engagement or even marriage without telling them. However, keeping secrets, even little ones, can erode the foundation of an otherwise strong relationship. […]
Read Time: 3 minutes
You have an engaged couple who wants to get married at your church. Wonderful! As a pastor, you have lots of experience talking with people in various stages of life. However, this engaged couple does NOT have much experience talking with clergy. They likely have things on their mind that […]
Read Time: 5 minutes
So, your priest or marriage mentor said you need to do a premarital assessment. You’re here reading this article, so you’re likely a high achiever who wants to get this right. There are three popular premarital assessments that help couples get their marriages off to a great start. Let’s take […]
Read Time: 6 minutes
When I was a young mom, I had several mentors in my life that were around 15 years or more older than me and in the later stages of parenting. To me, they radiated spirituality after years of practicing their faith, and they seemed so composed when I compared myself […]
Read Time: 4 minutes
Taking a relationship assessment or doing a premarital relationship inventory during premarital preparation or premarital counseling can feel intimidating. How much time will this take? How much do I have to tell the priest about my personal life and my past? What if we fail? Some people love personality tests […]