Entries by Jessie Wiegand

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National Marriage Week Advice

Read Time: 6 minutes

For National Marriage Week, we asked ministry leaders and married couples, “What is one important thing couples need to know in their first year of marriage?” Here are some of our favorite replies: One thing Mike and I have learned is that communication is key. Whether that’s communicating your goals, […]

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What do you do at Pre-Cana?

Read Time: 3 minutes

Now that you’ve made the big decision and you’re beginning the marriage prep process, you may have heard about “Pre-Cana” from your priest or others in your parish. What is Pre-Cana? Simply put, Pre-Cana is a marriage preparation course, class, or consultation for couples who will be married in a Catholic Church. […]

Renew Your Spirit During the Holidays

Read Time: 3 minutes

The Church offers us Advent and Christmas as a time to be refreshed and renewed, but if you’re a priest, deacon, or lay minister, the holiday season can feel overwhelming. How do you use this time to serve others and feel renewed in your own spiritual life? Here are some things […]

When Are Outside Friendships Ruining Your Marriage?

Read Time: 4 minutes

Having friendships with individuals and other couples is healthy for married couples. We should all have a variety of people to engage with socially and consult for advice. Your best friend doesn’t have to be your partner’s best friend, but if your spouse can’t stand your BFF or vice versa, […]

Your Spouse Comes First, Even if You Have Kids

Read Time: 4 minutes

Three Things I’ve Learned After 25 Years of Marriage: Part One This may seem odd, but I don’t really like giving marital advice. In order to give advice, you need to be thought of as someone who has attained a certain level of expertise on the subject at hand. In […]

What to Do When Your Partner Becomes Someone Different

Read Time: 5 minutes

“They Said You’d Never Change” I can clearly hear the voices in my head of multiple women saying: “Don’t think you’re gonna change him, honey!” “If he’s like that now, he’ll always be that way.” “Once a [blank], always a [blank]. People don’t change!” While these well-meaning and sometimes cautionary […]

When Your Partner is Grieving

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 […]

The Prayer of St. Francis for Couples

Read Time: 7 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, […]

Confession Isn’t Just for Your Priest

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. […]