For many years, my wife Anne and I were actively involved in a residential programme dedicated to preparing couples for the Sacrament of Marriage. This experience left me in no doubt about the desire of many couples to grow closer in their relationship with each other and with God. Our involvement varied: sometimes we were one of two married couples sharing our experiences in relation to the different topics being covered; and sometimes we facilitated the weekend course, co-ordinating and directing the different modules of the programme.
Subsequent participation in marriage support and enrichment initiatives, stemming from my membership of Equipes Notre-Dame / Teams of Our Lady has reinforced the conviction that many couples are keen to deepen their relationships with each other and with God. This has been particularly apparent in guiding, along with my wife, new teams of younger couples within the Teams Movement.
:
My active involvement in a residential marriage preparation programme over many years "left me in no doubt about the desire of many couples to grow closer in their relationship with each other and with God."
My involvement in my local parish, working with parents as a member of the Baptism Preparation Team – conducting baptism preparation meetings – has also highlighted the conviction that many couples are open to learning more about their Christian faith and deepening their relationships.
It has been a great privilege to watch couples grow in their relationship and to see how God can become more for them in the living out of their understanding of what the Sacrament of Marriage and the other sacraments are really all about.
Faith on Fire will be offering programmes aimed at helping participants, in a friendly and encouraging environment, to grow and develop their relationships with others and with Jesus. It will tap into the openness, mentioned above, of many adults to learning more about their Christian faith.
In my own life, I have experienced others opening up the wonderful gift of faith for me – especially my parents, sharing their faith, encouraging me and helping me to grow in faith. I realise that this gift is not only for my own good – it is given to be shared.
This is what has motivated me over the years to become involved in sacramental preparation and marriage support. It is what prompted me, in 2020, to do a post-graduate Catholic Applied Theology Degree with the Maryvale Institute – taking the Marriage and Family Pathway – completing my thesis which, after conducting primary research, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the marriage preparation being offered to couples.
It is also what has motivated me to become part of the much-needed Faith on Fire initiative.
I have experienced others opening up the wonderful gift of faith for me – especially my parents, sharing their faith, encouraging me and helping me to grow in faith. I realise that this gift is not only for my own good – it is given to be shared. This is what has motivated me...to become part of the much-needed Faith on Fire initiative.
This new catechetical initiative, drawing on the varied experiences of all the members of the Faith on Fire Team, will be offering programmes aimed at helping participants, in a friendly and encouraging environment, to grow and develop their relationships with others and with Jesus. It will tap into the openness, mentioned above, of many adults to learning more about their Christian faith.
When participants of these programmes have experienced this growth in their relationships, and are “on fire” with their faith, we hope that they will be inspired to actively and purposefully share what they have received with others, becoming “intentional disciples”!
Mark
Mark O'Leary holds a Masters Degree in Catholic Applied Theology (Marriage and Family) and has worked extensively with couples who are keen to deepen their relationships with each other and with God. We're glad to have him on the Faith on Fire team.
Comments