Marriage and the Black Family LDER 0007b

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Marriage and the Black Family(LDER 0007b)
Institute for Black Catholic Studies

• Andrew Terri Lyke

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Description

• This course will focus on the centrality of
  marriage ministry in the Church.
• It will review the past and present history of
  the Catholic Church's ministry to married
  couples.
• It will explore the cultural relevance of
  contemporary Catholic marriage and enrichment and
  preparation programs.
• It will present some of the best practices for
  effective outreach among African Americans.
• Participants will creatively discuss the
  possibilities for future parish based marriage
  ministry for African Americans in light of Church
  teaching and new opportunities presented by the
  modern marriage movement.

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Andrew Terri Lyke

• Leaders in Christian marriage preparation,
  education and enrichment since 1982.
• National trainers of curricula used in the
  Healthy Marriage Initiative.
• They have written articles for local and national
  publications.
• Founders of Arusi Network, Inc., a not-for-profit
  organization that educates African Americans on
  the skills and benefits of Christian marriage.
• Married in 1975 and are the parents of two young
  adults.

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Andrew Lyke

• Coordinator of Marriage Ministry for the
  Archdiocese of Chicago.
• Executive Director of Arusi Network, Inc.
• Outreach Coordinator and principle partner for
  Family Bridges Chicagoland Healthy Marriage
  Initiative
• Principle author of In the Spirit of Cana The
  Marriage Ministry Guidelines for the Archdiocese
  of Chicago.

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This week . . .

• Monday Overview of the state of marriage in the
  African American CommunityFor Your Marriage
  USCCB Pastoral InitiativeCatholic Marriage
  Ministry with African AmericansMarriage
  Preparation
• Tuesday FOCCUS Premarital Inventory Coach
  Training
• Thursday Exploring Relationships and Marriage
  with Fragile FamiliesHealthy Marriage Initiative
• Friday Arusi Marriage Retreat

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In the beginning . . .
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Benefits of Marriage

• Married people are happier, healthier and live
  longer.
• Married couples enjoy greater sexual
  satisfaction.
• When marriage is strong, so is family life, and
  so is society.

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P E P P

• rimacy
• mpowerment
• rotection
• rayer

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Primacy
Couples need assurances that their marriage is
the primary relationship, above friends, extended
family, and even children.
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Empowerment
Couples need the necessary skills to build
intimacy and develop the confidence that they are
in a good and right situation, and that it can
last.
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Protection
Couples need support systems to use as armor to
shield them from the negative influences of the
world.
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Prayer
Couples need to develop and nurture a shared
spirituality, and have an awareness of God
working in and through their marriage for the
betterment of their relationship, their family,
community, and society.
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Communication
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Family of Origin
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Effective Communication

• Reflection
• Self-disclosure
• Active Listening
• Gained Insight

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Effective Communication
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Skilled / Unskilled
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Paschal Mystery of Christ
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Effective Marriage Ministry

• Formation
• Preparation
• Celebration
• Continuing Education

www.inthespiritofcana.org
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Prayer
GOD
Husband
Wife
Husband
Wife
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Mission

• Statement that says
• who we are (identity)
• what we are about (purpose)
• who we want to be (vision)
• whats important (values)
• Inclusive of others
• Public
• Readily accessible