Last week I shared some highlights from the general sessions of the 2015 Notre Dame Center for Liturgy summer symposium on “Liturgy and Vocation.”
The afternoon sessions I attended were led by Josh and Stacey Noem and dealt with marriage prep in a parish setting. The Noems did an outstanding job laying out the theological and pastoral contours of an effective, evangelizing marriage prep process:
Noem: Given social changes in marriage taking an apologetic approach is tempting in prep; need to focus on formation… #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 9, 2015
… need to invite relationship w/ Christ, enter into marriage with that framework. #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 9, 2015
Active listening is critical in marriage prep — interpreting, unpacking stories for values, emphases, issues, etc. #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 9, 2015
Many young couples don't know how to communicate w/o a screen involved. How do we teach these skills? #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 9, 2015
Noem: One goal of #MarriagePrep: help couples identify, deepen their faith through their nuptial relationship. #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 9, 2015
Love this slide! #NDSymposium2015 #MarriagePrep pic.twitter.com/j5jTtCceeV
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 9, 2015
Group thoughts on intersection of nuptial love and Trinitarian/Christological love. #NDSymposium2015 pic.twitter.com/HtAcfsiKes
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 9, 2015
SNoem: Church puts its best foot forward when we speak 1-on-1, in comfortable setting, giving full attention. #MarriagePrep #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 10, 2015
JNoem: Formation should be outside the context of setting dates, choosing flowers, etc. #MarriagePrep is not a transaction. #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 10, 2015
Be careful with language – "Must contact parish 6 months in advance" already sets up transactional language. #MarriagePrep #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 10, 2015
First step of good #MarriagePrep: When the couple calls congratulate, acknowledge welcome. NOT "it costs X dollars" etc. #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 10, 2015
Now I want our Marriage and Family Life office to call all parishes and see how they respond to couples just engaged. #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 10, 2015
JNoem: Don't focus on where Jesus should be in their lives – focus on where his is already present. // Amen! #MarriagePrep #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 10, 2015
Goal is to accompany on a journey – to listen and help form faith of the couple in light of nuptial love. #MarriagePrep #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 10, 2015
Big shout out to Forming Intentional Disciples in the session — using Sherry's prompts for eliciting faith stories. #NDSymposium2015
— Jonathan F. Sullivan (@sullijo) June 10, 2015
Noems: We're not just preparing couples for a wedding; we're forming them to live as lifelong disciples in marriage #NDSymposium2015
— Michael Bayer (@mbayer1248) June 10, 2015
Noems: Develop a spiritual game plan for couples: what are you going to do (prayer, retreats, Mass) leading up to marriage #NDSymposium2015
— Michael Bayer (@mbayer1248) June 10, 2015
Noems articulating a vision of #MarriagePrep that does not end w/the ceremony. Instead, ongoing formation following wedding #NDSymposium2015
— Michael Bayer (@mbayer1248) June 10, 2015
I’m looking forward to helping the parishes in our diocese deepen their commitment to a welcoming, evangelizing marriage formation process. Big thanks to Stacey and Josh Noem — and the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy — for the great conversation they facilitated at the symposium!