/documents/2018/4/Scan.pdf

A wedding is a day.  A marriage is a lifetime.  Your wedding is a very special and sacred event in the eyes of the Church.  It takes a great deal of planning and preparation for all the events that occur on that day, and the preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage is one of the most important periods of your life together.  It's important to spend time in prayer and sacrifice so that a couple can truly be the living presence of Christ in the world as husband and wife, to share life and love in so many ways. 

Click on our downloadable wedding policy below and read over it and fill out all contact information  prior to contacting the office.
Before  your initial meeting with the priest or deacon, it is advisable to contact the church parish in which you were baptized and acquire a current copy (no more than 6 months old) of the baptismal certificates for the bride and groom. 
Bring those with you along with the wedding policy, and we'll go forward. 

Offices of Marriage and Family Life
Office of Pro-Life Apostolate
1408 Carmel Drive
Lafayette, La 70501-5298
337-261-5653        
337-735-9442 (fax)

To:       All Priests/Church Parish Secretaries/Bulletin Coordinators:
From:   Kelley Chapman, Director, Office of Marriage and Family Life/Office of Pro-Life Apostolate
Date:   September 1, 2020
  Re:     Attention Priests and Parishes; Marriage and Family Life Upcoming Events; Pro-life Upcoming Events; Events and Programs Happening in Our Area
  

*For more events happening around the Diocese, please visit diolaf.org/bulletin-resources or follow the Diocese of Lafayette, LA Facebook page. *

Attention Priests and Parishes

Marriage Preparation
In light of contagion concerns related to COVID-19, pastors may wish to give their engaged couples multiple options of marriage preparation programs.
All one day Foundations marriage prep classes and Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekends are now available. Please visit website for upcoming Foundations dates, www.diolaf.org/marriage. Space is limited. Please have your couples register early. Please visit Catholic Engaged Encounter website for upcoming dates, www.ceelafayette.org.   

USCCB Respect Life Packets and Love Life “Vote ‘Yes’ to Amendment #1” material Pick up
**Please note the date change from September 12^th to September 19^th. **
Due to delayed delivery of materials, curbside pick-up of your USCCB Respect Life Packets and Love Life materials will be Saturday, September 19^th from 9:00am-10:30am at the Diocese of Lafayette’s Immaculata Center, 1408 Carmel Drive. Distribution will be on the east side of the building. Please RSVP below, www.diolaf.org/respect-life-workshop.    
Looking for your Love Life Amendment resources and church packets? Louisiana Right to Life Federation will be collecting orders until September 3^rd through www.lovelifevoteyes.com/churches. Only those ordered by September 3^rd will be handed out on September 19^th with your USCCB packets.

Love Life Amendment
The Office of Pro-Life Apostolate coordinated an interview between Father James Brady, a former civil lawyer, canon lawyer, and Pastor of St. Pius X church in Lafayette and Blue Rolfes, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Lafayette. Father Brady explained the legal significance of voting “yes” to the Love Life Amendment which will be number one on the ballot for the upcoming presidential election. Senator elect, Katrina Jackson is featured at the beginning and end of the video: https://vimeo.com/446962277

Walking with Moms in Need
September 9^th is the deadline for the “Walking with Moms in Need” inventory to be returned.
 

Marriage and Family Life & Pro-Life Upcoming Events:

Project Rachel
The Office of Pro-Life Apostolate also offers Project Rachel Post Abortion Individual Sessions on a regular basis, (currently offered via Zoom during the pandemic).  For more information, call 337.261.5598.

National Suicide Prevention Week
National Suicide Prevention Week will be held September 6-12, 2020. For more information and resources, please visit https://afsp.org/

Prepare-Enrich Facilitator’s Training
The Office of Marriage and Family Life will be hosting an opportunity to become a trained Prepare-Enrich facilitator as well as an overview for those who already have a facilitator ID or would like a refresher on the assessment tool.  The next training will be held on September 24, 2020 from 9:00am -2:00pm. This tool is used, not only with engaged couples preparing for marriage, but also with couples who seek you out to assist them with couples or marriage counseling. For more information, please contact the office at 337-261-5653 or email Kelley Chapman at kchapman@diolaf.org.

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat
It’s common to grieve a pregnancy loss, including the loss of a child by abortion. It can form a hole in one’s heart so deep that sometimes it seems nothing can fill the emptiness. Join us for our upcoming Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat, which provides opportunities for forgiveness, hope, and healing after abortion.  The retreat will be held on October 2-4, 2020 from 6pm on Friday and concludes at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, please call the Office of Pro-Life Apostolate at 337.261.5598.

Divorce Recovery Facilitator’s Training
The Office of Marriage and Family Life will host a VIRTUAL facilitator’s training on October 10^th from 9:00am-2:00pm for anyone interested in bringing the program to their parish. It is recommended that in order to become a trained facilitator for the program, you have first completed the program. Those interested must seek approval from their pastor prior to registering for the training. Please visit www.diolaf.org/divorcerecovery to find out more information or call 337-261-5653.

Bereavement
“Come to the Well”, A Day of Hope for those suffering the loss of a loved one, will be held November 7, 2020 at Immaculata Center, 1408 Carmel Drive. All are welcomed to the sacred event.
For more information or to register please visit www.diolaf.org/come-to-the-well-grief-retreat or call 337-261-5598. Flyer attached

Mass of Remembrance (for those who lost their lives to suicide)
In honor of the International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on November 21^st, the Office of Marriage and Family Life will host a special Mass of remembrance of those who lost their lives to suicide. Join us at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Church on Saturday, November 21^st at 10:00 AM.  All those who attend are invited to bring a tabletop framed photo of their loved one to the Mass so it can be displayed near the altar. DUE TO COVID please preregister as there is limited seating. All participants are highly encouraged to wear a mask. For more information and to register the name of your loved one that died by suicide for the Mass, please call the Office of Marriage and Family Life at 337-261-5653 or visit our webpage www.diolaf.org/suicide-survivors and click on Remembrance Mass. Flyer attached

Election Information:
Love Life Amendment
Please remember to take the pledge to vote yes for the Love Life Amendment.
The amendment will be the FIRST amendment on the ballot for the presidential election. 
We must pass this amendment to ensure there will never be a right to abortion or the taxpayer funding of abortion in Louisiana,  LoveLifeVoteYes.com/churches

Register to Vote in the upcoming Presidential Election! https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/default.aspx Voting is not just a right; it is a responsibility.
Early Voting begins:  October 20, 2020                                Presidential Election is November 3, 2020

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship:  A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States:
 https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship-title



Events and Programs Happening in Our Area:

The Aging and Disability Resource Center
ADRC is located in Lafayette, LA and it is a FREE public service offered by the Cajun Area Agency on Aging. The resource center covers an eight-parish planning and service area.
For more information contact Lynda Southard at (337) 572-8940 or (800) 738-2256. You can also email: adrc@lusfiber.net or visit: www.cajunaaa.org.
Flyer Attached.

Grieving Dads Retreat Red Bird Ministries
Men who have experienced any form of child loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and the loss of an infant, child, adolescent or adult child, are invited to “Follow Me: A Grieving Dad’s Retreat” on November 13-15, 2020 at Our Lady of the Bayou in Abbeville. For more information or to register please visit redbird.love/dadsretreat or contact Kelly Breaux at Kelly@redbird.love

Recommended Action Alerts from the USCCB:

Death Penalty
U.S. Bishop Chairmen Lament Additional Federal Executions
https://www.usccb.org/news/2020/us-bishop-chairmen-lament-additional-federal-executions

Human Trafficking
39 Missing children were located in a Georgia Sex Trafficking Sting Operation.  In “Operation Not Forgotten”, United States Marshals rescued 39 endangered children in Georgia.  Nine suspects on sex trafficking charges were arrested. 
How to Help Fight Human Trafficking:
https://www.usccb.org/offices/anti-trafficking-program/how-help-fight-human-trafficking
https://www.usccb.org/resources/OnHumanTrafficking.pdf
National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 or text the hotline's BeFree textline: Text "BeFree" (233733).