This past week has been a tremendous one for St. John, given the new and exciting programs we have been rolling out, along with seeing friends returning to the area already from up North. Some of the biggest news comes from our Catholic Church around the world. From churches responding to the calls from Pope Francis to shelter refugees in Europe, to the virtual Papal Audience with US Parishes last Friday (http://abcnews.go.com/US/fullpage/pope-francis-people-33178200), to a recent study illustrating that 45% of Americans have some tie to the Catholic Church, St. John is blessed to be able to fulfill our Mission and welcome people (back) to the Church. We have been given even more opportunities to do so by the entire Catholic structure; both our Holy Father’s changes to the processes involved in annulments this week as well as our Bishop’s direct action to support both those needing to heal as well as renewed focus on marriage as not just a “one-day sacrament” but a treasure that must be nourished forever.
First, in his letters published on Tuesday this week, Pope Francis has instituted sweeping changes to the annulment process, creating a more pastoral and healing process. The Pope outlined a streamlined process of a single sentence (it used to take two separate decisions for an annulment to be ratified) in which Bishops take on the responsibility for easing the pain of those families who may have not have felt support from their religious community. Please read the Vatican direct source on these letters here: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-reforms-church-law-in-marital-nullity. These major changes in no way lessen the sacrament of marriage. Instead, they strengthen the resolve of our faith to serve those that need support and encouragement.
Our Bishop is already on board with these changes, and has not only affirmed our pastoral responsibility as Catholics, he has taken direct action to support those needing the mercy of our community in removing the expense of an initial annulment in the Diocese of Venice. Please read Bishop Dewane’s letter below, where he outlines these steps in his pastoral vision. Just as important, in this letter, Bishop Dewane recognizes the need to support and strengthen marriages by providing persistent faith-based programs and events that help couples no matter what stage of their lives and marriages they are in.
St. John is heeding the call of our Bishop with our new Couples Engagement Programs. We are proud to provide a Day of Renewal, a Marriage Retreat, this October 24th. The renewal on the focus of marriage, not just the sacrament, but the lifelong journey of love, respect, and trust, is at the heart of the exciting and focused direction of Pope Francis:
In order to resolve the problems in their relationships, men and women need to speak to one another more, listen to each other more, get to know one another better, love one another more. They must treat each other with respect and cooperate in friendship.
–Pope Francis, April 15, 2015, General Audience, Saint Peter’s Square
Please sign up online at: https://stjohntheevangelist.weshareonline.org/MarriageRetreatDayofRenewal