National Marriage Week Begins Today!
WASHINGTON – Each year, National Marriage Week USA and World Marriage Day provide an opportunity for the Catholic Church to focus on and celebrate the vocation to marriage and family life.
This year, National Marriage Week USA will be celebrated February 7-14 and World Marriage Day, which is commemorated on the second Sunday of February, will be celebrated on February 11.
The theme for this year’s celebration of National Marriage Week is “Love Beyond Words,” which recalls the self-sacrificing love in marriage that is rooted in the wedding promises that the couple makes in matrimony.
Other USCCB resources that uphold marriage as a lifelong union of one man and one woman that have been created for the faithful may be accessed through dedicated websites: ForYourMarriage.org, PorTuMatrimonio.org, and LoveMeansMore.org.
National Marriage Week USA, launched in 2010, is part of an international event seeking to mobilize individuals, organizations, and businesses in a common purpose to strengthen marriage in communities and influence the culture.
Please visit: NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org. World Marriage Day was started in 1983 by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.
Strengthening Married Couples
Knights of Columbus Announces Partnership With Franciscan Friars of the Renewal for a Special Printing of Born of Fire, A Lenten Daily Devotional for Men
New Haven, Conn. — The Knights of Columbus announced today a partnership with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs) to make for sale a special printing of Born of Fire, A Lenten Daily Devotional for Men by Father Innocent Montgomery.
Born of Fire includes daily devotionals from Ash Wednesday through the Easter Octave, with each week of Lent dedicated to reflecting on seven different identities of the masculine heart: Son, Brother, Man, Spouse, Father, Mystic and New Man.
The reflections in Born of Fire are based on the friars’ prayerful journeys into the wilderness where they emulate the life of Jesus, who was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, where he prayed, fasted and was tempted.
“The Knights of Columbus is excited to partner with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal to help Catholic men ‘enter the desert’ during Lent with Father Innocent Montgomery, as he guides them through exercises for spiritual growth so they can draw closer to God,” said Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly. “Born of Fire aligns with the founding mission of the Knights, as we work to strengthen Catholic men as husbands, fathers, members of their parishes and their communities.”
Born of Fire approaches each week of Lent with a similar cadence:
- Sundays: Pray with Scripture.
- Mondays: Focus on the week’s theme.
- Tuesdays: Hear a witness account from the desert.
- Wednesdays: Examine what actually happened at your baptism.
- Thursdays: Hear a witness account from the desert.
- Fridays: Guided meditation in a eucharistic Holy Hour.
- Saturdays: Reflect on what we prayed with throughout the week.
Born of Fire, A Lenten Daily Devotional for Men may be purchased at https://shopcatholicinfo.com/collections/devotionals.
*As of September 30, 2023
**As of September 30, 2023
From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
“Catholic Schools are integral formation in wisdom and virtue,” says Bishop Daly
WASHINGTON – February 2, 2024 – Calling Catholic schools “beacons of light in times of confusion,” Bishop Thomas A. Daly of Spokane expressed gratitude to Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and Congressman Darin LaHood of Illinois for introducing congressional resolutions in their respective chambers (Senate / House) commending Catholic schools and celebrating National Catholic Schools Week.
“Catholic schools serve diverse populations, believe that education is an integral formation in wisdom and virtue, and cultivate a love for all that is true, good, and beautiful. They are beacons of light in a time of confusion,” said Bishop Daly.
“It is gratifying to receive the recognition of the historic contributions of Catholic schools to the health and vitality of the republic, especially during Catholic Schools Week. It is also a testament to our Catholic school leaders and staff for their dedication to the Church’s mission.”
Bishop Daly is chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education. January 28 to February 3 marks the 50th anniversary of Catholic Schools Week, an annual celebration during which parish and school communities celebrate the history and contributions of Catholic education in the United States in their local communities. Many schools host open houses, celebrate special Masses, and school events meant to showcase the community’s spirit and enthusiasm for Catholic education.
