Ideas Exchange
Following are ways parishes are implementing the program. Feel free to contact the parish representatives for more information.
To share with others what you are doing, write to: jbosio1@aol.com.
Ludlow, MA April 2012
John and Teri,
We ran the series in our parish center. We started each evening with the video presentation. Couples then proceeded to "dialogue stations" which were designated by a place-setting complete and drinks and snacks, a candle and flowers. The private couple time was followed by a break and then a game. On the last evening we ended with a "party" with dance music and ice-cream sundaes.
We are really looking forward to "The Beatitudes."
Take care. God Bless you!
Dick & DuAnne Pasquini
St. Mary's,
Hi John and Teri,
We had our first date night on Nov. 19th. We had 20 couples and it was wonderful! We set up a private "dialogue station" for each couple complete with a candle, flowers, wine, etc. It was a gorgeous sight to see each couple enjoying their private time together. Very positive comments all around at the end of the evening.
We are not doing the dates for 6 weeks in a row - but spreading them out a few weeks apart until the end of March. One session will be a "Celebrate Marriage Mass and Dinner Dance," so we'll have a total of 7 dates! So far, so good - praise God!!
Dick & DuAnne Pasquini
John,
Since there are 6 video segments and 11 chapters in the book "Happy Together" which chapters in the book correspond to each video segment? Thank you for your assistance!
Answer:
Thank you for the question. You will find on the back of each handout the recommended chapters. However, we have heard that when it comes to Date 5, there are 5 chapters to read and couples find it difficult. I would recommend an optional schedule below.
Before Date 1, read Introduction and Chapter 2.
Before Date 2, read Chapters 1 and 5.
Before Date 3, read Chapters 3 and 6.
Before Date 4, read Chapters 4 and 7.
Before Date 5, read Chapters 8 and 9.
Before Date 6, read Chapters 10 and 11 and Conclusion.
This option distributes the reading more evenly.
John Bosio
Hello Mr. and Mrs. Bosio,
The interest as been so great that many want to continue beyond the Six Dates for Catholic Couples. Any suggestions? Do you have another book or more videos? If not, could you recommend a smilar book with a DVD (video series) for Catholic Couples?
God Bless,
Alex Balvaneda
John
We will have our Date Four next Saturday (4/16) and our couples are totally enjoying it. We have 13 couples. Of course, not every couple comes every date night, but each night is special. To see and be part of the friendships that are being forged is really a blessing. Most couples want to stay and share after their time alone with the handout. We have heard some unique honeymoon stories!!
Our couple from Britain shared that he was in the Merchant Marines and went out to sea right after they married. Turned out she was able to join him on the ship for a few days. The cook jumped ship, she ended up recruited as cook (and never baked more than a batch of brownies in her life!) She shared that cooking on rough seas proved very challenging. (BTW, I got permission to share this).
Thank you for the program. It is a real blessing to all parishes and couples facilitating it, without a doubt.
Judy
Dear John and Teri,
The Six Dates for Catholic Couples group at St. Benedict the Abbey cannot thank you both enough for the wonderful program you have produced. We had 54 couples registered. We did an expanded evaluation - and everyone present would highly recommend the program to others - and they want to continue in marriage enrichment. Their comments were inspiring and uplifting.
Dolores Jarell
Hi John,
We have been averaging about 30 couples each month. That is GREAT for us!
I received this email from a HUSBAND!!! I was so excited!
From Tom:
Subject: Thanks for a great date!
That was the best date Melissa and I have had in years!
Just wanted to thank you for arranging all of this. We really appreciate all the work that went into organizing this, and we are looking forward to the rest of the date nights.
How cool is that?!
Amy Allert, M.Th.
Director of Adult, Family, and Young Adult Ministry
St. Louis Catholic Church
512.454.0384 x220
amy.allert@st-louis.org
I do want you to know that the program was very well received here when we did it this fall. The evaluations were very good and one comment they all seemed to have was that they enjoyed the stories Ben and I told after they watched the DVD, relating to the topic.
My husband Ben and I took a few minutes each time to share examples from our own marriage to illustrate the focus of each particular date. This doesn’t have to be too involved and in fact, needs to be short since we want the couples to have enough time for their date, particularly if they are using our childcare. But they all seemed to enjoy that part of it and thanked us for offering the program.
Peace and all good things,
Gladys Whitehouse
Coordinator of Family Life Ministry
The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi
11401 Leesville Rd
Raleigh, NC 27613
919-847-8205x244
Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation
St. Monica Catholic Church
206.232.9829, x131
frank@stmonica.cc
This is our second program - we did Date #1 in June and will continue through this year every other month. People are enriched by the experience and "talking it up" with others so we will have more couples tomorrow night than we had in June.
Your work is very effective. We appreciate it.
Tom Yousey