Sydney
6 April 2003
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Peace ... harmony
Rugby league scores a try in a GPS college
Passing the baton
Peaceful action for peace
Catholic Weekly takes a holiday over Easter
Tissue project wins archbishop’s grant
A voice for the disabled
Faith centre moves
Younger set is 50
Fr Chris is guest
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross in wetlands
US move welcomed on partial birth abortion
Project Compassion 2003 - Leyte farmers can face better future
Editorial - Victims of war
Letters - Ash Wednesday
Conversation - Fr Patrick Byrne, Rome-based head of Children’s Mission: Big project or small, ‘it must be for kids’
Voice of Youth - Renaissance of thinking about the Middle Ages
Celebrate Love? Live it to the ‘max’
Heading off conflict before it hits crisis point
Crucifixion story wouldn’t go away
New home for new breed of priest
Christian Brothers spread social justice net
Luke’s Story wins award
300 at social justice forum
Music lets Andrew ‘share my faith’ ...
Celebrate Love? Live it to the ‘max’
Couples at a Celebrate Love seminar at the parish Church of the Holy Saviour
in the Melbourne suburb of Vermont South
By Marilyn Rodrigues
A Celebrate Love marriage enrichment weekend over a year ago not only renewed John and Geraldine Dayball’s 34-year marriage - it also enabled them to broach the subject of sex in discussions with their two young adult sons.
It gave them the confidence to speak more positively and openly about sex with them.
“We were able to be more open with them about our hopes and expectations for their sexuality,” says Geraldine Dayball.
“We felt such a sense of freedom and lightness and understanding of our sexuality and how that connects with the sacredness of our marriage.
“We were able to say things to them like you have to value your own sexuality and look upon it as God’s greatest gift that you have to live to the fullest. And to live it to the ‘max’ as a married couple.”
Geraldine says it is this positive way of looking at sexuality and how it leads to a fuller appreciation of marriage and raising a family that they passed on to their sons as well.
“This is the thing that is so mind-blowing to us because we didn’t have this understanding of sex and family life when we were young; it is so much more positive than the old ‘thou shalt not’ which is what we grew up with,” she says.
Much of the marriage enrichment and pre-marriage education offered by the Church today is based on Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body.
“We think every young married couple and every young person should have the opportunity to learn about the theology of the body,” says Geraldine.
“Young people are not getting this affirmation of how sexuality fits in with the wonder of our whole creation in what the world tells them about their sexuality.”
Geraldine and John recently helped organise a Celebrate Love weekend in Mittagong.
A Celebrate Love weekend is a two-day enrichment seminar for married couples - a skills-based program that is aimed at helping couples resolve issues that have caused hurt and ,tension and renew their trust and love for each other.
Couples are encouraged to examine topics such as sexuality, attitudes and expectations, trust, forgiveness and healing and the sacrament of marriage in the context of their own experience.
Celebrate Love seminars and workshops have been co-ordinated since 1992 by Byron and Francine Pirola.
Francine says they are targeted at people in good marriages that have “lost their spark” who are looking to renew their relationship and develop their communication skills.
“Having said that, we often get some people come at crisis point, and they often have a fabulous weekend if they are both prepared to work at it,” she says.
Centacare, the Catholic Church’s welfare agency, also offers marriage enrichment courses for couples looking to rediscover the joy of marriage.
For more information on Celebrate Love, email info@celebratelove.com.au or phone (02) 9662 7272. For information on Centacare’s programs, phone (02) 9660 2044.