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National Black Catholic Congress

Rainbows

Cursillo

Fertility Care Center

Couple to Couple League

As for Me and My House

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Catholic Engaged Encounter

Retrouvaille

Programs and Affiliations
African American Apostolate
  -- National Black Catholic Congress
A national movement to encourage, evangelize, and invite Catholics of African, Caribbean, North and South American descent to a fuller participation in the life of the church. Locally, this effort is directed by the diocesan Black Catholic Implementation Team, which was established in 1986.  The group sponsors workshops, days of reflection, and other events.

Children & Adult Grief Support
  -- Rainbows
A support group curriculum for children who have suffered significant loss in their lives, either through death, divorce, or other painful transitions. Elementary, secondary and adult programs are available to assist children, adolescents, and adults achieve a healthy acceptance of what has happened in their lives. 


As for Me and My House 
 -- My House - KCSJ
As for Me and My House aims to protect children and strengthen families through awareness, education, support and reconciliation. By promoting an understanding of the dangers of pornography and its effect upon men, women and children, MY HOUSE fosters a total vision of the dignity and sacredness of human sexuality. 

Marriage Enrichment
  -- Worldwide Marriage Encounter 
A weekend experience for married couples interested in strengthening their relationship. A communication technique is taught which permits each couple to explore important areas of their relationship in a spirit of love, understanding and confidentiality.  Principles of love, commitment, and effective communication are emphasized during this Friday evening through Sunday afternoon experience.  For more information, please contact: Tony and Barbara Zimmerman (816) 741-4066 or email.

 -- Married Couples' Saturday Night-Out
An enrichment and social event for all married couples designed around two essential components:  information and insight.  Nights out enhance the social, personal and spiritual relationship of married couples.  This two-hour format includes a program followed by casual conversation and refreshments.  For more information, please contact:  Jim and Carolyn O'Laughlin, at (816) 616-4000.

Marriage Preparation
  -- Catholic Engaged Encounter
A weekend designed for couples preparing for a sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church. The encounter is facilitated by a Catholic priest and two married couples trained in the ministry.  Large group presentations, personal reflections, and couple dialogues constitute the weekend experience. For more information, check the events page, or contact the reservation couple:  Eric and Debbie Zayas, or (913) 782-1603.

-- God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage
A supplement to the traditional marriage preparation process; designed to help couples understand and embrace the Church's teachings on faith, sacramentality of marriage, human sexuality, and natural family planning. This one-day seminar is required of all couples preparing for marriage in the diocese.  

  -- Lead Couple Training         
A four-hour seminar designed to equip married couples with the insight and practical skills necessary for guiding the engaged to experiences of self-knowledge and couple awareness. 

  -- To Trust Again! Remarriage Preparation Seminar
A single-day seminar facilitated by the Remarriage Preparation Team.  The process has a focus on individual and collective communications regarding finances, spirituality, family of origin relationships, parenting, and the handling of the emotional baggage of a previous relationship.  For seminar dates and locations, see the events page.

Men's Ministries
  -- Prayer Breakfasts
Men, 18 years and older are encouraged to attend these, "A Meal, Mass & Message" moments.  Designed to address the needs of men in their encounters with life. The Saturday morning gatherings are held at various sites to encourage participation throughout the diocese.  See the Calendar of Events for more information.

  -- Men on a Mission 
An annual event designed to promote leadership, discipleship, and friendship among men while enhancing their spiritual and temporal life.  Events usually incorporate a message from the bishop and a keynote address.  See the events page for more information.

Natural Family Planning
  -- Couple to Couple League  
Monthly courses are offered at various sites around the diocese to introduce couples to the symptom-thermal method for determining signs of fertility. A home study course is available for those who are unable to attend formal training. Facilitators are trained by professionals from the national organization. For more information, call the hotline at (913) 894-3558.   

  -- Fertility Care Center of Greater Kansas City
The Creighton Model Fertility Care System is a medical model of advanced procreative education that uses the external cervical mucus sign as method for determining fertility.  A medical consultant and fertility care educators are formally trained to provide NaPro Technology services. All practitioners  and teachers are certified by the American Academy of Fertility Care Professionals.  For more information, please contact Phyllis White, at (816) 224-1177. 

Troubled Marriage Support
  -- Separated & Divorced
National and local resources are shared with individuals or parishes interested in providing services to people experiencing a separation or divorce.  The parish-based, self-help program Divorce and Beyond is the recommended resource for group work in this ministry.

  -- Retrouvaille         
Designed to assist couples in re-establishing communication and insights to their marital relationship, the process is neither counseling, a spiritual retreat, seminar or sensitivity group.  Retrouvaille is a process that leads to a healing of relationships for couples either contemplating a divorce or already have divorced and hope to reconcile differences.  For more information, or to register confidentially, please call (816) 505-0510. 

--Beginning Experience
...is a weekend experience for adults grieving the loss of a love relationship caused by death, separation or divorce.  Program participants are those individuals who are ready to come to terms with their loss and are open to the dialogue and self reflection necessary for personal growth.  For more information, please call:  (785) 331-2216 or email.