Posts by Francine & Byron Pirola
The One Flesh Union
It can be hard to get our heads around the amazing gift that Jesus made of himself by dying on the cross for our salvation. We are told that it was a personal sacrifice, that if we were the only one in need, he would have still gone through with it – his love for…
Read MorePope Francis’ advice to married couples
Fatherly words of wisdom!
Read MoreFrom Bump to Buzz
Husband sings to wife as baby bump grows
Read MoreMaking Fun is Serious Business
Counsellors and educators often talk about the importance of fun in a marriage. For those of us raising families, couple fun is one of the first casualties in the busy family schedule. Enter the Couple Project! – a great way to put fun back on the agenda with these multiple benefits: Time together. This is…
Read MoreMentor: FAQs
How do we get the couples to sign up for the course? Marketing of the course is really about targeting the parish priests. Most want to know at the beginning of the year what is available over the next 12 months, so contact the parishes in your area early on so that the priests are…
Read MoreMentor: Tips from the Experts
Session 1: We like to bring the ‘Gender-based Friendship’ reflection point forward before we show the DVD because we find it helpful to have a bit more time with the couple before we play the DVD. When the couple finish the DVD, they go straight onto the Couple Exercise. – Elizabeth & Graham Barter, Chatswood,…
Read MoreEngage Mentor – Group Adaptations
While the course is designed for the mentoring format, it has been successfully adapted for small home groups and even larger parish groups. Groups offer the opportunity for couples to exchange ideas though it should be noted that this is a secondary agenda; the primary purpose of the course is to deepen the couple’s intimacy…
Read MoreMentor Preparation – Sharings
One of the advantages of Mentoring in the home is that the Mentors don’t need to be skilled presenters. In fact, the desired atmosphere is one of friendly and personal hospitality. Above all else, Mentors need to be relatable and approachable. Professionalism and heavy theology can actually be a barrier to building rapport with the…
Read MoreNatural Fertility – The Vision
Being married in the Catholic Church is both a challenge and a privilege. Unlike secular marriage, Catholic couples are called to a radical lifestyle of total self-giving to each other; a lifestyle that goes against many of the expectations of our contemporary society which glorifies personal fulfilment and enshrines individuality. These social expectations are especially…
Read MoreClimax Problems (Sex)
Climax, or orgasm, occurs when the level of arousal reaches a point of intensity that triggers rhythmic muscular contractions in the genital area. Orgasm is also associated with intense experience of pleasure. The release of the hormone oxytocin in the brain at the time of orgasm, stimulates a sense of connection and bonding. In fact,…
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