2 minute read
The Marriage Course: Strengthening the Bonds of Matrimony in Our Parish
One year ago, Marco and Yamileth Santos made a choice to seize an opportunity and invest a little time and energy into their marriage. Here at St. Timothy Catholic Church, the Marriage Course is offered a couple times a year to help strengthen and encourage marriages within the parish.
“We met once a week for seven weeks,” Marco says. “Each week we would go through a chapter in the book and watch a video about it. There is also a study journal that contained various questions."
Advertisement
“It really has something for everyone,” Yamileth says. “It can help any couple strengthen their marriage, but young couples can particularly benefit from this course. It can help prevent marriage difficulties from escalating. It gives you the tools to learn the best way to enjoy your marriage.”
Some of the topics covered include resolving conflicts, dealing with extended family, and the power of forgiveness.
“Each week has a different theme,” Yamileth says. “For us, week two was probably the most beneficial. It was about the art of communication. We have been married for 25 years and it really helped us with communication and listening to each other. We would see things in different ways, so we would be upset when we started communicating. This gave us a lot of tools for dealing with these conflicts."
“For me, better communication and understanding each other’s needs was so helpful,” Marco adds.
As St. John Paul II said, “Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family — a domestic church.” In turn, the Church is often referred to as “the Bride of Jesus.” This parallel is not lost on the Santoses.
“Our marriages are supposed to reflect that marriage,” Yamileth says. “It is a sacred union. Taking a course like this is creating a foundation to be strong for your family. It helps couples succeed in their marriages.”
Both Marco and Yamileth encourage other couples to participate in the course.
“Have courage and find the time,” Marco says. “It will be very rewarding at the end. You might not necessarily need help on every topic but I can almost guarantee that you will find help in some areas.”
“I feel like by taking this course, it shows us how God crossed our paths,” Yamileth adds. “Everything that happens in this world is in His hands. He knows how we need each other and how we can be so strong together. At the same time, it shows me that God is the head of our marriage. He is the glue that holds us together. And if He is the glue, then nothing can separate us.”
The next course will be starting in January 2022. All couples are invited to invest in their marriages and participate in the Marriage Course. For more information on the Marriage Course, please visit https://sainttims.org/marriage-course/ — you may also contact Roger and Michele Caruso at 813-767-0071 (to call/text) or mrmrcaruso@msn.com.
Marco and Yamileth Santos
