Marriage, Family Life and Aging Ministry
	Links to Marriage and Family Life web sites

Aging Resources:

Oregon Resources for Aging Services
www.ohsu.edu/healthyaging/caregiving/links/oregon_index.html
Links to agencies and organizations assisting the aging population in Oregon.

Services for All Generations
www.villagesage.com/SAGE/index.htm
Services for All Generations Enterprises (SAGE) is a corporation dedicated to providing management and care services for a variety of housing and elderly-care communities.

National Catholic Ministry to the Bereaved
www.griefwork.org/
The National Catholic Ministry to the Bereaved, in response to God's call to be ministers of consolation, offers pastoral and spiritual support to the bereaved, caregivers, agencies, congregations, and dioceses through education and resources so that all who mourn a loss through death may receive the healing comfort of God.

Alzheimer’s Association Oregon –Greater Idaho Chapter
www.wolfpk.com/alzheimers/
Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research and to enhance care and support for individuals, their families and caregivers.

Oregon Department of Human Services Senior Care
www.dhs.state.or.us/seniors/
State of Oregon Department of Human Services resource links.

Providence Health System
www.providence.org/oregon
Providence Health System in Oregon is a not-for-profit network of hospitals, health plans, physicians, clinics, home health services, and affiliated health services. As part of the greater Providence Health System, with services in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California, we continue a tradition of caring that the Sisters of Providence began more than 150 years ago.

Legacy Health System
www.legacyhealth.org/default.html
Legacy Health System is the largest Oregon-based, not-for-profit healthcare system in the state, and is the sixth largest private sector employer in the four-county Portland metropolitan area. The Legacy system provides an integrated network of healthcare services, including acute and critical care, inpatient and outpatient treatment, community health education and a variety of specialty services.
Referral Service:  503-335-3500
 

Marriage Preparation:

Northwest Family Services:
www.nwfs.org
We are a non-profit, non-sectarian corporation dedicated to providing excellent educational materials, resources, and services that enhance and protect the dignity of the human person and successful family life.

Northeast Catholic Counseling Center
http://osms.org/necc/
The mission of the Northeast Catholic Counseling is to continue the healing and teaching ministry of Jesus in today's world. The entire staff is committed to providing professional services in a spirit of compassion to all people as they journey through life.

Catholic Engaged Encounter of Oregon
www.visionww.com/ceeore/
We are a ministry of the Roman Catholic Church primarily to couples planning to marry in the Catholic Church. However, couples who are not Catholic are also welcome to participate in an engaged encounter weekend. It is not required that a couple actually be engaged. The encounter is an in-depth pre-marriage preparation experience within the context of Catholic faith and values. The presenting team on an encounter consists usually of two married couples and a priest.

Marriage Enrichment

The For Your Marriage Web site includes resources for everyone, including engaged and married couples, and facts about Catholic marriage from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.foryourmarriage.org

Worldwide Marriage Encounter
www.wwme.org
Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers a weekend experience designed to give married couples the opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. It's a chance to look deeply into their relationship with each other and with God. It's a time to share their feelings, hopes and dreams with each other.

Pastoral Solutions Institute
Exceptional Marriages
www.exceptionalmarriages.com
The Pastoral Solutions Institute is committed to helping Catholics live dynamic and faith-filled lives. By integrating cutting-edge psychology with orthodox Catholic theology, the Pastoral Solutions Institute seeks to help you overcome the personal, marriage, or family problems that stand between you and the person God wants you to be.

Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program
www.prepinc.com/
PREP (Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program) is one of the most comprehensive and well respected divorce-prevention/marriage enhancing programs in the world. PREP is a skills and principles-building curriculum designed to help partners say what they need to say, get to the heart of problems, and increase their connection with each other.

The Center for Relationship Development
www.realrelationships.com/
The Center for Relationship Development on the campus of Seattle Pacific University is a groundbreaking program dedicated to teaching the basics of good relationships through classroom education, seminars, research, and marriage mentoring. Co-directing the Center are Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott.  Les is a professor of clinical psychology and Leslie is a marriage and family therapist at SPU.

Teams of Our Lady
http://home.earthlink.net/~teams/index.html
Teams of Our Lady is -- an international Catholic community of married couples meeting in Christ's name and  in communion with the Church,
who witness God's marvelous plan of love to the world around them, and seek to live as the first Christians who said,
"See how they love one another!"

Troubled Marriages

Retrouvaille (pronounced re·tr?·ví)
www.helpourmarriage.com
The primary goal of the ministry is to provide help for couples who live in the disappointment and pain of a marriage in trouble. The weekend helps couples communicate and to gain an awareness of themselves and of their relationship. The post-weekend phase of the Retrouvaille program is as critical to a troubled marriage as the initial weekend experience. The degree of disappointment, hurt, deterioration and despair in hurting marriages cannot be healed in one weekend. Restoration takes time. The post-weekend provides a support group as couples discuss concepts of the importance of listening and intimacy. At a time when extended families, neighborhood groups and positive parish communities are limited the couples can at least find support from this source.

Formerly Married

North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics
www.nacsdc.org
The North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics, Inc. (NACSDC), has been responsible for creating a network of support for families experiencing separation and divorce.  Through it Central Office, conferences, member groups, leadership training, resources, and liaisons with church and civic organizations, NACSDC has substantially improved the entire family’s experience of divorce by addressing the religious, emotional, financial, and parenting issues relative to separation, divorce and remarriage.

Rainbows, Inc.
www.rainbows.org
Rainbows, Inc. is an international, not-for-profit organization that fosters emotional healing among children grieving a loss from a life-altering crisis

Beginning Experience of Oregon
www.beginningexperience.org
Beginning Experience is an international ministry for divorced, separated and widowed individuals and their children. It is an invitational process that is intended to facilitate the resolution of the grief, promote healing and thereby free people to live and love themselves, others and God. The Beginning Experience Weekend is the foundation of the ministry with support programs and outreach to youth as integral to the ministry.

Natural Family Planning

Northwest Family Services
www.nwfs.org/nfp.htm
Northwest Family Services teaches a symptom-thermal method of natural family planning.

Couple to Couple League
www.ccli.org
An international ministry dedicated to uphold the Church’s teachings regarding human sexuality, marriage and natural family planning.  The Couple to Couple League teaches a symptom-thermal method of natural family planning.

Pope Paul VI Institute:
www.popepaulvi.com
The Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction is a multi-faceted organization which dedicates its programs of research, education, ethics, and service to building strong marriages and healthy families.  As the Institute pursues the development of morally and professionally acceptable reproductive health services, it is committed to the development of a culture of life based on responsible parenthood, responsible fertility regulation, and ethical means for the treatment of infertility and related reproductive disorders. Taking its direction from the wisdom of the Roman Catholic tradition, the Pope Paul VI Institute has been built on the rock of faith, continues to take its strength from that faith, and looks forward to serving God's people into the third millennium by the light of that faith

Billings Ovulation Method
www.boma-usa.org/
The Billings Ovulation Method is the most modern, scientific method of Natural Family Planning. It was developed by physicians John and Lyn Billings of Melbourne, Australia.

Couples using the Billings Ovulation Method chart the woman's natural and unique signs of fertility each day. Based on the observations of sensation, guidelines within the woman's cycle are applied depending on the couple's desire to achieve or postpone pregnancy.

Diocesan Development Program for Natural Family Planning
www.nccbuscc.org/prolife/issues/nfp/index.htm
United States Roman Catholic Bishops’ website about natural family planning.
 

Theology of the Body

Website dedicate to resources for learning Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body.
www.theologyofthebody.net/
 

Family Ministry

National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers
www.nacflm.org
The National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers (NACFLM) is a growing association of professional ministers within the Catholic Church who work with, for and beside families.

Ministry of Mothers Sharing
www.osb.org/spm/moms.html

The Ministry of Mothers Sharing (M.O.M.S.) is an outreach ministry developed by the Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Paul's Monastery in St.Paul, Minnesota.  M.O.M.S. awakens in women an awareness of their inner sacred self and teaches them new ways to inspire and affirm each other. Through this personal and spiritual growth, women claim their own giftedness and bring these gifts to the Christian Community.

Elizabeth Ministry
www.elizabethministry.com/index2.html
Elizabeth Ministry is an international movement designed to support women and their families during the joys, trials and sorrows of the childbearing years. Elizabeth Ministry’s mission is to cherish children, encourage families and build community. We offer peer support, mentoring, spiritual nourishment, educational and inspirational resources.

Effective Fathers Seminars
www.effectivefathers.com
Effective Father Ministries began in the late 70s. John Ream, a banker with a large U.S. financial institution became concerned that he wasn't preparing his four teenage children for a life centered on Christian values. His banking career often took him away from home and he saw that TV, music, peers, teachers and coaches were having a greater influence on the character development of his children than he was. While he recognized the problem he was unsure about what to do about it.

Through a series of God-directed events, he secured some excellent Christian resources and was encouraged not only to change his own priorities but to share God's principles for fathering with other men. Over the last 20 years, at first part time on weekends and then full time after retirement, Effective Father Seminars have been held throughout the U.S. Over 10,000 men have shared this unique experience.

National Resource Center for Catholic Men
www.nrccm.org
The National Resource Center for Catholic Men is a national organization that serves regional and local Catholic men's fellowships and Catholic men's faith groups by providing resources, leadership training and communications.

St. Joseph Covenant Keepers
www.dads.org
St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers (i.e. SJCK) is an informal international network of Christian men, under the patronage of St. Joseph, dedicated to strengthening the family. The primary thrust of St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers is to men who are fathers of children still living at home. However, we warmly welcome Christian men of all ages, callings, and states in life: grandfathers wanting to strengthen their children and grandchildren; single men preparing for the vocation of marriage; and especially pastors serving as indispensable spiritual fathers in the family of God. Participation is open to all men who agree with, and who are willing to promote, the eight commitments of St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers.

Young Adults

Archdiocese of Portland Youth and Young Adult Ministry
www.archdpdx.org/ym/
This Office offers support and consultation to youth ministers, and provides coordination and sponsorship of youth ministry and young adult activities on the Archdiocesan and regional levels.  Develops, enables, and leads an Archdiocesan program for youth and young adult ministry that provides for the total personal and spiritual growth of young people to draw them into responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Church.

Catholic Singles—Metropolitan Catholic Fellowship
www.mcfpdx.org
Metropolitan Catholic Fellowship is a Cathedral-based young adult ministry that is open to all young adults 18-39+. Our goal is to help connect Catholic young adults with each other, the Church, the community, and Christ.

Theology on Tap—Eugene, Oregon
www.stmaryeugene.com/(20)Theology_On_Tap.htm

Respect Life

Catholic Charities Project Rachel (Post-Abortion Healing)
Pregnancy Support and Adoption
www.catholiccharitiesoregon.org/
Project Rachel is a confidential healing ministry, supported by the American Catholic Bishops, for anyone who has been impacted by abortion. It is open to any man or woman regardless of faith background. It is our hope and desire to lead those harmed by abortion toward reconciliation in a caring, compassionate manner.

The mission of Catholic Charities Pregnancy Support and Adoption Services is to provide life-affirming support and resources to women so that they will choose life for their unborn children.

U.S. Catholic Bishops Pro-life Activities
www.usccb.org/prolife/
United States Roman Catholic Bishops’ website for national pro-life activities.

www.usccb.org/prolife/liturgy/index.htm
Liturgy and Prayer resources for pro-life activities.
 

Physicians for Compassionate Care
www.pccef.org/
Physicians for Compassionate Care is an association of physicians and other health professionals dedicated to preserving the traditional relation of the physician and patient as one in which the physician's primary task is to heal the patient and to minimize pain.

Science for Unborn Human Life
www.sfuhl.org/
This website is an objective, fact-based report describing the day-by-day development of the unborn child, with each fact sourced by a reference to the scientific and medical literature. The facts show the unborn child quickly develops the organs and systems that a newborn has. It moves like a newborn. It has senses. It can learn. The author concludes that the unborn child must be a human life and invites interested persons to consider the scientific data. Although copyrighted, this study can be used with or without attribution for the purpose of advancing a respectful discussion of the difficult issue of abortion.

National Committee for a Human Life Amendment
www.nchla.org
The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment site gives the general public background information on the organization and contact information for the office.

The Coalition for Americans for Research Ethics
www.stemcellresearch.org
Do No Harm: The Coalition for Americans for Research Ethics website has background information and up-to-date reports on ethical issues surrounding stem cell research, including substantial resources in support of non-destructive stem cell research.

Project Rachel
www.hopeafterabortion.org
Hope After Abortion offers background information on abortion's aftermath and Project Rachel, as well as resources and diocesan contact information.

Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
www.abortionbreastcancer.com
This site offers research and news updates regarding the link between breast cancer and abortion.

Life News
www.prolifeinfo.org
A daily news source on pro-life issues.

Priests for Life
www.priestsforlife.com
National organization that offers resources for parish educational resources and public policy debate information regarding abortion.
 

Bioethics Issues

National Catholic Center for Bioethics
www.ncbcenter.org/home.html
The Mission of The National Catholic Bioethics Center is to promote and safeguard the dignity of the human person through research, education, consultation, and publishing in the health and life sciences for private individuals, bishops, priests, physicians, nurses, hospital administrators, and those who shape law and public policy.

One More Soul
www.omsoul.com
One More Soul (OMS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the truth about the blessings of children the harms of contraception.  They offer a wide variety of educational resources, including tapes, videos, and books.

Life Issues Website
www.lifeissues.net

There are crucial issues that face us today: abortion, aids, bioethics, birth control, when life begins, population concerns, post-abortion healing, etc. But far too often our public debates are long on emotion and short on clear thinking. Along the way, respect for the dignity of human life gets lost in the rhetoric. Our purpose is to promote a “Culture of Life” in which human freedom will find its authentic meaning by joining forces with truth, life and love. This culture “needs new lifestyles which will show respect for the dignity of every individual, especially the weakest, and which will recognize the value of human sexuality in the development of the person.” (Evangelium Vitae).

The Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate are a group of Catholic Priests and Brothers who belong to The Congregation of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (0MI). They strive to bring all people — especially the poor — to full consciousness of their dignity as human beings. They try to hear and make heard the clamour of the voiceless. Action for justice is an integral part of their work, trying to change all that is a cause of oppression and poverty. In this way, they share in creating a society which recognizes the dignity of the human person from its very beginning to its very end.