MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — Representatives from 16 national Catholic organizations met Aug. 1-3, at Marquette University in Milwaukee for an inaugural Summit on Marriage. The summit was organized by the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers (NACFLM), in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. Participants discussed how their organizations, all of which minister in the area of marriage and family life, can work towards the goal of becoming a marriage-building church. Their starting point was the U.S. Bishops’ 2009 pastoral letter on marriage, Love and Life in the Divine Plan. The letter’s final section, "A Commitment to Ministry," calls for "a comprehensive and collaborative ministry to marriages [b]ecause of the complexity and challenges we face in society today." The Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, gave the keynote talk. He challenged participants to help couples "build or rebuild their marriages on the foundation of faith in Christ and reliance on his grace, or else we are missing the boat." He identified four cornerstones essential for creating a culture of marriage in our parishes and country: education and catechesis, pastoral care, public policy, and prayer and worship. Participants took several action steps at the summit’s conclusion. They urged the USCCB to keep Marriage and Family as a priority activity. They also agreed to continue the conversation among themselves, add other key groups to the dialogue, and share resources and ideas for further collaboration. Christine Codden is director of Office of Marriage & Family, Diocese of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud, Minn.
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