Page 31 - Water of Life Infant Baptism

Relationships
Becoming a parent for the first time can present new challenges and opportunities for the core relationships in our lives. While a new baby demands a parent’s focus and energies, it is important to keep nourishing one’s relationship with spouse and other family members. Some helpful links:
The Marriage Resource Centre (Australia)
offers resources for helping people build marriages which are emotionally, sexually and spiritually healthy. www.marriageresourcecentre.org
Marriage enrichment programs for couples:
Marriage Encounter (wwme.org.au); SmartLoving (smartloving.org); Couples for Christ (cfc-australia.org.au)
CatholicCare
provides a range of services to support the wellbeing of children, youth, individuals, families.
Beginning Experience
A program that reaches out to those who have lost their spouse through divorce or death.
Welcoming people with disability
Families with children with disabilities should always be made to feel welcome and included in the sacramental life of the Church. Contact your Diocese for materials and contacts which can assist families and their children in this journey.
Healing
Parenting can be stressful! It can expose our own vulnerabilities and our need for help and healing, especially when combined with other pressures relating to work, financial pressure, illness, family difficulties, etc. We all struggle at times. It is part of being human. But we needn’t struggle alone. As well as the above links, two programs that can help:
Life’s Healing Journey
This and other lifegiving retreats are held at St Mary’s Towers Retreat Centre Douglas Park. www.towersretreat.org.au
Seasons for Growth
To assist people dealing with experiences of major loss. www.goodgrief.org.au
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