Marriage Difficulties Resources

Every marriage goes through difficulties, sometimes so painful they threaten to destroy the marriage.  The Diocese of Oakland does not offer counseling but IS committed to helping couples in difficulty to find the help they need to heal and repair their marriages.  Here are some resources which have helped others. Please call for further referrals. The USCCB For Your Marriage website also has additional resources.

Retrouvaille – for couples, by couples.

Weekend format run by couples who have successfully overcome tremendous challenges to their own marriages. Many couples in this weekend are at the point of divorce – this will help them with tools to deal with their difficulties and rebuild damaged trust.

Visit their site to learn about Upcoming weekends (CA)  or more about the program. Weekends in Spanish also available.

Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue...or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? This program has helped 10's of 1000's of couples experiencing marital difficulty at all levels including disillusionment and deep misery. For confidential information about or to register for the August 2022 program beginning with a weekend on August  5th, call 415-893-1005 or email: [email protected] or visit the web site at themarriagehelp.com...

Cortne & Harvey Bui
Retrouvaille of San Francisco
(415) 279-6869

Bulletin announcement. 

The Alexander House

Catholic marriage ministry – This couple nearly divorced when they had been married 10 years. Their healed marriage is now stronger than ever; and in gratitude to God, they have quit their jobs and devoted their lives to marriage ministry.

They have personally coached over 1500 couples with incredible results.  Nearly all the couples now have vibrant, joy-filled marriages. The Alexanders are launching a new program--"Marriage Disciples"--a couple-to-couple mentoring service for couples preparing, enriching or restoring their marriage.

Institute for Marital Healing

The mission of the Institute for Marital Healing is to strengthen Catholic marriages and families by educating spouses, marital therapists and clergy about common causes of conflicts in marital self-giving and effective approaches to alleviating such conflicts. Through a combination of online resources, educational programs and publications, the Institute employs a time-tested approach to marital therapy that recognizes the importance of both science and faith in the process of marital healing.

The counselors demonstrate a sensitivity to the Catholic faith of couples and show how their faith can assist them in the strengthening of their marriages.

The Third Option

The Third Option is an on-going group program to build better marriages. It is designed for all married couples and can be used both as marriage enrichment or crisis intervention. For hurting couples, who see only two options (painful endurance or divorce) the third option means reconciliation. For ordinary couples, the program teaches them the skills they need to have happier, healthier marriages.

When couples are struggling they will say they have "tried everything" but what they usually mean is they have tried the same two extreme options over and over, never finding what works. (Example: they have stuffed their anger, or they have attacked with it. Neither will give them the marriages they want.) The THIRD OPTION is the middle healthy ground.

The Third Option combines skill-building workshops with sharing from mentor couples and a support group component. The atmosphere is warm and caring.

Fireproof

Movie about healing a broken marriage. Many couples have found it helps resolve issues in their own marriages. You can rent or buy it, and it exists in Spanish as well.  Our Office sometimes has it in our library to loan.

Separated Faithful with  Mary's Advocates
Divorced or separated Catholics who remain faithful to marriage. Catholics who were reluctantly divorced or separated can continue to fulfill your marriage mission – to sanctify yourself and your spouse. Discuss the ongoing seven stages from the book, “The Gift of Self, A Spiritual Companion for Separated and Divorced Faithful to the Sacrament of Marriage.” See book review on USCCB. Conference phone call, second-Mondays monthly, at 9 pm.  Contact [email protected], with your name, parish, city.

The viewing of pornography is highly damaging to a marriage.  It decreases the ability of husband and wife to love each other, and to form an intimate bond.  There are an increasing number of places to find help for those who watch pornography and wish to stop.  Here are some of the better ones:

RESOURCES
STRIVE by Matt Fradd. FREE for a limited time: 21-day challenge, proven results, anonymous...for MEN only but women's challenge coming soon

Covenant Eyes Find services, support, resources, blog and free 30-day challenge

The Secret Epidemic Site with stats, current view of situation, resources, suggested helps to stem the "epidemic" of pornography

Reclaim Sexual Health Catholic help for sex addiction

EndSexualExploitation  Research, articles on how porn harms the individual and others

XXXChurch Christian site including a 30-Day Porn Free Challenge

PornNoMore Site to help you overcome porn addiction