WHO WE ARE

A ministry to accompany couples on their marriage journey. We strive to:

  • Offer support and guidance on marriage and family through small groups of 4–6 families each

  • Create a local community to foster friendship, to take accountability, and to share our difficulties and successes

  • Help each other to live our Faith and to know Christ

If this is something you may be interested in, please fill out the following interest form, and we will be in touch with you soon!

Interest Form

STRUCTURE

For each couple, we suggest the following structure for the year.

Daily suggestion: 

  • Pray the Angelus three times a day: when you wake up, at lunch, and at dinner

  • 15 minutes of prayer time or Scripture reading

  • Before bedtime, say prayers, including the Memorare, with the children

Weekly suggestion:

  • Find a one-hour mini-retreat to pray, read, or meditate

Monthly suggestion:

  • Each couple has a meeting to compare their experience with the proposal of the Rule of the Families and to help each other be accountable for it.

For a more complete explanation of the Families of St. John Paul II, download our Rule booklet.

Conversations with the Families of St. John Paul II (audio)

Photo: Half Day together with children activities

HALF DAYS TOGETHER

During our “Half-Days Together,” all the families meet with their children, the priests, and the sisters for a Sunday afternoon together. We have lunch, singing, and some games. Then, while the kids have a moment with high school volunteers and some of the sisters, the adults have a talk with the priests.

2025–2026
HALF DAY TOGETHER DATES

September 28, 2025
November 9, 2025
January 25, 2026
April 19, 2026


Photo: Summer vacation, 2024

Photo: On the way to Washington, DC

VACATIONS

Once a year, each small group shares a few days of vacation, usually during the summer, accompanied by the sisters and/or one of the priests. Prayer together, hikes, singing, good food, and nice conversations are the core of our proposal.

Photo: Mass during summer vacation with Fr. Matteo Invernizzi, F.S.C.B.


SUMMER BBQ: 

Every summer, we host a BBQ as a way to share with new families the joy of friendships forged with other families as we grow together in Christ’s Church.


TEACHING RESOURCES

Conversations with the Families of St. John Paul II (audio)

CONTACT:

Beverly Ketchel, b.ketchel@nool.us