Resources Family Life
Supporting couples and families in every stage of life through resources and workshops.
Liz Cotrupi’s Bio
Liz is first and foremost, a daughter of God. She is married to her best friend, Tony, and enjoys his help with preparing couples for marriage. She has three adult children and loves being “Nana” to her grandkids. Liz started serving in ministry when her children were small as many moms do. Eventually, her pastor asked her to run the high school faith formation program. Equipped with a bachelor’s degree in business from Worcester State College, she knew she needed more theology. After certificates in catechesis and youth ministry, she moved on to get her Master of Theological Studies from Saint John’s Seminary. Before coming to the Archdiocese of Boston in 2016, Liz was the director of youth and young adult ministry for the Worcester Diocese. She has been blessed to serve on team for Cursillo, lead pilgrimages to Marian sites, and mission trips locally and abroad.
Liz Cotrupi
Director of Family Life & Ecclesial Movements
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Emily Elliott’s Bio
Emily Elliott joined the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation & Parish Support in 2014 as an operations associate, following a high-tech marketing career hiatus while she raised her five children with her husband of 28 years, Jim. Emily has served in multiple ministries at her parish, St. Mary of the Sacred Heart in Hanover; on Cursillo weekends; and as a Catholic volunteer for Framingham State Prison. She has also served as a facilitator for women’s study groups and often speaks at parishes about the power of prayer. Her present role as a family life consultant bridges her love for evangelization and all things family, especially in coordinating Transformed in Love marriage preparation workshops, where she often serves alongside her husband, Jim. Emily is working towards her Master of Arts in Theology and Christian Ministry degree through Franciscan University. She has a special devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe who she credits with handling most of her parenting petitions, together with confidantes St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Faustina, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Padre Pio – all who lead her closer to Jesus. Emily loves praying the rosary, being with her prayer group sisters-in-Christ, strong lattes, country music, and experimenting with savory recipes in the kitchen. She is happiest when all of her children (Jake, Matthew, Grace, Mary and Benjamin) are home with she and Jim, and they break bread together.
Emily Elliott
Family Life Consultant
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Kathryn Griffin’s Bio
Kathryn grew up in a large (13 kids!) and loving Catholic family on the South Shore of Boston. She still resides there today with her loving husband of five years, Tom, and their two beautiful boys, Thomas and Luke. Her upbringing helped her learn to deal with differing abilities, temperaments, and situations, making her flexible, relatable, and compassionate. Beginning in elementary school, Kathryn has been formed in the faith through her parochial and Catholic education. Majoring in theology, Kathryn graduated from St. Anselm College in 2005 and is currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Ministry program at St. John Seminary. Kathryn also holds certificates in Ministry with Persons with Disabilities from the University of Dayton and is certified as a trainer in the VIRTUS/ Protecting God’s Children program.
As a faithful Catholic and lover of Christ and His Church, Kathryn has been serving the Archdiocese of Boston for over fifteen years. First, as a theology teacher and campus minister, Kathryn served in middle and high schools of Boston for 9 years. From there, Kathryn moved on to parish work, as both youth minister, confirmation coordinator in parish on the South Shore.
In 2014, Kathryn followed God’s call to serve His Church with the team in the Office for Lifelong Faith Formation and Parish Support. She has held many roles with her office – from consulting with parishes about evangelization and discipleship, to advising faith formation leaders about children’s formation and now serving as family life consultant. Kathryn cherishes her every opportunity to serve Jesus and the Archdiocese of Boston with her team of faithful disciples. She is especially fond of her work with engaged couples as they prepare for marriage, as well as her efforts to lead an archdiocesan ministry with persons with disabilities and her service to those on the margins.
Among her other “loves”, Kathryn is devoted to Our Lady and praying the Rosary daily. She especially enjoys cooking delicious food for her family, spending time with her siblings and parents at large family functions, kitchen dancing, karaoke, and last but not least, the beach!
Kathryn Griffin
Family Life Consultant
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Emily Rittenour’s Bio
Emily is a program assistant to the Family Life and Ecclesial Movements team, and is excited to be part of a faith-filled mission to support marriage ministry. She hails from Maryland, where she grew up in many different Protestant churches and later entered the Catholic Church from RCIA in 2012. In 2018, Emily moved to Boston to pursue social work licensing (and with the secret hope of finding a Catholic community) and found both very happily.
She now lives with a lay community of 6 women who volunteer as part of a larger ministry called Encounter; a young adult homeless group that ministers to the poor in different Boston neighborhoods.
“Let love be genuine… Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12
Emily Rittenour
Program Assistant for Marriage Ministry
Contact Emily
Eight Steps For Engaged Couples
Congratulations on your engagement! Preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony is an exciting time. Each parish may have guidelines to prepare a couple for marriage, but we offer these best practices as a guide:
- Meet with your parish priest, deacon, or marriage coordinator – Soon after you become engaged contact your parish to make an appointment. If you are not currently attending a parish, you could try contacting a parish nearby or one recommended by a friend. If you are getting married in a church outside of the archdiocese, first contact that parish to determine whether it would be better for you to prepare for marriage locally or from a distance. At your first meeting, you will often fill out preliminary paperwork, discuss what documents are needed, and learn what comes next.
- Take a pre-marital inventory (PMI) – A pre-marital inventory is usually a digital questionnaire that each of you complete separately. The questions cover a variety of topics including communication, lifestyle expectations, finances, parenting, religion, etc. The report is a great tool to explore your strengths as a couple and those areas that may require further attention. This resource is meant to be a discussion starter and is usually facilitated by the priest/deacon/mentor couple. Ask if the parish has a trained facilitator and if this service is not provided, you can access a free survey from Dynamic Catholic’s Better Together Inventory.
- Meet with a mentor couple at your parish and/or collaborative – Parishes often have married couples that mentor the newly engaged. The mentor couple can connect you to the local community, share their experience, and pray for you as you journey into married life. If there is no formal mentor program, ask the priest to suggest a married couple to connect with.
- Sign up and attend Transformed in Love – Transformed in Love is the marriage preparation program of the Archdiocese of Boston. During the workshop, you and your future spouse will hear from different couples on marriage related topics. See the marriage prep page for a list of locations and dates.
- Learn more about the fertility awareness and the methods of natural family planning – Understanding fertility awareness and the natural methods available to achieve and postpone pregnancy for just reasons can be overwhelming if you do not have the correct information necessary to make an informed choice. Although there is an introductory talk in Transformed in Love, we suggest you consider taking a course online or talk with a local instructor to learn more. Follow this link for Love’s Perfect Design: A Guide to Understanding Fertility Awareness. For resources related to NFP and fertility see NFP Instruction Resource 2024
- Go to Confession – The Sacrament of Reconciliation, otherwise known as Confession, is a sacrament of love and healing. For more information about this powerful and necessary sacrament, click here.
- Meet with the priest, deacon, or parish marriage coordinator again – Follow up meetings are an opportunity to get to know the priest or deacon who is officiating at your wedding and a good time to discuss concerns, get the paperwork in order, plan your wedding liturgy, and ask any questions.
- Pray, breathe, and enjoy the journey – This should be a wonderful experience for you both. Don’t let the details overwhelm you. Remember, the wedding is one day, your marriage lasts a lifetime.
Marriage Enrichment + Support
Taking the time to invest in your marriage is extremely important. The health of your relationship impacts your happiness and the well-being of any children. Whether things are going well and you’re just looking for an enriching experience or if you’re having difficulties and are looking for help, we hope you find something here that may be of assistance to you.
National Marriage Week is February 7-14, 2024. Please contact a member of Family Life for ideas on how you can celebrate your marriage or the married couples at your parish or utilize one of the resources below:
Ideas for National Marriage Week:
- “16 Ways to Date Your Spouse, That You May Not Have Thought Of” by Spoken Bride
- 2024 National Marriage Week at Home Retreat to do on your own or for parishes to share the link in their bulletins. Available in English and Spanish
- Social media posts and 2024 Preaching Resource and Summary Points
- Witness to Love Couple’s Novena
- Take the FREE, Better Together Couple Inventory from Dynamic Catholic
- Set up a date night and include this Relationship Check In by the Messy Family Project and Our Sunday Visitor
- As a couple or with other couples read The Rule: St. John Paul II’s Rule for a Joy-filled Marriage of Divine Love
- Read and discuss Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s Discernment of Spirits in Marriage: Ignatian Wisdom for Husbands and Wives
- For more books on married life, Theology of the Body, and 30-day devotionals, visit Pauline Media
De Matrimonio Civil a Matrimonio Sacramental
To learn more about moving from civil marriage to a sacramental marriage through the process of convalidation watch this video.
Marriage Convalidation
Couples married outside of the Church are invited to convalidate their marriage in the Catholic tradition either at their home parish or at our archdiocesan celebration – A CELEBRATION OF CONVALIDATION – on World Marriage Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. For more information about this wonderful celebration of holy matrimony visit the event.
Resources
Websites to enrich your marriage and family:
- ForYourMarriage.org
- Por Tu Matrimonio
- Worldwide Marriage Encounter
- Be Light Date Night Series
- Messy Family Project
For Couples Having Difficulty
- Support for Troubled Marriages
- Overcoming Adversity
- Retrouvaille Weekend Program
- Locally held weekend program for couples struggling in their marriages hosted by couples who saved theirs. Upcoming 2024 dates: March 1-3; May 31-June 2; Aug. 23-25. For more info on this retreat, email here or call 508-271-7155.
For a list of Christian/Catholic counselors and resources in or near the Boston area, please contact a Family Life staff here.
Support for Grieving Parents
Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents is a beautiful ministry based out of Boston that helps grieving parents who have lost a child of any age, by any cause, and no matter how long ago. Visit the Emmaus website for more information on their support retreats, reflections, resources for parishes, and more.
Mary Queen of the Apostles will be hosting an Emmaus Retreat on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at St. James Hall on 150 Federal St., Salem. To register, visit mqoa.org/emmaus or leave a message for Dr. Christine Williams at 978-594-7780.
Red Bird Ministries is a national Catholic grief support ministry for those individuals and parents who have experience the loss of a child from pregnancy through adulthood. They offer retreats, a podcast, RBM support app, and other resources. Visit redbird.love for more information.
Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass
The Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass is for married couples celebrating their 10th, 25th, 50th or other milestone anniversary. It was held Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 3pm @ the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. View photos from the 2023 celebration. Check back for the 2024 date.
Discover the “Ultimate Guide to Wedding Anniversaries from 1 to 100 Years” from Aleteia. This very helpful article helps you discover a 100 different themes and symbols to celebrate marriages.
2019 Wedding Anniversary Mass Video
Divorced + Separated Catholics
Support Resources
In the Arms of the Shepherd: A Morning of Reflection for Those Impacted by Divorce or Separation
Our morning of reflection with Mother Olga, founder of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth and Irina Robinson, director of family & respect life for the Fall River Diocese was very beautiful and many found their burdens lightened. Please check back for future events. In the meantime here are some resources:
For Adult Children of Divorce, visit Life Giving Wounds
St. Patrick Parish at 71 Central St. in Stoneham will start a drop in support group on Sept. 12, 2023 that will be held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 7-8:30pm. For more information, email Diane McCarthy.
An ecumenical support group meets weekly during the evening at St. Augustine Parish in North Andover and also over Zoom. For more information, email Klara Vajda.
For more information on programs, support groups, and additional resources, please access this PDF.
A list of local and telehealth Catholic/Christian psychologists and counselors is available by contacting a member of the Family Life team.
Webinar – After Divorce: Healing From The Inside Out
A virtual seminar for the Archdiocese of Boston featuring Catholic author and presenter, Rose Sweet. We invite you to view the program here, for encouragement, guidance and practical support.
For information related to annulments, contact the Tribunal here.
Natural Family Planning
NFP is an umbrella term for natural methods used to achieve or avoid pregnancy that protect God’s plan for spousal love. These methods are based on the observation and interpretation of the naturally occurring biological markers of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. NFP is applicable to all women, can be used at any stage of a woman’s reproductive life, and not our “Grandparents’ Rhythm Method.”
Marriage Prep
If the priest or deacon preparing you for marriage requests that you receive an introduction to NFP, the archdiocesan program Transformed in Love is a great place to begin.
For dates and locations of Transformed in Love, please click here.
Natl. Natural Family Planning Awareness Week 2023
- NFP Community Gathering for Families on Sunday, July 23 at St. Mary Parish, Waltham from 3:00-6:00pm. Join us for Mass, food, and fellowship.
- Taller Virtual sobre Planeación Familiar Natural: ¿Qué es la Planeación Familiar Natural y por qué usarla? ¿Qué dice la Iglesia sobre los Métodos de Planeación Familiar Natural Miercoles, 26 de Julio, 7:00PM- 8:30PM
- Virtual Rosary on Thursday, July 27 from 7:00-8:00pm for those couples experiencing infertility, difficult pregnancies, and miscarriage. Fr. Matt Williams to host.
- Ready to bring more NFP support to your parish community? Start planning with Pearl & Thistle’s help.
- For homily suggestions, posters, Prayers of the Faithful, articles and more, visit USCCB.org/NFP.
NFP and Infertility: Finding Fruitfulness in the Desert
In this virtual workshop, Springs in the Desert, a Catholic infertility ministry that accompanies those carrying this cross, discusses the experience of infertility and acknowledges the unique grief and isolation it brings. They offer encouragement and strategies to help couples strengthen their identities in Christ and discover God’s unique plan for fruitfulness within their marriages. Watch the recording here.
More NFP Webinars –
- Method Match: How to Choose a Natural Fertility Awareness Method That Works for You!
Two local certified NFP instructors, Christina Valenzuela and Mikayla Dalton, were joined by Dr. Patricia Jay, GYN in an interactive webinar to help couples navigate the crowded field of fertility awareness methods, apps, and tools. Whether you are new to NFP or looking to make a method switch, this webinar is a helpful tool. Watch the recording here. - All Things NFP Q & A Webinar. Six Natural Family Planning experts in their fields answered participants questions ranging from methods, reproductive disorders, effectiveness, conceiving, and moral dilemmas, etc. To watch the recording, click here.
- NFP – What Is It and Why Does the Church Support It? Click here to view this recording for our Spanish speaking audience featuring Dr. Pilar Calva, Dr. Francisco Vargas, and NFP Instructor, Alicia Javier.
Why Use Natural Family Planning?
Consider NFP because it utilizes the natural methods that respect God’s plan for both the unitive and procreative; it is a completely healthy way to plan a family because no chemical or physical barriers are used; the modern methods of NFP are evidenced based, boasting a correct use efficacy rate from 97-99.6% that competes with artificial means; and it is holistic. Fertility awareness through the lens of NFP respects the WHOLE person – physical, mental, spiritual, and intellectual. It fosters intimacy between a husband and wife because it invites a husband to be an active, caring, and knowledgeable participant in a couple’s intimate reality, their fertility. To learn more, read our brief booklet – Love’s Perfect Design: A Guide to Understanding Fertility Awareness. English | Español .
How Do I or We Learn NFP?
Included in our Guide is a list of national organizations offering a number of different methods to meet the needs of each woman or couple. You could start by reading the Guide; view one of the recorded webinars found on this page; or use the NFP Instruction list provided to contact one of the many local certified instructors or national organizations through the NFP Instruction Resource 2024.
Where Should Someone Go for Help with Reproductive Health Concerns or Infertility?
If you are suffering from a reproductive health issue the science of NaPro Technology may help. This is an effective and alternate approach versus the traditional practice of using artificial hormones or IVF.
NaPro Technology (Natural Procreative Technology) networks NFP with the treatment of reproductive disorders and infertility. NaPro Technology is a new reproductive science that cooperates with the reproductive systems in producing a treatment that corrects the condition, and sustains the procreative potential. It respects the dignity of women, the integrity of marriage, and the conjugal act.
NaPro Technology was developed at the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction. It is delivered through the services of trained medical doctors and Creighton/Fertility Care NFP teachers. For more information, on NaProTechnology visit www.popepaulvi.com or contact a Creighton/Fertility Care NFP teacher on the NFP Instruction List above.
One day soon, we pray there will be more health care providers that offer these services. Until then, many in the New England area suggest visiting:
- Women’s Wellness & Fertility Center in Manchester, NH for NaproTechnology, Infertility, Obstetrics, and Gynecology:
88 McGregor Street, Suite 201
Manchester NH 03102 603.314.7595 - The Fruitful Hollow is a Catholic infertility resource that offers outreach, mentorship, resources, and blog posts for couples experiencing the cross of infertility.
- Springs in the Desert accompanies those struggling with infertility by offering a place of respite and solidarity where they can know God’s love for them and discover His unique call to fruitfulness.
- Catholic Miscarriage Support
- Springs of Love is on a mission to encourage, educate, and equip families to discern and live out the call to foster and adopt.
- If you have lost a child for any reason or at any stage of life, please accept our deepest condolences. Consider redbird.love or Emmaus Ministries for support.
Virtual Rosary for Couples Struggling with Infertility, Difficult Pregnancies, or Infant Loss.
On the feasts of Sts. Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr. Ed Riley reflected on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Together we meditated on these mysteries while praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ who struggle with infertility, difficult pregnancies, or the loss of a child. Watch the recording.
For a list of resources and information for Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, click here.
Transformed in Love Ministry Formation
Transformed in Love is the marriage preparation resource developed by a dedicated group of married couples, theologians, psychologists, canon lawyers, priests, deacons, and staff under the direction of Cardinal Seán O’Malley.
This instrument of evangelization thoughtfully combines the practical with the theological through the implementation of hands-on activities, personal witness, and spiritual reflection. It is best utilized as one piece of a catechumenate model to marriage ministry.
If you are a married couple, deacon, or priest being called to serve in this special ministry, we encourage you to learn more through the workshop. Stay tuned for upcoming trainings.
Until our next workshop, you can learn more about Transformed in Love on our diocesan/parish leader page.
For more information on formation for Transformados en el Amor, contact Liz Cotrupi or Sr. Elsa Narvaez Rodriguez for assistance in Español.
Visit our shop for Transformed in Love resources in English and Spanish. Please note that there is special pricing available for parishes and retreat centers of the Boston Archdiocese. If you have questions about the materials or program, please call Liz Cotrupi @ 617-746-5801.
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