Welcome to the Home Page of the Office of Marriage, Family & Respect Life.  Blessed John Paul II began his encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, by saying "The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as "good news" to the people of every age and culture." The mission of the Office of Marriage, Family & Respect Life is to spread this "good news" to the people of Eastern South Dakota through prayer, education and action so that we might help support marriages, families, and build a culture of life in our diocese and beyond.

Mass for Life Homily

Most Reverend Paul J. Swain

January 22, 2012

Cathedral of St. Joseph

Click Here for Text of Homily

LIFE CHAIN LINK PRAYER WITH BISHOP PAUL J. SWAIN
March 13, 2012
April 10, 2012
May 8, 2012
June 19, 2012

Location: Planned Parenthood on 41st Street, Sioux Falls

To learn more and to sign up to participate in this prayer ministry, please visit the Life Chain Link Page of this Website.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

April 20-22, 2012, Terra Sancta Retreat Center, Rapid City

For over four decades, Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering married couples the gift of a weekend experience to enrich their relationship.  Give your spouse the gift of time by reserving a spot at this weekend retreat at Broom Tree Retreat Center.  Space is limited so contact Curt and Rochelle Lauret at 605-362-9145 to register, or visit www.WWME.org.  

Other Upcoming WME Weekend Dates:

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER WEEKENDS
**FULL** January 14-15, 2012, in Brookings
**FULL** February 18-19, 2012, in Sioux Falls
**FULL** March 17-18, 2012, in Sioux Falls
**FULL** April 14-15, 2012, in Sioux Falls
April 28-29, 2012, in Yankton
May 19-20, 2012, in Sioux Falls
June 9-10, 2012, in Sioux Falls

For more information, please contact Bart & Barbara Workman at eesdworkman@aol.com. Registration forms must be mailed to: Engaged Encounter, Bart and Barbara Workman, 3800 S. Orchid Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57110, and cannot be submitted over the phone or by email. A form is included on the last page of the 2010-2011 Engaged Couple’s Guide and is also available online, just click on the "Marriage Preparation" link in the office menu.

RETROUVAILLE

March 16-18, 2012, Sioux Falls

Retrouvaille, a confidential weekend that offers hope and help for a couple to heal and renew their marriage relationship, will take place in Sioux Falls. Retrouvaille is a peer to peer ministry and has helped couples who experience chronic communication problems, as well as those who thought they were beyond hope, already separated, or even divorced. For more information, or to help register a couple, contact 988-3776. For general information visit: www.retrouvaille.org.