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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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. To connect with an NFP instructor, click here.
- 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.
Love in a Lockdown: Communication and Conflict Resolution
Clinical psychologist Dr. Greg Kolodziejczak spoke to our guests during National Marriage Week, offering practical tools to improve couple’s communication and conflict resolution skills during the pandemic. To view the seminar, click here.
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.
Retreat for Grieving Parents
Parents who have lost a child are invited to a one-day retreat being held at the Pastoral Center on Oct. 15 from 9:30am – 6:30pm. This day of reflection will be led by Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents. Emmaus is a beautiful ministry based out of Boston that helps grieving parents around the country. Parents who have lost a child of any age, by any cause, no matter how long ago, are most welcome and invited to attend. Click here for more information or to register for this retreat.
Resources
Below are several resources to support married couples in their vocation.
- ForYourMarriage.org
- Por Tu Matrimonio
- Worldwide Marriage Encounter
- Messy Family Project
- Becoming Love Podcast
- Be Light Date Night Series
- Raising 8 Podcast
If you are a Vietnamese couple interested in a Marriage Family Enrichment Program (MFEP) also known as Chuong Trinh Thang Tien Hon Nhan Gia Dinh, visit here for more information.
For Couples Having Difficulty
- Support for Troubled Marriages
- Overcoming Adversity
- Retrouvaille Weekend Program
- Upcoming Boston-based weekend for couples struggling in their marriages by couples who saved theirs: Aug. 12-14 and Nov. 11-13, 2022. 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 member.
Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass
We are excited to announce that the 2022 Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass will be held on Sunday, November 6th. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. will preside over the Mass for couples celebrating their 10th, 25th, and 50th wedding anniversaries. The Mass includes a wedding vow renewal and a special blessing by the Cardinal. Families are welcome to attend. Click here to register. If you need more information in the interim, contact Emily Elliott.
To view pictures from the 2021 celebration, visit here.
2019 Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass
Divorced + Separated Catholics
Support Group
A support group meets weekly during the evening at St. Augustine Parish in North Andover. For more information, visit here or 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 distinct from calendar rhythm, is applicable to all women, and can be used at any stage of a woman’s reproductive life.
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.
Upcoming NFP Week Events –
NFP and Infertility: Finding Fruitfulness in the Desert
Join us July 26, 2022 from 7:30-9:00 PM. Featuring Cassandra Taylor, Ann Koshute, M.T.S., and Caroline Gindhart, CRNP, of Springs in the Desert. In this webinar, Springs in the Desert, a Catholic infertility ministry that accompanies those carrying this cross, will discuss the experience of infertility and acknowledge the unique grief and isolation it brings. They will offer encouragement and strategies to help couples strengthen their identities in Christ and discover God’s unique plan for fruitfulness within their marriages. Register here
NFP Community Mass and Fellowship
Join us July 30th at 10 AM at the Pastoral Center in Braintree, MA. We invite all individuals, couples, and families who practice or are interested in learning more about Natural Family Planning to join us for an in-person gathering where couples and families can meet for Mass, fellowship, and refreshments. Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM with Fr. Michael Della Penna, Pastor of St. Leonard’s in the N. End, presiding. After the mass, we invite our guests to enjoy some refreshments and fellowship with others who teach, practice, or are interested in learning more about NFP. Come, and bring the whole family!
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 view 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 it because it utilizes natural methods that respect God’s plan for bonding and babies; 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 List 2022.
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 - For a holistic approach to couples suffering with infertility and a free fertility health assessment, visit Organic Conceptions.
- 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.
- 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 here.
For a list of resources and information for Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, click here.
Transformed In Love Team Training
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 meant to be one piece of the 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 this workshop. The next one will be held in Spring of 2022.
Until our next workshop, you can learn more from our Transformed in Love Leader Guide here. It is available in English and Spanish.
Transformados en el Amor Team Training will be offered again in 2022. Our September 2021 workshop was a great success with 30+ members of the Hispanic community in attendance.
For more information on Transformados en el Amor, contact Liz Cotrupi or Sr. Elsa Narvaez Rodriguez for assistance in español.
Click here for the complete list of 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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