Denver Catholic

41 DENVER CATHOLIC | FEB-MAR 2024 Begin your Lenten journey with Dr. Tim Gray and the Augustine Institute in support of our Graduate School of Theology students. D a te : T u e s d ay, Fe br u a r y 13, 2 024 T i m e : 6 : 30 – 9 : 0 0 A . M . L o c a t ion : I nve r n e s s H o te l (20 0 Inverne ss Dr W, Englewood, CO 80112) SCAN ME BY MISSION ADVANCEMENT T he sacrament of Holy Matri- mony has been declining and the rate of people claiming no religion has kept rising in recent generations. The Archbishop's Catholic Appeal supports the innovative marriage prep and relationship strategy pro- gram Communio to help reverse these trends and grow healthy, faith-filled marriages and families. Communio has transformed church communities and has helped couples facing extra strains during trying financial times of inflationary pricing and economic pressures. This stress on the holy Sacrament of Matrimony is occurring during an era when fewer people are choos- ing to get married and faith-filled marriages seem to be the exception. The Archdiocese of Denver has addressed this "urgent ministry gap for the Church" with multiple years of investment in the nonprofit Commu- nio, dedicated to the shared goal of bringing more souls to Christ through strategies that improve long-term marriage health. The Archbishop's Catholic Appeal funds more than 40 ministries, including marriage preparation and family life resources. Last year, the appeal awarded a $50,000 grant to Communio to further its mission to solve the family and faith crisis by working with parishes in northern Colorado. People choosing to get married has declined 31% in the past two decades with more than 60% fewer marrying than in the year 1970. It's critical that churches innovate with singles in their ministries to stop the free fall in marriage, said Jared Smyth, Com- munio national director of church engagement. Communio is trying to change those downward trends by support- ing churches that want to become the hub in their community for healthy relationships and marriages. Couples must continually renew and revitalize their relationship to enjoy the most graces of their commitment, and the Catholic Church can help strengthen marriages which will grow the Church itself. "[Our partner] churches are not resigned to curse the darkness," Smyth said. "They are men and women of action who understand cultural renewal is possible and requires smart, strategic work." M I SS IO N ADVAN CE M E NT Appeal funds urgent marriage support for couples facing stressors

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