August 13, 2014 – Excerpted from “Put Out Into the Deep,” Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet:

As I begin the second of my three-part series of articles on the upcoming Synod on of the Family, we move to the issues for consideration in Part II of the document entitled: “The Pastoral Program for the Family in Light of New Challenges.”

Truly, much is happening in the Church around the world to assist families. All of this will be considered by the Synod attendees, allowing them to understand the current situation and make suggestions for the future. There are various pastoral programs already underway – namely marriage preparation, which has a long history in our own country.

Unfortunately, there are fewer people coming today to sacramentalize their marriages. For those who do come, however, they express satisfaction with the Pre-Cana programs run by the Diocese, given evidence in the evaluations which they make following their participation.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.