Marriage and Family Life Supplement
Partnering with parishes to bring hope and renewal to marriage and family life
By Gabriela Ross
“No one in the Church is talking about this—I feel so alone.” I hear that often in my pastoral work serving marriages and families, usually during phone conversations with individuals who have called the archdiocese looking for support. Whether they were referred by their pastor or found us by searching online, they call looking for understanding and hope.
Recently, a pastor referred a couple experiencing problems in their marriage to the archdiocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life. The husband called me. We had a good, long conversation about where they needed support and what groups and resources would be most helpful and fit best with their life circumstances, especially as parents of several little ones.
During the call, he mentioned how lonely it can be to face challenges in marriage and feel like you are the only family in the pews with struggles. “I feel like no one at church ever talks about this,” he said. I reassured him, “That ends today. We are talking about it now. The Church cares about you, and your pastor cares about you because he sent you to talk to me.”
His whole tone and demeanor changed as he considered my words. “I guess it is actually pretty cool that the Church has someone like you to help couples in need. That’s amazing. Thank you for what you do.”
Not long after, I was approached by a parish that saw a need to minister to Catholics who had experienced divorce. Being further away from the Indy metro area, they reached out to my office asking for resources and advice to jump-start their divorce ministry.
After several phone calls and e-mails, we put together a plan for a day of reflection and a subsequent support group facilitated at the local parish and open to anyone in their deanery. The parish leader expressed that it was a joy to work together and that they felt so supported in renewing this ministry.
Recently, I was approached by a parish staff member who shared that a family in their community had lost a baby just a few weeks after birth and were devastated with grief. After offering a prayer for the little soul and the grieving family, I shared a list of resources for grief and child loss ranging from local Catholic therapists to in-person support groups and tips for how to talk to young siblings about their family’s loss. This was another instance where a family could feel so alone, but the support of their Church can bring healing and hope during a time of grief.
I feel so privileged in my work to be a witness to the hope and renewal that come from the heart of the Church through so many caring individuals who are on fire for the Church’s mission.
One of my favorite projects this past year has been connecting with parishes that are already doing great work in ministering to marriages and helping them to spread the word. From Brownsburg to Greenwood to Scottsburg to Dearborn County, parishes have put together conferences and date night opportunities to strengthen and renew marriages in their communities.
Connecting with these parish leaders, offering them encouragement, feedback and support, and helping to advertise their efforts to the wider archdiocese are some of the ways the Office of Marriage and Family Life serves all parishes, and participates in the mission of evangelization and catechesis that is so central to the work of our Church.
In this issue of The Criterion, you will have the opportunity to read stories of hope and renewal in marriage and family ministry. This focus connects to the National Eucharistic Revival and the Jubilee Year of Hope. Take a look!
(Gabriela Ross is the director of the archdiocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life. She can be reached at 317-592-4007 and gross@archindy.org. To learn more about the Office of Marriage and Family Life and its resources, go to marriageandfamily.archindy.org. The work of the office is made possible by donations to the United Catholic Appeal. Thank you for your generosity.) †
See more from our 2025 Marriage and Family Life Supplement