SmartLoving

Hello? Is anybody there?

By Francine and Byron Pirola | March 7, 2013

Have you ever had that experience with your spouse when he or she seems so distracted that you wonder if they are having an out-of-body…

Matrimonied Couples

By Francine and Byron Pirola | March 6, 2013

Are you simply married or are you ‘Matrimonied’? People often point out that Catholics divorce at the same rate as the rest of the population.…

Talking about Sex

By Kiara Pirola | March 1, 2013

“Katrina wasn’t looking forward to the parent puberty information night hosted by the school. She had been fondled by a stranger when she was twelve…

Mixing Faiths

By Francine and Byron Pirola | February 22, 2013

In a way, every marriage is a ‘mixed-faith’ marriage. Even within the same faith tradition, there can be different levels of commitment to the practice…

The Grateful Spouse

By Francine and Byron Pirola | February 1, 2013

If gratitude is good for building resilience in children and bolstering hope in adults, it’s close to a miracle drug for an ailing marriage. Here…

Couple Prayer

By Francine and Byron Pirola | February 1, 2013

For couples, one way to embrace a Year of Grace is to pray together as a couple. Based in the Sacrament of Matrimony, couple prayer…

Washing of Feet

By Kiara Pirola | January 29, 2013

In the time of Jesus, washing was part of Jewish custom as a symbol of ritual purification. Washing is also part of the celebration of…

Restoring Couple Unity

By Francine and Byron Pirola | December 5, 2012

What most often brings couples undone, is not one massive act of betrayal, but the myriad of daily pinpricks of hurt. Criticism, put downs, rudeness,…