At a diocesan Encounter date night for married and engaged couples, speakers Daniel and Rita Taylor shared what they have learned over eight years of marriage about “learning to let God lead.”
Daniel is a personal trainer presently working in the oil and gas industry in Northern Alberta. Rita is the founder of Fully Integrated Ministries, which focuses on growing in virtue through attributes of psychology and Catholic spiritual theology.
Sharing their faith journey as a couple, they described how their trust in God has grown through challenges of pursuing studies, establishing and changing careers, addiction, infertility and pursuing ministry.
“All of those things culminated in a real switch for us in our marriage,” said Daniel. Rita added that their understanding of God — as well as how they relate as a married couple — has been transformed as they began to trust God to lead the way and be their “primary provider.”
“We are able to better see when and how God was speaking to us through our spouse,” she said. “God uses everything that he can to bring about union with you… God uses good things and bad things… and in particular, he will use your spouse.”
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)Rita encouraged those in attendance to reflect on times when they have experienced God “speaking through your spouse.” In every situation and every challenge, Rita encouraged couples to ask the question “how can I grow in union with God through this?”
When feeling frustrated or angry or infuriated with one’s spouse, Rita recommended seeking a place of peace to go and “talk with God” and take time to permit God to “pull out all kinds of things from your heart…. God wants you to be healed… to bring about your holiness.”
“Conjugal spirituality” recognizes that God is active and at play in marriage, Rita stressed. “What aspect of God shines through your lives? How does he communicate through your spouse? What does he want from you and your lives, your marriage, that will guide you to unity with God?”
In addition to hospitality and refreshments, the evening also included information about a “Marriage Movement” that has been introduced in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. Launched by the diocesan Committee for Marriage and Family, the initiative aims to create social supports for married couples, through small group gatherings. Marilyn Jackson, Director of Ministry Services, described the program, and presented a video introduction about an Alpha Marriage Program, inviting those present to consider hosting the program in their parishes or homes.
To learn more about the diocesan Marriage Movement, social supports for married couples, or hosting an Alpha Marriage Program, contact Marilyn Jackson at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Saskatoon at mjackson@rcdos.ca or (306) 651-3936.
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Daniel and Rita Taylor were guest speakers at the Encounter date night held May 25 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Marilyn Jackson, Director of Ministry Services in Saskatoon (right), lifts up a prayer for presenters Daniel and Rita Taylor at the diocesan date night. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
