VIRGINIA. Serenity Quesnelle saw six fertility doctors, went through multiple procedures and braved surgery in the hopes of conceiving a child. After four years, one of her doctors felt that nothing more could be done and asked Quesnelle to write down the number of a nearby in vitro fertilization clinic. But Quesnelle and her husband didn’t want to go through IVF, a process that often results in the destruction of unborn lives. She wanted to find out what was going on in her body.

COLORADO SPRINGS. A four-part marriage preparation class will be offered in Spanish on Saturdays from 6-9 p.m. beginning April 6 at St. Gabriel Parish.

NEW YORK. Hollywood seems to find more drama in decaying marriages and divorce than in marital stability. Yet memorable films portraying successful marriages have appeared over the years. Following, in alphabetical order, are capsule reviews of six movies that depict happily spliced couples, together with their OSV News classifications and, if applicable, their Motion Picture Association ratings. All are available on disc and/or for streaming.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Bishop James Golka has named Deacon Mike McGrady Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Colorado Springs, effective Dec. 1.
Deacon McGrady was ordained May 19, 2012 and serves at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish. 

He is retired from the Air Force and has served in Youth Ministry, Family Support and Readiness, and as a Director of Faith Formation. 

He can be reached at 719-866-6293 or mmcgrady@diocs.org.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Roughly 120 couples and their families gathered at St. Mary’s Cathedral July 30 for the annual diocesan wedding anniversary mass, which recognizes couples celebrating milestone anniversaries.

COLORADO SPRINGS. A class titled “Growing Up: Girl to Woman” designed to help mothers and their young daughters talk about and prepare for the changes that come with puberty is being offered in September at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Bishop James Golka will celebrate the annual diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass on July 30 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Twelve years ago, Annie and Tom Waits thought they were doing a fair job as parents of their three-year old, but when the couple adopted twin one-year-old daughters, their rosy perceptions of themselves were capsized by their daughters’ unexpected behavior.

PHILADELPHIA. About 10 years ago, Peter Piotti was anything but a fan of Valentine’s Day.

“I hated it,” he admitted.

So did his wife, Gae, who dodged the observance by hosting what she called “non-romantic family dinners.”

COLORADO SPRINGS. Following the loss of our baby, Bernadette Marie, to an early miscarriage in Spring 2021, my family and I have found ourselves frequently walking the sacred grounds of Mount St. Francis in Colorado Springs. The presence of a large Our Lady of Lourdes grotto, complete with a kneeling St. Bernadette statue, has been of great comfort to me as I have grieved and sought healing.