Living in Love

1. PMRC Pastoral and Matrimonial Renewal Center Living in Love 90 Day Preparation Process

2. F 90 Day Preparation Timeline PMRC Pastoral and Matrimonial Renewal Center D -90 days -60 days -30 days LL A B C E • Organizational meeting – make key decisions • Develop publicity materials - flyers, posters, bulletin announcements, obtain brochures • Send out target mailing to couples married less than 15 (TBR) years • Follow up target mailing with phone calls personally asking couples to register • Make Pulpit announcements and register couples at mass (nominally 3-6 weeks before the weekend) • Run Bulletin announcements each week starting 6 weeks before the weekend Living in Love Implementation Process

3. Initial Organizational Meeting • Timing • Around 90 days prior to the scheduled date of Living in Love • Participants • People who are willing to accept responsibility for making Living in Love happen • Living in Love is a peer ministry that can be run by lay parishioners with the support of the pastor and parish staff • Initially, the parish staff may play a prominent role in introducing Living in Love, but once established, lay parishioners will be willing and capable of carrying the load • Mentality • Living in Love is a Parish event • Involve the whole parish • Pastor and parish Staff • Groups and individuals who support marriage and family life • Organizations who are in service to the parish Living in Love Implementation Process

4. Initial Organizational Meeting • Identify key couples you hope will participate • Couples you believe would make great mentors for the engaged • Couples who are leaders in the parish and whom others will follow • Young, attractive, well known – people who throw a good party • People who would attend just because Father asked them to • Establish a contact plan • Ask them to register in advance and to ask everyone they know to do so too • Identify key groups who will support by encouraging members to participate or by rendering service • Teams of Our Lady, Knights of Columbus, Family Life Committee, Mothers of Small Children Group, Bible Study, Prayer Groups, Societies and Sodalities • Establish a plan to attend group meetings and ask leaders to register themselves and encourage registration among membership Living in Love Implementation Process

5. Initial Organizational Meeting • Key Decisions • Facility Space • Presentation area with one chair for each participant • Padded chairs preferred • Some oversized chairs or sofas, the kind of furniture you would find in a lounge or living room, are advantageous • Breakout area with one chair for each participant • Preferably in the same room as the presentation area but can be in a separate room – the less travel time between locations the better • Dinner area with seating for each participant • Three couples to a table (6 people) • Round tables preferred but can work with rectangular tables • Preferable not in the same room as the presentation area • Decide if the facility limits the number of participants • Advertise that registration will be limited to that number • Edit Registration Flyer to specify facility information and participant cutoff Living in Love Implementation Process

6. Initial Organizational Meeting • Key Decisions • Participant Cost • Establish total budget • $100 per couple to the PMRC (negotiable depending on demographics, number of participants, and team travel expenses) • Presenting Team, Publicity Materials, Weekend Materials, Breakfasts, Cold Beverages • $25-$50 per couple for Dinner • May vary depending on use of outside caterer vs parish resources • Chaffing dishes, table cloths, china and flatware may be available from PMRC • Incidental expenses • Coffee mess, baby sitting (TBR), presenting team travel • Decide if the parish will subsidize any of the cost for participants • Establish Registration Fee • PMRC will edit Registration Flyer to reflect Registration Fee Living in Love Implementation Process

7. Initial Organizational Meeting • Key Decisions • Identify Coordinator (s) for Saturday Dinner • Individual/Couple who will coordinate setup, menu, cleanup • Determine budget allocation for entrée • Decide to purchase or solicit community preparation • Enlist community support for appetizers (TBR), bread, salad, wine (TBR), desserts • Normally, couples who have previously experienced Living in Love • Enlist volunteers to set up, serve, and clean up • 3-6 couples required • Normally, couples who have previously experienced Living in Love • Discuss arrangements with PMRC • Benefit from previous experience • Identify local availability of catering accessories • Chaffing dishes, table cloths, china, flatware, and centerpieces may be available from PMRC Living in Love Implementation Process

8. Initial Organizational Meeting • Key Decisions • Decide if the parish wants a local Registration Coordinator • Individual/Couple who will collection registrations and checks, send out confirmation letters/email, generate a weekend list, and sign in participants Saturday morning of Living in Love • Standard format per PMRC • Can be handled by the PMRC • Online registration or snail mail • Edit Registration Flyer with name, phone, and email • Decide if registration checks will be made out to parish or PMRC • Either is acceptable • If Parish: cut check for PMRC expenses post weekend • If PMRC: cut check for parish expenses post weekend • Identify a tentative date for registering couples at mass Living in Love Implementation Process

9. Typical Auditorium Style Setup PODIUM AND SOUND SYSTEM COFFEE AND SNACKS STORAGE 1 CHAIR PER PERSON 1 CHAIR PER PERSON MEN WOMEN REGOISTRATION Living in Love Weekend Living in Love Implementation Process

10. Saturday Night Dinner Round Tables (Preferred) Serving Table Serving Table Serving Table 3 Couples per Table Living in Love Implementation Process

11. Saturday Night Dinner Rectangular Tables Serving Table Serving Table Serving Table 3 Couples per Table Living in Love Implementation Process