Recommended Resources
Singles & Young Adults
General Information
 
FOR YOUR MARRIAGE
In November, 2004 the U.S. Bishops voted overwhelmingly to make marriage a priority. They launched the National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage (NPIM), a multi-year effort to communicate the meaning and value of married life for the Church and for society. The Initiative brings together Catholic teaching and pastoral practice, social science research, and the experience of married couples. It will offer guidance and resources to promote and strengthen marriage. www.ForYourMarriage.org is an outgrowth of this initiative providing "resources for living happily ever after." Check out the site if your are married or just thinking about it!
The Smalley Relationship Center
Run by Dr. Gary Smalley, this site has articles worth reading and a Chat Room on Sundays, in addition to information on the daily live radio broadcast.The site features numerous articles for singles. Click on the button on the left to visit the site.
Growth Track Link
GROWTHTRAC
Growthtrac is committed to conducting itself with blameless integrity and complete servant hood to God. We will be purposeful in seeking God and listening for His guidance throughout every level of the organization. We are determined to honor God through every encounter and in every transaction for the purpose of leading couples to Christ-centered marriages. We will strive to seek out only the highest quality, creative, fresh content. We are committed to evangelism through personal witness and our corporate proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Growthtrac passionately presents spiritual seekers with relevant content, resources and references to institutions professing similar core values. Understanding the importance of Christian community, we provide assistance in locating and encourage participation in, a local church. We promote the value of building meaningful Christian relationships.
Link to Better Than Sons
Better Than Sons and Daughters by Fern Horst - Purposeful Singleness Website - Inspiration, encouragement, and support for Christian singles who desire to live purposeful lives for Jesus Christ
Link to Catholic Young Adults Website
Catholic Young Adults Website - Catholic Young Adults of St Mary Magdalen Church is a group for Adults, ages 18-39. Formed in the early 1980's, we are the longest-running young adult group for Catholics in the Central Florida area. We come together in the belief that here on Earth Christ is found in the community.
Link to False Assumptions Part I
False Assumptions Part I by Fern Horst - Five false assumptions we tend to have regarding marriage and singleness.
Link to False Assumptions Part II
False Assumptions Part II by Fern Horst - "Many singles waste their lives away being sure that marriage is just around the corner because they haven’t yet "felt called" to singleness."
Link to article: How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk
How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk - Five helpful and simple rules to avoid marrying a jerk from Dr. Van Epp
Link to Intimacy Training
Intimacy Training - Do you need more emotional nourishment in your relationship? Do you have a desire to know yourself better?
Link to Purposeful Singleness site
Purposeful Singleness - A website with inspiration, encouragement, and support for Christian singles who desire to live purposeful lives for Jesus Christ.
Link to Pursuing Love
Pursuing Love by John Fischer - "Much of the tension in our self-image as single people, and in relating to those of the opposite sex, has risen because we are pursuing marriage..."
Link to Relationship Learning Center
Relationship Learning Center - "We help you take the relationship you have and make it into the one you want."
Think of The Relationship Learning Center as an education, coaching and counseling center for individuals and couples who want to take their marriage or other important relationships to their next level of success. We believe that by doing that, we can co-create with you a better world for all people. Building and sustaining solid relationships is like building a bridge between you and another person in your life.
Link to Single Catholics-Making Them Feel at Home
Single Catholics— Making Them Feel at Home by Trudelle Thomas - The model for all Christians is a single adult in Nazareth who lived his life outside the mainstream of both marriage and religious life. Single adults may have a special understanding of Jesus' life of solitary faithfulness. His life reminds us that we need our single Catholics in the Church every bit as much as they need us.
Link to article: What's so bad about living together before marriage
What's so bad about living together before marriage? - OnceCatholic.org Reading Room - Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Catholicism.
Link to article Why not take her for a test drive?
Why not take her for a test drive? by Jennifer Roback Morse
Thinking of moving in with your significant other, just to see if marriage is a good idea? Turns out living together isn't all it's cracked up to be. The Census reports a 72% increase in the number of cohabiting couples since 1990. Unfortunately, research shows that cohabitation is correlated with greater likelihood of unhappiness, and domestic violence in the relationship. To read the entire article, click on the button to the left.

Young Adults
The Smalley Relationship Center
Run by Dr. Gary Smalley, this site has articles worth reading and a Chat Room on Sundays, in addition to information on the daily live radio broadcast.The site features numerous articles for singles. Click on the button on the left to visit the site.
Link to Catholic Young Adults Website
Catholic Young Adults Website - Catholic Young Adults of St Mary Magdalen Church is a group for Adults, ages 18-39. Formed in the early 1980's, we are the longest-running young adult group for Catholics in the Central Florida area. We come together in the belief that here on Earth Christ is found in the community.
Link to Young Adult Ministry of Chicago Resources
Young Adult Ministry - Chicago Archdiocese - We try to respond to questions like these: Are there people around who share my values? The bars are good, but is there anything else? How do you meet good people once you've moved here? What does it mean to be a person of faith today? Is there any decent worship around? Where can I give some of my time or talent?
Link to Alpha listing of above resources
Young Adult Ministry - Chicago Archdiocese - Resources, Books, Articles By Catagory - Especially for and about Young Adults, Adult Catechesis/Theology/Faith, Church Evangelization, Jesus Liturgy, Mary and the Saints, Moral Life, Peace and Justice, Catholic Social Teaching, Sacraments, Scripture, Spiritual Life, Prayer, Lifestyle, and Vocation.