Conference for Singles

St. Mary Immaculate Parish, Plainfield, IL is hosting a conference, “Enriched Relationships for Singles” on Saturday, August 8th. “This conference is an opportunity for personal growth and fun for all singles whether divorced, widowed or never married.” says Kathy Yonker, event coordinator. She said participants will range from age 30 through 50’s.

Featured speaker, Dr. Richard Marks, a licensed professional counselor and ordained minister, is Executive Director of Marriage Works, Inc. in Bradenton FL. Dr. Marks is the author and founder of the Enriched Relationships series of relationship curriculums that focuses on teaching healthy relationship skills to couples, singles, married and to those in the workplace.

Marks talk will focus on:
• The core needs of the heart
• Confiding: Key to connecting
• Communicating with strangling
• Experience the Abundant Life Heart
• Managing fear and anger
• Healing power of forgiveness

Yonker, former regional rep for Catholic Divorce Ministry, said the conference idea has been brewing in her mind for years. “Technology is great but we are replacing communication skills with gibberish text. How many times have you read an email and wondered if the writer was joking, being cynical or serious?” She adds, “If you want to truly connect with another, then you need to hear their voice tone, see their facial expression, observe their body language and listen—without being in front of an electronic device or having one in your ear.”

The $25 conference fee ($30 after July 26) includes continental breakfast, lunch and materials. Registration form is available at the parish website, www.smip.org or at Catholic Divorce Ministry website, www.nacsdc.org or call the parish at 815-436-2657, ext. 846.

Yonker also runs “Divorce and Beyond” at the church. It is a ten-week peer support group for those in the process or recently divorced. “Divorce is terrible. We neither promote nor encourage it,” she quickly noted. “The Church provides us a place to grieve, rebuild strength and lets us know we are not alone in our journey.” More information can be found on either of the websites.

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