“Dialogue in the Family“ - The Eighth International Seminar for Married Couples

date: 12.11.2007.

The Eighth International Seminar for Married Couples took place in Medjugorje from the 31st of October to the 3rd of November 2007. Numbering 260 (130 married couples), the participants came from Italy, Slovakia, Latvia, Ukraine, France, Netherlands, Slovenia and Croatia.

The lecturer was Dr. Jozefina Škarica, a medical doctor and mother of four children. She is leader of the Counseling Centre for Youth, Marriage and Family in Šibenik (Croatia). The Seminar was simultaneously translated into several languages. Like all preceding seminars, it generated great enthusiasm among the participants.

For ten years now, Dr. Jozefina Škarica, a trained Family Counselor, has been conducting Preparation for Marriage seminars, while also giving lectures and seminars in Croatia and abroad on marriage, family and educational affairs.

In Medjugorje, she spoke in a comprehensive and professional way, dealing very concretely with various problems known in all families… the psychological differences between husband and wife, their basic needs, emotions and behavior… about the importance of expressing emotions, about communication and dialogue, about the need to nourish love in the couple and how to achieve it… about sexuality, education of children, puberty as a challenge for parents, about healthy family relationships and about Jesus as the healer of married life and of the family.

The theme “Dialogue in the Family“ was chosen in response to Our Lady’s message given on the 1st of May 1986: “Dear children, I beseech you to start changing your life in the family. Let the family be a harmonious flower that I wish to give to Jesus.”

The participants in the Seminar attended morning and afternoon lectures. They also participated in the evening prayer program in the church (Rosary, Holy Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Veneration of the Cross). One morning, at 6.30am, they climbed Cross Mountain and prayed the Way of the Cross. Another morning, at 7am, they climbed Apparition Hill while praying the Rosary. Spiritually renewed and reborn, they also opened themselves to God’s grace by making a good confession, which is an integral part of the experience of Medjugorje. The seminar ended with Holy Mass. (Interview with Dr. Jozefina Škarica – in preparation)