--- title: Six Ways to Include Divorced and Remarried Catholics in your Church description: Our church family can help support us in all the different transitions in life. Mary Lou Rosien offers 6 ways to include Catholics in irregular marriages in the life of the parish. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/03/07/six-ways-include-divorced-remarried-catholics-church#) # Six Ways to Include Divorced and Remarried Catholics in your Church Mar 7, 2017 8:30:39 AM  |  by [Mary Lou Rosien](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/mary-lou-rosien) Going through my divorce was one of the most difficult experiences in my life. As a Catholic it was filled with spiritual challenges and pitfalls. I went through a period of loneliness that was unparalleled to any other point in my life. I know, as many of you read this, that you are nodding your heads in agreement. [tweet "6 ways to include #divorced #Catholics in parish life. By @cathfambootcamp"]   Our church family can help support us in all the different transitions in life. This can be especially true for divorced Catholics or those in irregular marriage situations if we are creative about finding ways to include them. Although those in irregular marriages (a civil remarriage without the benefit of obtaining an annulment first) [cannot receive the Eucharist](https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_of_divorced_and_remarr.htm), they should not be excluded from all aspects of parish life. However, most parishes seem to fall into one of two groups: either they include divorced persons (even those in irregular marriage situations) in *everything* (without regard for the appropriateness of involvement due to their current state) or they are not included in *anything* in an attempt not to cause scandal. Neither of these approaches is comprehensive when finding compassionate, but appropriate, roles for these brothers and sisters in Christ. When people feel connected to their church family it helps them deal with the pain and loneliness that these situations can bring about. Our parishes should be safe places that are part of the solution, not part of the problem. There are ways to help lessen the isolation some of our church members feel, without putting them in a position of confusing other parishioners about Church teaching (regarding divorce and remarriage). If you are a divorced Catholic, consider advocating for yourself by suggesting participation in some of the following ideas. - With guidance from strong, faithful, catechetical-based leader, encourage divorced/remarried parishioners to start a support group for those in the parish in similar situations. - Attend a Bible study or Faith Enrichment Program ( for example [ChristLife](http://www.christlife.org)). - Help cook for events the parish is hosting, or for visiting priests. - Join a ministry team to send out cards to the bereaved. - Utilize your talents and treasures in social justice and social ministry works. - Start a Book Club and read titles like ***[Rebuilding After Divorce](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1935302655/catholicmom)*** by Rose Sweet or ***[The Catholic Guide to Dating after Divorce](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1594715971/catholicmom)*** by Lisa Duffy. - Read my article: "[Three Things Divorced Catholics Need to Know](http://www.catholicfamilybootcamp.com/three-things-divorced-catholics-need-to-know.html)." My new book, ***[The Three Things Divorced Catholics Need to Know](https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/Shop/Product?ProductCode=T1860)***, has just been released by Our Sunday Visitor. [![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/3-things-divorced-Catholics-need-to-know-1.jpeg?width=352&height=640&name=3-things-divorced-Catholics-need-to-know-1.jpeg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/3-things-divorced-Catholics-need-to-know-1.jpeg) **Your purchase of the resources mentioned here through our Amazon affiliate links help to support CatholicMom.com at no cost to you!** *Copyright 2017 Mary Lou Rosien* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F07%2Fsix-ways-include-divorced-remarried-catholics-church%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F07%2Fsix-ways-include-divorced-remarried-catholics-church%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F07%2Fsix-ways-include-divorced-remarried-catholics-church%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Six%20Ways%20to%20Include%20Divorced%20and%20Remarried%20Catholics%20in%20your%20Church) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F07%2Fsix-ways-include-divorced-remarried-catholics-church%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F07%2Fsix-ways-include-divorced-remarried-catholics-church%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Mary Lou Rosien](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contributors/MARY%20LOU%20ROSIEN.png) ### [Mary Lou Rosien](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/mary-lou-rosien) Mary Lou Rosien is a Catholic wife, mom to seven, educator, writer, and speaker. She is the author of several books including *[Three Things Divorced Catholics need to Know](https://osv.com/Shop/Product?ProductCode=T1860)* and *The Joy-Filled Broken Heart*. She is known for her love of all things cooking and baking, especially “Friday cookies.” Visit her at [CatholicFamilyBootCamp.com](http://www.catholicfamilybootcamp.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Changing Conversations Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/10/03/changing-conversations) [ Live Like Lisa Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/live-like-lisa) [ Doubting Me Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/doubting-me) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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