Bishop Denis Nulty in conversation with The Irish Catholic at Ballyshannon NS. Photo: Gabriel Berg “There is no single stereotype of an ideal family or indeed ideal couple,” said Bishop Denis Nulty in his homily delivered to new Accord marriage facilitators and marriage counsellors on October 10.
“You will work with couples and indeed families. There is no single stereotype of an ideal family or indeed ideal couple – no family, no couple, comes from heaven perfectly formed. It is always a challenging mosaic of diverse realities, marked by joys, dreams, struggles, and wounds,” said the bishop, who is president of Accord CLG.
The graduation Mass, which honoured eleven graduating with a Special Purpose Award as marriage facilitators and fourteen graduating with a Certificate in Person Centred Marriage & Relationship Counselling, took place in the College Chapel of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
Bishop Nulty called on the graduates in his homily to be aware of their distinct task in providing compassion and careful guidance to married couples and families. He emphasised the importance of listening, and sometimes sitting with unanswered questions even when it is uncomfortable.
“As couple therapists, as relationship counsellors, we are called to be people who are comfortable with fragility, who are generous with compassion and care, and who understand that any work we can do with parents has a direct impact on the quality of life experienced by the children in that relationship.”
Also present at the graduation Mass were Rev. Dr Michael Shortall, President of St Patrick’s Pontifical University, and Pontifical University Registrar Dr Gaven Kerr.