Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Southern United State

 

 

Class of September 2007 - Florida

Friday, September 28, 2007:

6:00 – 7:00 P.M.      Arrival – Registration

7:00 – 7:30               Hymns - Vespers / Compline Prayers

7:30 – 8:00             Orientation

8:00 – 8:30             Dinner

8:30 – 9:30 P.M.     The Sacredness of Marriage – Mrs. Margo Rizk

9:30 – 10:30           Workshop: Committed to My Love! – Dr. Yousry Armanios

10:30 P.M.               Hymns, Prayers & Praises

Notice: H.G. Bishop Youssef will spend the rest of the night with us.

---

Saturday, September 29, 2007:

7:30 – 8:30 A.M.      Breakfast

8:30 – 9:30             Morning Prayers & Devotion

9:30 – 10:30 A.M.   When Our In-Laws Live That Close! – Dr. Yousry Armanios

10:30 – 11:30 A.M. Workshop: Respecting the Boundaries – Mrs. Margo Rizk

11:30 – 12:00           Break – Group Pictures

12:00 – 1:00           Lunch

1:00 – 3:30               Free Time – Games – Available Individual Counseling

3:30 – 4:30 P.M.     Communication within Marriage – Dr. Yousry Armanios

4:30 – 5:30 P.M.     Workshop: Challenges to Healthy Communication – Mrs. Margo Rizk

5:30 – 6:30               Dinner

6:30 – 7:30               Open Discussion: Resolving the Differences – Dr. Yousry & Mrs. Margo

7:30 – 8:30             Vespers

8:30 – 9:00               break

9:00 – 10:00 P.M.   The Sexual Aspect & Gender Differences – Dr. Yousry Armanios

10:00                      Open time and individual counseling

---

 Sunday, September 30, 2007:

 9:00 – 11:30 A.M. Liturgy

12:00 – 1:00           Lunch

1:00 – 2:00 P.M.   How Different Personalities Impact Marriage? – Dr. Yousry Armanios

2:00 – 2:30             Feedback – Conclusion – Final Prayer

---

 Workshops & Open Discussion

Workshop One: Committed to My Love

·         Why Do We Get Married? – Marriage and Cohabitation

·         The Meaning of Commitment

·         Examples of Loyalty and Dedication

·         Monogamy and Sexual Fidelity

·         Confusing Love with Lust

·         The “I love you, but …” Themes!

·         The Meaning of Forgiveness and Acceptance

·         Setting  Priorities in Marriage

 

Workshop Two: Respecting the Boundaries

• Why Does Respect Mean Love?
• What are the Factors behind Abusive Behaviors in Marriage?
• Chauvinism and Feminism
• Examples of Emotionally Abusive Behaviors
• Examples of Verbally Abusive Behaviors
• Physical & Sexual Abuse
• Examples of Mutual Respect

 

Workshop Three: Challenges to Healthy Communication

·         Role Playing of Some Examples of Healthy Communication Patterns:

1.      Listening & Active Listening

2.      Unconditional Acceptance

3.      Mutual Validation

4.      Communication of Feelings

5.      Compassionate Communication

·         Role Playing of Some Examples of Unhealthy Communication Patterns:

1.      Interrupting – Mind-Reading

2.      Stonewalling – Avoiding

3.      Over-reacting – Premature Reacting

4.      Subjectivity – Bias – Prejudice  

5.      Sarcasm – Passive-Aggressiveness

 

Open Discussion: Resolving the Differences

·         When We Differ about Finances and Money Management

·         When We Differ about Our Children and In-Laws

·         When We Differ about Spiritual or Religious Matters

·         When We Have Different Personality Traits, like:

1.      Obsession with Perfectionism

2.      Having a Temper or Extremely Sensitive

3.      Worried All the Time, or, in a Negative Mood and Depressed

4.      Jealous or Paranoid

5.      Hyperactive and Energetic

6.      Addicted to Something!

	Web www.suscopts.org