Diocesan Counselling Service for Catholics Married in the Catholic Church

Marriage Counselling has already helped many couples. Here are some testimonies.  "I was at a loss as to where to turn to and saw the counselling service.  I wasn't sure if anything was going to help our relationship at that point but I really wanted to try.  After the first session felt relief that we had got a lot of things out.

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The sessions have made us talk much more about things day to day not allowing them to build up.  We respect each other more and, most importantly, we listen to each other - properly listen.  It's the best thing we have ever done for us." (Anonymous).

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"By us deciding to come to counselling my husband and I learned to dialogue in the right way and through this understood each other more and this helped sort out many problems we had between us and our families. Since counselling we have learned to love and appreciate each other more and forgive more freely without resentments. We are so glad we went" (Anonymous).  If you are concerned about your relationship and feel you are both unable to reach a conclusion alone, it is likely that you will benefit from marriage counselling. The counsellor is there to maintain a neutral, non-judgemental position as the various problematic issues are discussed. Marriage counselling can help you gain perspective on your relationship. Expect help with the following:  Communicate in a more constructive way; Learn why arguments escalate; Reflect on the past and how it presents in your current relationships; Learn the art of compromise. Negotiate and resolve conflicts in a healthier way.  For information or advice please email in confidence counselling@rcdop.org.uk

Hospital Admission Sacrament of the Sick

Any parishioners who are given an appointment for admission to hospital for surgery under anaesthetic should contact Fr. Berry and ask to receive the Sacrament of the Sick before admission, as currently there is only a relatively short time between admission and surgery. Anyone admitted to hospital unexpectedly is probably sufficiently ill to merit receiving the Sacrament of the Sick as a spiritual aid in their illness. Every hospital, including Inverclyde Royal, has a system for contacting the R.C Chaplain urgently in emergencies. This is activated by the patient or family asking the nursing staff clearly to summon the Catholic Chaplain. The same system may also be used to request a visit from the R.C Chaplain but the nurse should be asked to make it clear to the priest that it is not urgent. Because of the way confidentiality rules are now interpreted in most hospitals today, the Catholic Chaplain is often not informed of any Catholic, except in the circumstances detailed above.