April 25, 2018 By Tom Semeraro Massena – Marriage as a ministry was the focus of the first of two presentations offered by Dr. Gregory and Lisa The program was sponsored by the diocesan Department of Family Life and Offices of Vocation and Evangelization. A large group of married couples, engaged couples, families, lay ministers, as well as clergy were in attendance Following an opening prayer service led by Bishop Terry R. LaValley, the Popcaks – authors, educators and life coaches – presented “Marriage as a Ministry; God’s Plan for Love and Marriage vs. Society’s View”. In their talk, the couple discussed levels of marriage as they exist in society today: civil, romantic, theistic, and concluding with Catholic marriage. Giving real life examples and situational outcomes, the Popcaks presented Catholic marriage as the most loving and truest form of marriage. When couples marry according to the Catholic model, they said, they are accepting God’s love for them and asking God to help teach them how to love each other. Dr. Popcak took this view further by explaining that when couples marry, they actually enter into what is considered a “School of Love”.
The Popcaks offered insight into what this means in daily life and how a husband and wife can work toward loving each other as God loves them. They stressed the importance of “praying together” and treating marriage as “sacred”. They also described the goal of living in “charism”, or essentially sharing the joy of marriage and family life with others, by embracing the particular role God has for them and their family. Dr. and Mrs. Popcak spoke about viewing the mundane and menial everyday tasks family members do for each other as corporal acts of mercy. “When you prepare dinner for your family, you are ‘feeding the hungry,’ or when you do laundry and prep the kids clothes, you are ‘clothing the naked’,” Mrs. Popcak said. She shared what she called a transformative moment when she realized that, by changing her perspective on this aspect of her life, seemingly laborious and monotonous tasks could be viewed as “steps on her road to holiness”. During the moderated breakout sessions which followed the Couples, families, and ministers shared views and perspectives on their personal marital experiences as well, as what the future may hold for new couples and families. The Popcaks continued their presentation with an afternoon session, “Building Blocks for Constructing Your Marriage Castle”. Dr. Popcak began this session with an explanation and understanding of sexuality, natural family planning and the sacredness of intimacy in a Catholic Marriage. They described ways for couples to serve and love each other all day, and all through their lives. They also covered the ultimate expression of love, the creation of children through a loving Catholic Marriage. Further information about Catholic marriage and the living ministry of the Popcaks is available at www.catholiccounselors.com. The website for the diocesan Family Life Office is www.rcdony.org/family-life.html
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Popcak, keynote speakers at a diocesan family life conference “Marriage: God Calls, We Respond” held April 14 at Sacred Heart Church and Trinity Catholic School.
In essence, they become “apprentices” in God’s love, as they learn how to love each other in family life. 
morning address, attendees were asked to share their views on family life, Catholic marriage, spousal support and more. 
