Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We hope and pray that you and your team have a prosperous 2026! In 2025, we focused on a theme of “hope” for ourselves, our spouses, our teams, and our Movement. In 2026, we will focus on a theme of “faith” and how we can strengthen and expand that faith throughout the year.
With a new year comes resolutions, hopes, and plans. We pray that you will have the steadfast faith to persevere and accomplish these resolutions, hopes, and plans in your lives. Faith in God, faith in your team, and faith in your spouse will strengthen you for the journey. We are excited to see what the Lord has planned for you and this Movement in 2026!
This past July, the ERI (International Leading Team) tasked us (really the entire Movement) to focus on formation and expansion for Teams of Our Lady. Just as our faith must have proper formation in order to grow and expand, the same is true with the Teams of Our Lady Movement. In the USA Super Region, we offer many formation options throughout each year. However, there is always room for improvement.
Formation
In the USA, much formation is focused at the sector level as each base team is directly impacted by the formation in their respective sector. The Sector Responsible Couple (with support from the Region Responsible Couple) leads this formation. Typically, formation for incoming base team Responsible Couples is held annually with formation for Information Couples, Pilot Couples, and Liaison Couples as needed depending on growth. Every two years, the USA Super Region hosts a 3-day Sector Couple Experience to form and train current and incoming Sector Responsible Couples throughout the country. All of these formation opportunities are vital to keep the Movement moving forward in the same direction with a sense of unity and belonging. The Sector RC’s role is vital to keep your base team connected to the larger Movement. We encourage you to do all you can to help and assist them in their role.
This past fall, the USA-SR also hosted virtual formation sessions to assist the Sector and Region RCs. The sessions offered were training for Responsible Couples, Information Couples, Pilot Couples, and Liaison Couples. All of these sessions were recorded and are available through the Member Portal on the website. Once you log in to the portal, you have access to these videos to view as a refresher or to be used in conjunction with formation being offered by your Sector and/or Region RC. Please check them out as well as other formation opportunities we endeavor to add to the portal in 2026!
Other formation opportunities include Sector Days, Regional Days, New Teams Welcome Celebrations, Regional Colleges, and Province Colleges. If you have the opportunity to attend any one or multiple of these events in your area, please attend. All of these events are for formation, collegiality, and connecting us to the larger Teams Movement.
Expansion
The ERI wants to grow the Movement in 2026. We absolutely support this initiative as we receive inquiries almost every week from couples interested in joining Teams. We can all be ambassadors in this expansion initiative. Think of it this way…if you were given a light on a dark path, would you hide that light under a basket or let it shine bright to lead the way? We all can shine the light of Teams bright for all the world to see. Marriages across the world need to see our light leading the way to conjugal spirituality. The light of the sacrament of marriage will guide us down a path of holiness with our spouse and Jesus at our sides. Be the light, be an ambassador, and speak about your experiences in Teams of Our Lady with other married couples. Teams should not be a “well kept secret” but a bright light of faith, hope, and love!
If you encounter someone interested in joining a team, thank them for their interest, refer them to your Sector RC, and follow-up and encourage them during this process. Yes, there is a process that is important to follow to bring new couples into Teams. All married couples need to make an informed decision about their involvement in Teams. They need time and information in order to properly discern and commit to the pedagogy of Teams of Our Lady. Over the next few months, we will use this monthly letter to walk you through the team formation process outlined in the graphic below. Consider this formation our gift to you in the new year!
Information Meeting
An information meeting can be held at your local parish, in the home of the Information Couple, in the home of an interested couple, or even at a local coffee shop or restaurant. The most important thing to remember is that BOTH the interested husband and interested wife need to attend an information meeting. They don’t necessarily have to attend the same meeting; however, that is advisable.
So, remember that the process starts with an Information Meeting. A couple should not be added to a new team without experiencing an Information Meeting. Next month, we will discuss the Piloting process and how to pilot couples into a new team or an existing team.
ERI (International Leading Team) News
The second is from Edith and Jerome Ekoue Kovi, Liaison Couple for the Eurafrica Zone. Their letter is entitled “What if Marriage Were a Spiritual Adventure Capable of Transforming a Life?” which focuses on the charism and endeavors we have in Teams. Both of these articles resonated well with us as they touch profoundly on the importance of a solid formation in Teams and encouraged us to let the light of our marriage and our involvement in Teams shine bright for others to see. We hope you will take the time to read and reflect on these two letters.
Holy Hour for Marriage
January 2026 Prayer Service
Please find the January Prayer Service prepared by Fr. Eli Lopez, USA-SR Spiritual Counselor, reflecting on the fifth chapter of the new 2025-2025 Study Topic, “Love is Much More Than Love”.
We wish you a very Happy New Year! Our Lady, Queen of Teams, pray for us!
Peace, Greg & Melanie