About

What is Teams of Our Lady?

Teams of Our Lady is an international Christian lay movement that works to enrich married spirituality for couples who seek to live their marriages sacramentally.  Teams provide new opportunities to increase and improve prayer life, helping couples support each other and grow closer to God and to each other.

Ideally, a team is comprised of four to six couples whose marriage is recognized in the eyes of the Catholic Church.  The team meets once a month, rotating from one home to another.  If a couple’s home cannot accommodate the entire team, the group can meet in a church meeting room or outside, if possible.  Some teams might have a Chaplain or Spiritual Counsellor as part of their team.

The Chaplain/Spiritual Counsellor comes to the meeting to share equally and contribute uniquely to walk with the Team in their Christian journey.  The team shares a simple meal with some personal sharing of their previous month, prayer, sharing on the endeavours, and a discussion topic.

The endeavours are the heart of the spirit of Teams.  The team becomes a close community that can inspire one another through their living examples of faith, and share with one another their struggles and successes on their way to holiness.

 

Our Lady

Our Lady is the Patroness of the Movement, however, Teams is not a Marian organisation.  Our members strive to follow and imitate Mary’s “Yes!” to God through prayer, scripture and the sacraments. Mary is the perfect disciple and follower of Christ.  She takes everything and everyone to her Son.  The Magnificat prayer is Mary’s proclamation of God’s greatness.  Teams couples say the Magnificat prayer daily in communion with fellow Team members worldwide.

Brendan and Rosemarie are our Regional Couple.

Listen to their interview on Spirit Radio!

Teams members join with a huge richness in their perspectives of life, of marriage and of Church.

What they have in common is that they wish to live a sacramental married life as members of the Church.  When the first couples, in 1939, asked the Teams founder, Father Caffarel how they could develop their conjugal spirituality, he replied, after prayer, that “they could walk the path together”.

As a Teams Member, you will never need to feel alone in the ups and downs of life, either practically or spiritually.

Teams members support each other, and understand about the beauty of this amazing voyage of family life in all its challenges and wonder.  We stand beside each other, and prayerfully wrap ourselves in faith around the families of our members.

Teams welcomes priests and religious as Chaplains or Spiritual Counsellors in Teams.  This is not a service role but one of full membership, enabling their growth in their complimentary vocation.

Couples from all stages of life (newly married, child rearing and empty nesters) can be part of Teams.  It is not parish based, but it is advisable for couples to live in the same geographic vicinity.  Since this is a lay association, lay couples hold all positions of responsibility.  Teams is not a bible study group, nor is it a group where you talk about the ups and downs of married life (unless you want to).  Teams of Our Lady, a gift of the Holy Spirit, is offered to couples throughout the world in order to help them live out their married spirituality.

Testimonials from Teams Members

The movement of Teams is a great support to us as couple a on the journey of life. We never know what is around the corner. But with TOL we know that we can cope with whatever arrives at our doorstep.
Ingrid and Padraig
When we promised to love and respect each other for life, we knew that it would be impossible... by ourselves! In TOL we are helped to reconnect with the greater Love that nourishes and sustains ours, giving us perspective and a sense of mission to our marriage.
Filipa and David
We have just completed our first year of Teams and we love it! We were chosen to be responsible couple and it has been such a blessing to us. We have grown so much as a couple and even after 20 years of marriage we are learning more and more about each other!
God has really blessed us individually and as a couple through the endeavours and we are being stretched and challenged to go even deeper in our marriage spirituality. We are so grateful to our Lord for calling us closer and to our Lady for always gently leading us to her Son.
Michael and Anita
Our TOL team members are like a big family that eats and prays together, supports each other and prays for each other as well as our intentions. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:19–20.)
Lawrence and Adriana
Shortly after my ordination, a TOL Team asked me to be their chaplain. I knew little about TOL at the time, but they assured me it came with a nice home-cooked meal every meeting. I was convinced.
Six years later, I have come to love TOL for more than the food. It is beautiful to see loving Catholic families strengthen each other through common prayer, mutual friendship, and a genuine love of Our Lord and Our Lady. While TOL is a blessing for families, it is a blessing to priests as well.
Fr. David Reitzel
Sharing our highs and lows have helped us reflect on how God has blessed and been with us. Working on the endeavors has edified our prayer and family life. We are grateful to be part of a wonderful group of couples.
Christian and Noella
Enrich your married spirituality with Jesus Christ & meet others to build
friendships.