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What is the purpose of marriage preparation?

Hundreds of parishes across the country, including a handful in our own diocese, have adopted a new approach to parish-based marriage preparation. Many couples pursuing a sacramental marriage do not have close relationships with people living out the graces of the sacrament in a committed way within the Catholic Church. They come from family backgrounds where divorce occurred and a model of lifelong fidelity was not present. Often times couples harbor a lack of trust toward religious institutions such as the Church which hinders their regular practice of the faith.

Witness to Love takes all of these factors into account and proposes a methodology of accompaniment, mentorship, and trusting relationships to help couples draw near to Christ and His Church. Engaged couples will be asked to choose a mentor couple (the parish does not assign them) whose marriage they admire, with whom they can or already do have an established relationship of trust, who are married in the Church and actively living out their faith. Mentor couples provide an authentic witness that sacramental marriage is beautiful, possible, and worth every sacrifice. Mentors and engaged couples will meet in one another's homes, regularly attend Sunday Mass together, and discuss the necessary virtues for a happy, holy, fulfilling marriage.

For more information on how Witness to Love works or how to bring it to your parish visit https://witnesstolove.org/ or reach out to the Office of Marriage and Family Life

PRECANA - SINGLE DAY

Pre Cana is a single day of reflection that helps prepare couples for living the Sacrament of Matrimony. It is intended for couples where neither party has a prior marriage. Couples will receive instruction on key aspects of of married life and  be given opportunity to discuss them with each other. Our diocese employs the Unveiled program which is a beautifully designed, video-based program blending the following features:

• Relatable couples’ testimony from a diverse set of marriages
• Theological insights from top Catholic presenters
• Extended one-on-one time for engaged couples with the Unveiled workbook
• More opportunities for prayer and Scripture reflection

Unveiled days will run approximately 10 hours (depending on location and size of group) and will cost $140 per couple. This cost covers materials, light breakfast, lunch, dinner, and refreshments. A link to our online registration forms may be found below. Once you have registered, you may expect a reminder e-mail from the Office of Marriage and Family life approximately one week prior to the event. We will do our utmost to accommodate you in one of the Pre Cana days.

Dates and locations for the Pre Cana are as follows:

TO TRUST AGAIN

To Trust Again is a marriage preparation program specifically geared toward couples where one or both have been previously married. Couples meet with a trained lead couple who present on topics related to the couple’s situation and share personal experiences, but the heart of the programs is the conversation between the couple. The material is published through ACTA Publications.  In order to better facilitate both the couples registering and our volunteers, we ask that you register at least one week prior to the event. The fee for this event is $100 per couple. 

Dates and locations for To Trust Again are as follows:

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Online Options

CatholicMarriagePrep.com

Developed in the the Archdiocese of Denver, CatholicMarriagePrep.com invites couples to a deeper relationship with each other and with Christ. Online, on-demand instruction rooted in Saint John Paul II's Theology of the Body, combined with personalized mentoring from a trained married couple, builds a foundation for a strong, healthy, Christ-centered marriage between a man and a woman. CatholicMarriagePrep.com has specialized tracks for miliatry couples and those who are seeking a convalidation for their civil marriage. Time required to complete a course is usually a minimum of 3 weeks.  Costs range from $185-$245 depending on the specific course chosen.

And It Was Very Good: An Online Marriage Program

This program is an online video series developed by Fr. Tom Dillon of Good Shepherd parish in Tallahassee. In the series, Fr. Dillon gives couples a comprehensive look into how the fulfillment they desire in their future marriages will be based on the timeless wisdom of Catholic teaching. 

 Drawing from pastoral experience, theology, philosophy, and psychology the modules are engaging for couples of varying faith levels and backgrounds. The six key topics covered are Love and Relationship, Conflict, Emotional Intelligence, Boundaries of Love, Masculinity and Femininity, and Marriage as Self Gift (Kenosis). The format is comprised of short videos, discussion questions, and brief comprehension assessments. It can be completed in just a few days or over the course of several weeks depending on individual preferences. 

This program is currently free of charge and any individual or couple is welcome to take the course for preparation or enrichment purposes.

Unveiled Online 

This features the same programming as the live Pre Cana events in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. The Diocese of Richmond developed Unveiled to faithfully present the Church's vision of married love in an engaging format for today's couples. It involves 7 & 1/2 hours of screen time, not including the activities and discussions with your future spouse. You can access Unveiled anywhere you have an internet connection. Progress through the program at your own pace, based on your own schedule, whether you are together or in different countries. The videos share the insight and perspective of a number of theologians, priests, and couples.  At the conclusion of the program, you will be able to print or email a PDF copy of your Certificate of Completion to the priest or deacon who is preparing you for marriage. This can be placed in your marriage file at your parish. Register HERE.
 Cost is $170 per couple. 

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Updated November 21, 2024

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