Marriage Preparation

Marriage Preparation - Your marriage covenant is a sacrament of the Church, a sign of God's love in the world. In view of the many stresses which affect marriage in today's society, the Catholic Church wants to help engaged couples think and communicate more fully about areas of married life which may or may not have been discussed before. All Sacraments (with the exception of the Anointing of the Sick) require some form of preparation on the part of the adult, parent, or child. Attendance in a marriage preparation process/program prior to the reception of the Sacrament of Matrimony is the policy of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Marriage in the Lord, Preparing for Marriage in the Church

Natural Family Planning (Adobe Acrobat Format) - The practice of achieving or avoiding pregnancy through an informed awareness of the fertile and infertile phases of the woman's cycle. Successful use of natural family planning depends on instruction and follow-up by trained instructors. A brochure giving general information about NFP is available. Included in the brochure are the names of instructors throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Planning Your Catholic Wedding - A Checklist

Sponsor Couple Program - Highly recommended. Meet with an experienced married couple in their home to explore and improve open communication and understanding. You and your Sponsor Couple schedule visits in their home to complete your preparation. Register directly through your parish office for the Sponsor Couple Program.

The Sponsor Couple Program is a parish-based marriage preparation process. In a like-to-like ministry, a married couple, trained by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, works with one engaged couple from their parish. The program consists of five, two-hour sessions in the married couple's home. The FOCCUS Marriage Instrument, which provides individualized couple feedback on where each partner stands in regard to important marriage topics, is used to direct the discussion in the marriage preparation process. The cost is determined by parish.

Remarriage Preparation Program - Recommended for couples where one or both have been previously married. The Remarriage Preparation Program is meant to help couples take an objective look at some of the issues that can arise in this new relationship, and prepare them to avoid some of the pitfalls. Register through the Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office for preparation with a Remarriage couple.

The Remarriage Preparation Program helps couples take an objective look at some of the issues that can arise in this new relationship, and prepare them to avoid some of the pitfalls. The discussion is around issues that can impact this relationship not about the former spouse.

The program consists of six two-hour sessions and can be complted in a small group process of three or four couples, or in a parish based format. A trained couple that is also in a remarriage situation leads the program.

Marriage Preparation Conference (Pre-Cana) - A large group marriage preparation process. This program is designed for couples that will be married for the first time. The classes are limited to 15 couples, and are filled on a first come first served basis. A team of married couples leads these programs. Classes are held in different areas of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Register early with your parish program or with the Marriage Preparation Office.

Selected parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore offer Pre-Cana conferences open to any couple. These conferences are designed for couples that will be married for the first time. The classes are limited to 15 coulples and are filled on a first come, first served basis. A team of married couples from the parish leads these programs. You will hear presentations on the sacrament of Marriage, communication, conflict resolution, family life, intimacy, and spirituality. Enjoy time for personal sharing with your future spouse, do written exercises, and participate in small-group discussions.

Engaged couples that do not have access to parish-based marriage preparation are welcome to register for Archdiocesan Marriage Preparation Conferences. Please be advised that space is limited. Early registration is prudent. The cost is $70 per couple. Classes fill 7-9 months prior to classes beginning.

Catholic Engaged Encounter- A weekend experience that utilizes a dynamic process based on listening, writing and dialogue.

The Engaged Encounter process encourages the engaged couple to concentrate on building a relationship. The weekend extends from 7:30 p.m. Friday evening to approximately 4:30 Sunday afternoon. Free from the pressures and distraction of daily living, the couple has the opportunity to concentrate exclusively on each other, while examining the essential issues they will encounter within the marriage relationship. The design of the Weekend encourages the couples to explore mutual strengths and weaknesses, goals, aspirations and attitudes concerning family life, children, sexuality, finances, the church and society.

A team of two married couples and a priest facilitate and guide the Weekend. Team presentations involve personal sharing on marriage and family issues. The team encourages the couple to become involved in a period of discovery.

Please call 410-439-4217 or 877-222-8858 for information and registration, or visit Maryland Catholic Engaged Encounter.

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