Convalidation Resources for Parishes and Pastoral Ministers

Convalidation Resources for Parishes and Pastoral Ministers

We are pleased to offer our complete set of Convalidation resources produced by the Department of Evangelization and Family Life specifically for our parishes, all connected under the banner – “Convalidation:  Bringing Your Marriage into the Church.”

Here you'll find materials for evangelization & outreach, personal invitation, customized sacramental preparation and pastoral care. You’ll also find materials specifically for:  1) the pastor and parish staff, 2) the pastoral minister preparing the couple, and 3) the couple themselves.   

For the Parish...

• Convalidation Brochure:  This "welcoming" brochure offers an invitation to those in irregular situations to "bring their (non-Catholic) marriage into the Church. It provides a comprehensive overview of the convalidation process – what makes marriage valid in the Church, the benefits of Catholic marriage, and the ten steps of preparing for sacramental marriage (provided for parishes by the Dept. of Evangelization & Family Life upon request; 609-403-7151)

• Finding and Reaching Out to Couples Married Outside the Church: This resource offers practical suggestions for parishes to reach out to those not married in the Church.

• Sample Letter of Invitation, Bulletin Announcement for Convalidation: This resource offers useful ideas for the parish to invite couples to consider bringing their marriage into the Church.

• Convalidation Information Evening - Suggested Format: Suggested agenda and format for an information evening on "blessing your non-church marriage" or  "bringing your civil marriage into the Church." Topics will include: what makes marriage valid, impediments to marriage (e. g. prior marriages), and steps in the convalidation process. Video clips from the Convalidation Video Testimonies can be used. CLICK HERE for the Convalidation Information Evening Slide Deck.

For the Pastoral Minister...

• Instructions for Pastoral Ministers to Prepare Couples for Marriage

• Excerpts from Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love, Pope Francis)

• Talking Points for the Pastoral Minister to prepare couples for Catholic marriage

• Marriage as Covenant

• Marriage as Sacrament

• The Vocation of Marriage

• This is My Body (Marriage and the Eucharist)

• Why Marry in the Catholic Church

   Preparation Resources

• Take Home Exercise for Convalidating Couples

• NFP Distance Learning Options

• Natural Family Planning Resources

• Ecumenical and Interfaith Marriage Helps

Convalidation Testimony Videos:

Series of Short Testimonial Videos of couples who’ve been through the convalidation process and priests who’ve worked with couples through the process.

You can also view the entire video with introduction. Recommended for use at parish Convalidation  Information Evenings, in private sessions with couples, or to be shown in parish gathering spaces  (available on DVD from Dept. of Evangelization and Family Life; 609-403-7151).