ECW Resources for Parishes

Welcome to the Encouraging Catholic Weddings page for parishes, where you will find a host of resources to help promote the beauty of Catholic marriage for your familes, and encourage young adult Catholics seeking marriage to make the bold, counter-cultural decision to marry in the Catholic Church and receive the essential grace needed for a lifelong, joy-filled marriage in the Lord.

Resources on this page:

• The Diocese of Trenton "Encouraging Catholic Weddings" video series - links to 17 short videos (under 3 minutes) promoting the benefits of Catholic marriage (with embed codes to post on your parish web pages and social media platforms) - CLICK HERE 

• Social Media graphics with beautiful quotes and images for Catholic marriage - CLICK HERE

• Catholic wedding helps for parish staff (downloadable documents) - CLICK HERE 

• Books and articles on planning a Catholic wedding, featuring "The Wedding Survival Guide for Catholics," co-published by the Diocese of Trenton and soon to be available from Paulist Press - CLICK HERE

• Media Coverage of the Encouraging Catholic Weddings (ECW) Initiative - CLICK HERE 

Addressing the problem:

Catholic marriage is the bedrock of vibrant parish communities and the source of future vocations. Yet 
the alarming statistics about marriage in the Catholic Church confirm what we already know - fewer and fewer couples are choosing to marry in the Church, and the decline continues. In the 12-year period from 2000-2012, Catholic marriages in the U. S. declined by 40%. According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, in 2020—when the U.S. Catholic population stood at 73 million—Catholic marriages numbered just 97,200. In a 2014 USCCB report, “Strategies for Promoting Marriage in the Church,” several reasons for this decline were cited that are even more pronounced today:

• Lack of knowledge about the faith

• Couples did not see the value of marrying in the Church

• A negative impression of the Church’s marriage preparation process

• Not understanding the difference between a sacramental and civil marriage

That's why the Bishop of Trenton, David M. O'Connell, C.M., made Catholic marriage a priority with his 2015 "Plan for Strengthening Marriage," specifically with regard to young adult Catholics in serious dating relationships, the majority choosing to marry outside the Church or choosing not to marry at all.

Encouraging Catholic Weddings Video Series

With all the choices for marriage and wedding planning, even for Catholics, why get married in the Catholic Church? 

This 17-video series explores the uniqueness of Catholic marriage from a variety of perspectives – a newlywed couple, pastors and priests, experienced married couples and even the Bishop!

Each video covers a different topic and can be used on its own, as part of the entire 17-video series, or parishes can put together a customized set of videos that best suit their needs.

Help your families find out what’s so special about Catholic marriage - it's all there in the Encouraging Catholic Weddings Video Series. CLICK HERE for the links, video descriptions and embed codes to post videos on your parish social media platforms or web pages, and view videos at the links below.

• Episode 1 - Five Reasons to Marry Catholic, with Bishop David M. O'Connell [thumbnail]

• Episode 2 - Introduction to Encouraging Catholic Weddings Project - with Peg Hensler and Irv Brechner (main co-authors of The Wedding Survival Guide for Catholics) [thumbnail]

• Episode 3 – The Pastor's View of Catholic Marriage Prep, with Fr. Scott Shaffer [thumbnail]

• Episode 4 - What's Special about Catholic Marriage, with Peg and Irv [thumbnail]

• Episode 5 - Key Takeaways of Working with Engaged Couples, with Fr. Chris Dayton [thumbnail]

• Episode 6 - Communication is Key (a Married Couple's Perspective) [thumbnail]

• Episode 7 - Insights on Marriage from a Priest, Widower and Father of Three, with Fr. Jim Grogan [thumbnail]

• Episode 8 - Faith and Family, with Paulette and John (Co-authors of The Wedding Survival Guide for Catholics) [thumbnail]

• Episode 9 - Demystifying Requirements for Catholic Marriage, with Fr. Jean Felicien [thumbnail]

• Episode 10 - Humor is Essential to a Great Marriage, with Bob and Carol Schilling (Co-authors of The Wedding Survival Guide for Catholics) [thumbnail]

• Episode 11 - Planning the Wedding & Preparing for Lifelong Marriage, with newly-weds, Michelle and Benito [thumbnail]

• Episode 12 - Catholic Marriage Prep, with Michelle and Benito Santoro [thumbnail]

• Episode 13 - Vulnerability and Openness, with Michelle and Benito Santoro [thumbnail]

• Episode 14 - The Ultimate Destination Wedding, with Michelle & Benito Santoro [thumbnail]

• Episode 15 -The Wedding Mass – A Heavenly Banquet, with Michelle & Benito Santoro [thumbnail]

• Episode 16 - From the Honeymoon Onward, with Michelle and Benito Santoro [thumbnail]

• Episode 17 - Remarriage with Kids, with Michelle and Benito Santoro [thumbnail]

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Social Media Graphics  (ECW - Encouraging Catholic Weddings)

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Catholic Wedding Helps for Parish Staff 

• Catholic Marriage FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions about Catholic Marriage in the Diocese of Trenton

• Parish Secretary Guide - Suggested Responses for Common Questions from Engaged Couples and Families

• Marriage Prep Checklist for Couples

• Marriage Prep Documents for Pastoral Ministers 

• Strategies for Promoting Marriage in the Church - Source: USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life

  • Strategy #1: Strengthen Youth and Young Adult Ministry

  • Strategy #2: Collaborate with Catholic Educators and Catechists

  • Strategy #3: Raise Awareness of the Vocation of Marriage

  • Strategy #4: Make Marriage Prep Supportive, Engaging, and Accessible

  • Strategy #5: Support Couples Regularizing their Marriage

  • Strategy #6: Reach out

  • Strategy #7: Make Information Accessible

  • Strategy #8: Remove Financial Barriers

  • Strategy #9: Celebrate Marriage!

  • Strategy #10: Continue Promoting Marriage to All Catholics

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Books and Articles on Planning Catholic Weddings: 

• The Wedding Survival Guide for Catholics - A joint publication of the Diocese of Trenton and InfoQuick, LLC - soon to be available from Paulist Press.

  • With a nihil obstat from Rev. Scott Shaffer and Bishop O’Connell’s Imprimatur, The Wedding Survival Guide for Catholics has four major goals:

    • Show Catholic couples the importance of embracing the beauty of Catholic marriage, and how to navigate the complexities of planning a Church wedding.

    • Help couples minimize wedding/reception planning stress and conflict so they may experience family harmony and a wedding day that is both meaningful and memorable.

    • Help couples practice great communication, collaboration and compromise throughout wedding planning, skills that will serve them well each day of their Catholic marriage.​​​​​​

    • Demonstrate how the comprehensive marriage preparation process for Catholic couples (such as Pre-Cana, couples mentoring, and private preparation with a priest or deacon) can dramatically increase marital success and decrease the chance of divorce.

• The Catholic Wedding Planner, Our Sunday Visitor

• Better Together Wedding Planning Book, Dynamic Catholic

Articles on Getting Married in the Catholic Church:

• Marriage is a Gift from God that Benefits Everyone, Pope Says

• The real meaning of Marriage Preparation

• Why Catholic Marriage and What it Means to Us

• Why We Should Get Married in a Church

• Seven Brides Describe Why They Chose to Have a Catholic Wedding

• Why Marry in the Catholic Church

A Letter to Catholic Couples on Their Wedding Day

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Media Coverage of the ECW Initiative (Articles and Interviews):

• Read these great articles about the Encouraging Catholic Weddings (ECW) project in the Diocese of Trenton

  • Monitor Article on the project launch

  • Intermountain Catholic article on the Wedding Survival Guide for Catholics

  • Clarion Herald, New Orleans article on the Wedding Survival Guide

• WATCH this interview on Catholic Faith Network (Peg Hensler on The Wedding Survival Guide)

• WATCH this interview on Catholic TV (Peg Hensler on Catholic marriage and The Wedding Survivor Guide)

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