Marriage Training for Parishes

The following workshops provide the full series of training needed to establish a parish marriage ministry team to oversee all marriage-building activities in the parish, and for full implementation of the diocesan Plan for Strengthening Marriage. Marriage ministers are also encouraged to increase their working knowledge of sacramental marriage through self-study opportunities.

Core Team Training - How to Start Marriage Ministry in Your Parish

        Description: This workshop provides the practical steps for building comprehensive, intentional                    marriage ministry in every parish so that parishes may assist youth and young adults in the gradual              process of vocational discernment, prepare engaged couples for Catholic marriage and support                    married couples through every stage of marriage and family life.

       Description: This workshop offers an overview of the key relational skills needed for those who                     help prepare engaged couples for Catholic marriage, and those who accompany married couples                 throughout the stages of married life. Topics include active listening, levels of marital communication,           process of forgiveness and reconciliation, accompanying prayer, and cultivating virtues.

Understanding Sacramental Marriage –  A Catechesis on Marriage for Marriage Ministers

       Description: This workshop deals with the fundamental question – what is Catholic Marriage?                       The goal is to give participants a solid foundation in the beauty and uniqueness of Catholic                           marriage so they are equipped to evangelize and in minister to engaged and married couples                       through all stages of family life. Topics include the origin and history of Christian marriage, what                   makes marriage a sacrament, what constitutes a true marriage, the development of                                       Sacramental Marriage Theology in the Post –Vatican II era, the latest insights and pastoral                           approaches from the Synod on the Family and the new Order of Celebrating Matrimony.

• Pre-Cana Team Training – Using the Better Together program from Dynamic Catholic effectively in group settings for parish Pre-Cana programs (trained couples may also use Better Together in a couple-to-couple setting)

• FOCCUS/Re-FOCCUS Training for Married Couples (married couples are trained to be the FOCCUS facilitators in a couple-to-couple approach. This approach is used my many dioceses throughout the country).