New Catechumenal Framework for Marriage Prep

With Witness to Love Program and  Prepare-Enrich Inventory Focuses on Relationship

8 Step Process:

1. Initial Mtg: Forms & Inventory Invite
2. Coaching Session & Inventory Review
3. Sponsor & Engage Couple Mtgs
4. Retreat
5. Theology Discussion
6. Parish Welcome & Connect to Small Groups
7. Review & Wedding Day
8. Continued Parish Accompaniment (Post Wedding)

Get Trained as a Marriage Prep Coordinator (MPC)

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Catholic Marriage Today in Western Oregon:

The Archdiocese has seen a 40% decrease in Weddings since the year 2000, along the same decline as marriages in general.  How many weddings did your parish do last year? Now is the time to start addressing this issue. Marriage prep is a “Catholic Moment” where the church has an opportunity to engage the couple and connect them to the Body of Christ.

Pope Francis & Archbishop Sample have both called for an assessment of current marriage preparation.  In light of this, the Marriage and Family Office has put together a new Catechumenal Marriage Prep Framework & is providing Archdiocesan Certification to better prepare and accompany couples for the Sacrament of Matrimony.  

Given this, parish will have until Nov. 2018 to get have their parish marriage prep coordinator (staff or volunteer) certified in the New Framework.  Many Pastors are asking a healthy, faithful couple in the pews on Sunday to serve as the Marriage Prep Coordinator (MPCs).  The Archdiocese will help train and mentor the MPCs as they implement the new framework.

Endorsed Marriage Prep Tools:

Witness to Love: is a virtues-based, Catechumenate model of marriage renewal and preparation that integrates modern principles of psychology and the virtues to help couples facilitate an authentic dialogue about their relationship.  *English & Spanish

Prepare-Enrich: is the #1 pre-marriage assessment in the US.  This dynamic inventory gives a snap shot of the engaged couples relationship's strengths as well as areas of improvement.  This tool helps MPC's, the Sponsor Couples, and the engaged couple themselves know what to focus on.  *Available in 12 Language