Marriage Preparation

More About Marriage Preparation Ministry at St. Peter’s Parish

Marriage Preparation uses the FOCCUS Inventory for Marriage Preparation and a mentor couple to help engaged couples build relationships that last a lifetime.

 FOCCUS: The Sacrament of Marriage and Beyond is a comprehensive approach to prepare engaged couples for Catholic marriage and parish life. It presents the beauty and the dignity of matrimony as a sacrament reflecting Christ’s love for the Church and emphasizes the importance of marriage as a covenant of lifelong love and fidelity according to the teachings of Christ and his Church.

Engaged couples are assigned a mentor couple who will help them work through everything needed to be ready for this commitment. It includes meetings with the mentor couple and participating in an approved marriage preparation course.

Engaged couples must contact the Office for Christian Formation and speak with the Director at 301-843-9583 x155 at least 6 months prior to their desired wedding date to get the process started.

usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/marriage/

“A committed, permanent, faithful relationship of husband and wife is the root of a family. It strengthens all the members, provides best for the needs of children, and causes the church of the home to be an effective sign of Christ in the world” (U.S. Catholic Bishops, Follow the Way of Love: A Pastoral Message to Families, 1994).

The Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth offers the following resources to to help celebrate and live the great gift of married life.

Seven-day virtual marriage retreat, three options: #1) New this year! “Marriage and Mercy” retreat, themed to fit with the year-long Jubilee of Mercy; #2) “A marriage retreat with Pope Francis” based on his advice about marriage and family life; and #3) based on the USCCB pastoral letter Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan. If you are on Facebook, you can join the virtual marriage retreat event by visiting the For Your Marriage Facebook page and clicking on More –> Events *coming soon*.

Looking for more resources to strengthen your marriage, or advice for dating and engaged couples? Visit the For Your Marriage website. En Español: Por Tu Matrimonio.