Marriage Enrichment Resources
Marriage Building Programs for Parishes
Pope Francis told couples: “The Church herself is fully involved in the story of every Christian marriage: she is built on their successes and she suffers in their failures.” (May 2015)
The Pope is telling us that when marriages are strong, the Church is strong. Two programs parishes can use to help couples strengthen their marriages are: SIX DATES for Catholic Couples, and The Beatitudes, a Couple’s Path to Greater Joy.
These programs offer what husbands and wives are hungry for today: the opportunity to make time for each other and to go on a date. The programs invite couples to go on six private dates, each based on a different theme. Participants bring their children to the parish, watch a short video and then depart for their date guided in their private conversations with simple questions found on a handout.
SIX DATES for Catholic Couple is available with Spanish subtitles and handouts in Spanish:
Find information at: www.happy-together.net
Retreats and Encounters
The Greatest Commandments: A 40-Week Spiritual Journey for Married Couples by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
In this marriage enrichment program, Deacon Harold seeks to build strong and loving marriages that can withstand all of the challenges of life. The program is designed for couples to use in their own homes. Once a month for ten months, couples watch a 20-minute DVD segment by Deacon Harold and then discuss the topic of each talk together, reflect in a journal, and pray for one another. CLICK HERE
Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME)
Looking for the perfect weekend? A weekend to bring you and your spouse closer together? Take your spouse on a WWME weekend, and you will actually improve your marriage! Any married couple who desires a richer, fuller life together, will enjoy Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME). This weekend is designed to deepen and enrich the joys a couple shares together, whether you have been married a short time or many years. The weekend is oriented strictly to each individual couple. A series of presentations are given by a team of Catholic couples and a Catholic priest.
Each presentation allows you and your spouse a rare opportunity to look at yourselves as individuals, then to look at your marriage and your relationship with one another, and finally to look at your relationship with God, the Church, and the world. After each presentation, the husband and wife have time in the privacy of their room for their own personal discussion, using a unique communication technique taught on the weekend.
The weekend starts at 8:00 p.m. Friday night and runs until about 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. A $90 NON-REFUNDABLE application fee confirms your food and lodging. No one is ever refused the opportunity for lack of funds. Upcoming dates in our diocese are March 17 – March 19, 2023, in Carthage, MO., and April 5 – April 7, 2023, in Fredricktown, MO. To register, please call 314.649.7317, or to apply online CLICK HERE.
Catholic Marriage Enrichment Online – Melissa Tablada
As a Catholic Registered Marriage & Family Therapist Intern praying about what my work would look like in this year 2019, I was blown away when God put this new project on my heart. I am honored to share the details of how Growing in Grace came to life! It has been such a blessing to my own marriage & all those involved. Hope you enjoy learning more!
Books, Bible Studies, and Audio-Video
For a list of available resources click here
Additional Resources
For Your Marriage – An initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Marriage Enrichment – Resources from the USCC.
Troubled Marriages
Programs, Resources, & Retreats
Retrouvaille
Retrouvaille is a program designed to provide help and support to married couples who are undergoing difficulties in their relationship, for those who are hurting in brokenness and loneliness. It has also proven helpful to couples who are separated and divorced. Although Retrouvaille is Catholic in origin, couples from all or no faith traditions are welcome to attend. Visit Website
The Institute for Marital Healing
The mission of the Institute for Marital Healing is to strengthen Catholic marriages and families by educating spouses, marital therapists and clergy about common causes of conflicts in marital self-giving and effective approaches to alleviating such conflicts. Through a combination of online resources, educational programs and publications, the Institute employs a time-tested approach to marital therapy that recognizes the importance of both science and faith in the process of marital healing.
Surviving Divorce
Surviving Divorce is a powerful DVD series and support group format to help separated and divorced Catholics find peace, power, and renewed passion for life. This 12-week program features one 30-minute DVD shown each week, covering topics of shock, denial, anger, grief, guilt, forgiveness and much more, as well as discussion opportunities. Whether you were divorced ten days ago or ten years ago, the program offers valuable insight for everyone.