Office of Life and Family Ministries: Marriage Preparation

Office & Staff Contact Information

Marriage Preparation

The Archdiocese of Boston is piloting a brand new marriage preparation program Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, 2009. For more information view this flyer. Be among the first to experience this new program! Space is limited, early registration is recommended. Here is the registration form.

Home
Why Marriage Preparation?
What is Marriage Preparation?
What do you need to do?

Please scroll down on this page to view the schedule of Marriage Preparation Programs.

Hay también Programas de Preparación al Matrimonio en español en la Arquidiócesis de Boston. Para obtener más información y un calendario de los programas en español, llame al departamento de Ministerios Hispanos al 617-746-5816.

Are you married now? Or just thinking about it? Either way, you're on a remarkable journey. You can turn what began as a romantic attraction into something bigger, something truly enduring. And you can turn all your wonderful feelings into a lifetime of intentional acts of loving.

Because the Catholic Church cares about your marriage, we'll help you with information, skills, inspiration and resources, and maybe a little humor along the way. Whether you're dating, engaged, newlywed or a mature couple, you're in the right place, because we're For Your Marriage -- http://www.foryourmarriage.org/.

Congratulations on your engagement!

As you proceed in your preparation for marriage, we hope that it will be a graced time for you to more fully understand God's will for you, for your marriage, and for your family. If you have any questions or concerns about the Marriage Preparation process please feel free to call the Archdiocese at (617) 746-5801. God Bless!

Many churches, and now many states, offer and recommend Marriage Preparation for couples getting married. There is quite a bit of research to suggest it can be a significant help in couples’ marital lives.

As Catholics, however, Marriage Preparation takes on a distinct character as it is preparation for a Sacrament (if both are baptized) or for a valid Catholic marriage (if only one is baptized). The priests, deacons, religious, and married couples who may work with you in your preparation want to share with you the theology and lived witness of a sacramental marriage.

Your marital health and happiness is important to you, your family, and your Church community. The Church wants to support, encourage, and equip you the best it can.

In the Archdiocese of Boston, Marriage Preparation is broken into three phases.

Phase I: Introductory sessions (with the priest, deacon and/or certified pastoral associate)
The objectives of this phase are:

to enhance or initiate your relationship with the Church,
to explain and invite you to reflect on and further appropriate the Church’s understanding of marriage,
to establish your freedom to marry,
to overview the whole preparation process, and
and to invite you to live your married lives in communion with the Church.

Phase II: Engaged Couple Workshops
These Workshops are what are publicized in this brochure. The objectives are:

to allow you to benefit from the experience and Christian witness of the team couples who are living the vocation of marriage,
to present to you some of the basic elements in the martial relationship: self-knowledge, communication, marital adjustments, spirituality of marriage and family life, the Church’s teaching on family planning, and finances, and
to assist you in your growing appreciation of marriage as more than a relationship of mutual attraction.

Phase III: Follow up sessions (with the Minister)
This is an opportunity for you...

to reflect on your experience of the Workshops,
to respond to any question or difficulties raised by the Workshop experience,
to be assisted in your ongoing appropriation of the Church’s understanding of marriage,
to plan (in final detail) the Wedding Mass or Ceremony,
to be encouraged in your regular practice of your faith, and
to ensure that all of the canonical and civil requirements for marriage are completed.

1. First, contact the priest who will be marrying you. No weddings are booked over the phone. Schedule an appointment to meet with the priest and he will explain the process and let you know what you need to do particular to your circumstances.

2. Second, schedule your Engaged Couple Workshop. Your parish or nearby parishes may offer programs not listed in this brochure. If you do not have a Workshop in your parish, you can contact any of these programs directly to register. Workshops have a registration fee. Please contact them directly for information. All sessions are required at all programs.

3. Third, return to your parish to meet with the priest.

Schedule of Marriage Preparation Programs

Listed by Month

TO REGISTER: To register for a particular program, please contact the program via the means they have posted. For each listing you will find the location first. In order to attend the program you must be able to attend all of the meetings listed below the location.

FEES: There are fees depending upon the costs associated with each program. Please call programs directly for information on cost.

APRIL 2009:

WALTHAM: Espousal Retreat House
Saturday, April 4, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 5, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration: Espousal Retreat House 781-209-3101
E-mail: espousalmarriageprep@gmail.com
Website: www.espousal.org

ANDOVER: Franciscan Retreat and Conference Center
Saturday, April 4, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 11, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Registration: Main Office 978-851-3391
Call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: www.FranRCent.org
Email: franrcent@aol.com

FRAMINGHAM - Marist House (Catholic Engaged Encounter)
Friday, April 17, 8:00 p.m. through
Sunday, April 19, 4:00 p.m.
Registration: 508-865-9087
Or email: augustdrive@comcast.net
See our website: www.bostonengagedencounter.org

LYNN: The Listening Place
Friday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Call: Monday through Thursday, 781-592-7396

METHUEN: Salvatorian Center
Friday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration: 978-683-2959
Call Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Website: www.SaintBasils.org
Email: stbasilcenter@comcast.net

WALTHAM - Espousal Retreat House
Saturday, April 25, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 26, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration: Espousal Retreat House 781-209-3101
E-mail: espousalmarriageprep@gmail.com
Website: www.espousal.org

MAY 2009:

WALTHAM: Espousal Retreat House
Saturday, May 2, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 3, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration: Espousal Retreat House 781-209-3101
Call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
E-mail: espousalmarriageprep@gmail.com
Website: www.espousal.org

ANDOVER: Franciscan Retreat and Conference Center
Saturday, May 2, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 9, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Registration: Main Office 978-851-3391
Call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: www.FranRCent.org
Email: franrcent@aol.com

METHUEN: Salvatorian Center
Friday, May 8, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 9, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration: 978-683-2959
Call Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Website: www.SaintBasils.org
Email: stbasilcenter@comcast.net

LYNN: The Listening Place
Friday, May 15, 7:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Call: Monday through Thursday, 781-592-7396

WALTHAM: Espousal Retreat House
Saturday, May 16, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 17, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration: Espousal Retreat House 781-209-3101
Call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
E-mail: espousalmarriageprep@gmail.com
Website: www.espousal.org

BILLERICA: St. Theresa Parish
Sunday, May 17, 2:00 p.m. – 50 p.m.
Monday, May 18, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Contact: Joanne Gagliardi, 978-667-5392
E-mail: musicJG@hotmail.com

JUNE 2009:

WALTHAM: Espousal Retreat House
Saturday, June 6, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 7, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration: Espousal Retreat House 781-209-3101
Call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
E-mail: espousalmarriageprep@gmail.com
Website: www.espousal.org

ANDOVER: Franciscan Retreat and Conference Center
Saturday, June 6, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 13, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Registration: Main Office 978-851-3391
Call Monday through Friday, :00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: www.FranRCent.org
Email: franrcent@aol.com

REVERE: St. Anthony Parish
Sunday, June 7, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 9, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 14, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 16, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Registration: Deacon Belmonte, Barbara Belmonte, 781-289-1234
Limited to 30 couples. Call Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Leave name, address, home and work phone numbers, and place and date of marriage
when leaving a message.

FRAMINGHAM - Marist House (Catholic Engaged Encounter)
Friday, June 12, 8:00 p.m. through
Sunday, June 14, 4:00 p.m.
Registration: 508-865-9087
Or email: augustdrive@comcast.net
See our website: www.bostonengagedencounter.org

LYNN: The Listening Place
Friday, June 12, 7:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Saturday, June 13, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Call: Monday through Thursday, 781-592-7396

METHUEN: Salvatorian Center
Friday, June 12, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 13, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration: 978-683-2959
Call Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Website: www.SaintBasils.org
Email: stbasilcenter@comcast.net

NEW ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON PILOT PROGRAM
BRAINTREE, Archdiocese of Boston Pastoral Center
Saturday, June 13, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Sunday, June 14, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Registration: 617-746-5801 or Kari_Colella@rcab.org
Space is limited, early registration is recommended
For more information, view this flyer.

JULY 2009:

LYNN: The Listening Place
Friday, July 10, 7:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Saturday, July 11, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Call: Monday through Thursday, 781-592-7396

WALTHAM: Espousal Retreat House
Saturday, July 11, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 12, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration: Espousal Retreat House
Call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
E-mail: espousalmarriageprep@gmail.com
Website: www.espousal.org

ANDOVER: Franciscan Retreat and Conference Center
Saturday, July 11, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 18, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Registration: Main Office 978-851-3391
Call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: www.FranRCent.org
Email: franrcent@aol.com

AUGUST 2009:

WALTHAM: Espousal Retreat House
Saturday, August 1, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 2, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration: Espousal Retreat House 781-209-3101
Call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
E-mail: espousalmarriageprep@gmail.com
Website: www.espousal.org

ANDOVER: Franciscan Retreat and Conference Center
Saturday, August 1, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 8, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Registration: Main Office 978-851-3391
Call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Website: www.FranRCent.org
Email: franrcent@aol.com

LYNN: The Listening Place
Friday, August 7, 7:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Saturday, August 8, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Call: Monday through Thursday, 781-592-7396

FRAMINGHAM - Marist House (Catholic Engaged Encounter)
Friday, August 21, 8:00 p.m. through
Sunday, August 23, 4:00 p.m.
Registration: 508-865-9087
Or email: augustdrive@comcast.net
See our website: www.bostonengagedencounter.org

Contact: Kari Colella, Coordinator of Marriage Ministries - (617) 746-5801,

The Office of Life and Family Ministries • 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, MA 02184
Phone (617) 746-5800 • Fax (617) 783-5642

Site Credits