Marriage Enrichment

Retreat or Renewal Day
We are lucky in our Diocese that there are various evenings and weekends where a spiritual retreat or renewal is available. These are meetings for couples where support for married and family life is offered and shared. This is an essential resource is taking on board the positive vision that we have as Christians today. Many couples, who have attended a meeting like this have often commented that it has enriched their understanding of this vision and helped them form a solid foundation for their relationship. These afternoons or evenings also include parenting issues and skills from toddlers to the challenge of adolescence.

Further details of retreat/renewal days will follow in due course.


Talk To Each Other
One of the best and most needed ways to prepare for your own marriage is simply to talk to each other. Good Communication and listening skills are really important for a happy and solid relationship. People communicate in different ways: by speaking, touch, facial expressions. Gestures, body languages and tone of voice. However, couples also need time to be together and put aside all the practical preparations and just have some quality time for each other.

It is good to talk about hopes and expectations, about fears and concerns, how we will bring up our children, the role of faith and prayer in our marriage, how we share our lives with family and friends, how we regulate our finances, amongst other things.

There should never be any "secrets" or taboo subjects. Nothing you feel or think should be regarded as "silly" or "immature". Couples give themselves a precious gift when they really know each other before their wedding day and are not marrying a virtual "stranger". Paul Tillich once wrote: "The first duty of love is to listen".

Companion - Couple
This is a simple but very worthwhile suggestion. There are many couples in our Parish Communities who can pass on to us their experience and their wisdom in what helps for a good and lasting marriage. Couples don't need to feel that they are on their own or have no-one to turn to. Why don't you find a "Companion- Couple" - that is people who you can trust and feel "at home" with; a couple that you look up to and who can give concrete support on your way to the Covenant of Marriage.

The Companion-Couple can offer advice when asked, but basically just support an engaged couple by simply "being there" for them. The amazing thing is that after the wedding the contact doesn't need to stop, it can become a lasting friendship and bond of trust.

Books, Information and Resources
Sometimes it is good just to have time to read about our vision of married and family life. There is a large selection of Books and resources that give good advice and suggestions for couples wanting to marry. You can choose a book or leaflet that you plan to read together and then look for a good opportunity to chat about it.

Pray For Your Marriage
Through the decision to marry in Church, you are inviting God into our your lives in a special and unique way. He becomes the permanent "guest" in your experiences and in your home.

When you pray for your own marriage and wedding day, you are opening your heart to this reality. A beautiful and popular suggestion in the preparation for marriage is to adopt or write a short prayer that you include with your wedding invitation to family and friends, asking them to join with you as they pray for you every day. This can become a great source of support and love in action. Check out for selection of prayers on the Internet, or write your own prayer using your own thoughts and aspirations.

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