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St. Christopher Pre-Marriage Preparation Includes:

FOCCUS: (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study) is a self-diagnostic inventory designed to help couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship.

UNITAS: The Unitas Program is a process of marriage formation that is designed to help couples appreciate the importance of the Sacrament of Marriage. Unitas is designed to help couples understand that they are a part of their local church community and to give them the information that they will need to begin a life together in the Sacrament of Marriage.

SPONSOR COUPLE MINISTRY: This program will begin after the third Unitas session. It consists of a series of preparation sessions held at the home of a married couple who is trained in marriage ministry. It provides a personal approach, addressing the unique need of the engaged couple in a one-on-one fashion. Sessions are scheduled at the convenience of both couples.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING: NFP offers the couple the opportunity to understand the nature of fertility and work with it, either to plan a pregnancy or avoid a pregnancy. Husbands are encouraged to "tune into" their wives' cycle and both spouses are encouraged to speak openly and frankly about their sexual desires, and their ideas on family size. NFP is taught by Joe and Cinda DeVet, Archdiocesan CCL Coordinators.

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER: This is a weekend retreat that is designed to offer couples the opportunity to dialogue honestly and intensively about their future life together. Self-identity, role expectations of each other, money, sex, children, family, and religion are just some of the topics of face-to-face dialogue with one's partner. During the course of the weekend there is time provided for questions. Open discussion, prayer and Sunday Mass.

GOD'S PLAN FOR A JOY FILLED MARRIAGE: God’s Play For A Joy-Filled Marriage is a marriage preparation component that offers engaged/civilly married couples a more compelling presentation of God’s glorious plan for marital love than perhaps any program available in the Church today. Based on Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, this component is intended to enhance a key component of marriage preparation: catechesis in the theology of marriage and the gift of human sexuality. God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage will consist of a one day retreat. (English/Spanish separate).

Youth & Family Life Ministry 713.645.6614