Sacrament of Marriage
WASHINGTON (October 8, 2004) – Lifelong support for marriage is a
key effort for parishes and dioceses in the United States, according
to a survey conducted by the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Marriage and
Family Life.
The survey, which looked at diocesan efforts in 2003, found
Catholics nationwide involved in preparation for marriage programs,
post-marriage enrichment programs, celebrations of special
anniversaries and workshops to address troubled marriages.
The survey drew its findings from a study of 129 (66%) of the
nation's 195 dioceses and eparchies. It also included data from
three national groups: Catholic Engaged Encounter, Worldwide
Marriage Encounter and Retrouvaille.
According to the survey, virtually all dioceses require some form of
marriage preparation. Only two of the 130 dioceses surveyed did not
have a policy governing this. According to figures reported in The
Official Catholic Directory, there were 177,825 couples married in
the Catholic Church in 2003 in those 130 dioceses. The survey found
that some 81 percent of couples (144,054) took part in a marriage
preparation program that same year. This number represents a
combination of totals reported by diocesan programs and by Catholic
Engaged Encounter, which operates in 121 dioceses.
Survey organizers surmised that the actual percentage of couples
attending pre-marriage programs is much higher than reported.
The survey did not gather data on couples who might have
participated in a parish-sponsored marriage preparation program, or
one offered in military or campus chaplaincies. Also not included in
the totals are some couples who were excused from programs because
of special circumstances, or who were entering into second
marriages, or having the convalidation, or blessing, of a marriage
previously performed outside the Church.
The survey found that marriage preparation programs may consist of
anywhere from one to 12 sessions. The average number of hours a
couple spends in a program is 12.
Sessions typically involve interviews with a parish priest or
deacon, educational presentations and discussions with married
couples who serve as leaders and mentors, and the opportunity for a
couple to plan the readings, prayers, and music they will use in
their wedding ceremony. Most marriage preparation programs also use
a pre-marital inventory which gives the engaged couple a profile of
their areas of agreement and disagreement.
Ongoing marriage education is offered in more than 70 dioceses, the
survey found. Some couples also attend programs in their local
parish. A cumulative total of 14,289 couples participated in 72
diocesan programs aimed at helping couples renew their relationships
and in some cases reconcile when a marriage is about to fail. In
addition to programs offered by dioceses, another opportunity was
offered by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a weekend renewal
experience led by a team of married couples and a priest. In 2003,
Worldwide Marriage Encounter served 10,989 couples with programs in
English, Spanish and Korean.
Retrouvaille, the church ministry geared towards troubled marriages,
reported working with 5,000 couples in 2003. Retrouvaille, which
means rediscovery, is in 40 states currently.
The survey also found that an increasingly popular diocesan event is
the annual Mass celebrated by the local bishop for couples married
25 and 50 years or more. In 2003, one hundred dioceses reported
hosting anniversary celebrations with an overall total of 23,165
couples attending.
Bishop Kevin Boland of Savannah, Georgia, Chairman of the U.S.
Bishops' Marriage and Family Life Committee, said support for
marriage is one of the most important ministries in the Church.
""We are trying to build a continuum of ministry for couples in
order to give them both encouragement and the tools they need to
grow and thrive in all stages of their marriage," he said.
"It is especially important that couples find marital help in their
parishes," he added.