Marriage is a sacrament of vocation in the Catholic Church by which a man and a woman are united for life in a covenantal relationship modeled on the union and love of Christ and the Church. With the support of the community, and the grace of this sacrament, the love of husband and wife becomes more perfect, binds them together in fidelity and helps them in welcoming and caring for children.
The Church shows its pastoral care for the support of marriage by the variety of programs offered to help couples prepare for the celebration of marriage and their lifelong commitment to living it out. The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi offers a program for engaged couples which teaches God’s plan for marriage and the Church’s teaching.
Click here for Marriage Preparation Information & Registration
Looking for more resources to support your marriage?
www.foryourmarriage.org is a website full of great resources to support you and your spouse in the sacrament of marriage. Their great articles cover all aspects of marriage, from preparation to date night ideas, to overcoming obstacles in marriage.
Marriage Enrichment
Retrouvaille
Retrouvaille means recovery. Retrouvaille is a weekend experience designed to help a couple re-establish communication and to gain insight into themselves as individuals and as a couple. Couples do not share with others on the weekend.
The Retrouvaille Weekend offers those experiencing problems within their marriage a fresh way of looking at their marriage. These are not counseling sessions but peer ministry in its best form. After the weekend couples are provided with a follow-up series. The weekend starts at 7pm on Friday and lasts until 6pm on Sunday. There are six post-weekend Saturday sessions lasting from 1pm to 4:30pm. On-going support is available after that if the couple desires it.
For more information please call: 1-800-470-2230 or visit the web site at http://www.retrouvaille.org/; or contact Bill & Luann Roche, Coordinators for Retrouvaille of NC, at (434) 793-0242 or retrouvaillenc@msn.com.
Counseling
Catholic Charities provides counseling services for those with troubled marriages. Download info: Word | PDF
The Third Option
The Third Option is an ongoing support group/program for marriages. It combines skill building, mentor sharing and a support group. Designed for troubled marriages, it can help ALL marriages.
The Third Option is not counseling. It is facilitated by trained volunteers. The Third Option is a skill-based group program. Each session stands alone so couples can start anytime in the process. We encourage couples to attend every session if possible.
There is no cost for the program. Attendance is not limited to couples. One person may attend.
Sessions are found at the following locations:
Please check the Diocese of Raleigh event calendar for upcoming sessions at all locations. For more information, email Adrienne Yates, adrienne.yates@raldioc.org.
