Who is The Marriage Group®?

Made With Love, in Michigan

Our Mission & Purpose

Since our start in 2009, The Marriage Group has accompanied 100,000+ couples in over 100 countries to become the couple other couples want to become (say that three times fast!).

This mission is about identity and transformation. It reflects the real goal of everything we build. Our purpose is to form strong, connected, faith-filled marriages that stand out and influence others in a healthy way. In their homes and families, in their parish, and in their communities.

We invite couples and ministry leaders to step into this mission with us. Together, we are forming marriages rooted in Christ, marked by strength, joy, and real commitment. They strengthen families, renew parish life, and create momentum in their communities. This is how the Church is rebuilt. Through marriages that set the standard, live the faith with conviction, and call others to something greater.

Meet The Team

Michelle Shepley - Operations & Finance (COO:CFO)

Michelle Shepley

Operations & Finance (COO/CFO)

Gordon Whitney

Director of Product Development & Creative

Alonna Hunt

Parish & Diocesan Outreach

Macy Hodson - Community Host

Macy Hodson

Community Host

Carol Brooks - Activities & Fun

Carol Brooks

Activities & Fun

Matt Brooks - Founder

Matt Brooks

Founder & CEO

Advisory Council Members

Deacon Dennis Crimmins - Holy Trinity Parish

Deacon Dennis Crimmins

Holy Trinity Parish

Brooke Warren - Assoc. Director for Marriage, Family, and Life, Archdiocese of Detroit

Brooke Warren

Assoc. Director for Marriage, Family, and Life, Archdiocese of Detroit

Very Rev. Salvatore Palazzolo - Judicial Vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal

Very Rev. Salvatore Palazzolo

Judicial Vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal

Paul Propson - CEO Catholic Charities Southeast Michigan

Paul Propson

CEO Catholic Charities Southeast Michigan

Our Core Values

GROWING

We are a growth-driven company focused on personal and professional development, continually sharpening our skills and learning from one another. We aim to expand our customer base, strengthen our financial foundation, and reinvest in our mission for greater impact.

¡Detalles!

Attention to detail is apparent in everything we do, from our products to our polished presence — both online and in-person. It sets us apart from the competition. It instills a sense of confidence, builds trust, and attracts people to us.

Entrepreneurial

We’re a think tank fueled by innovation, defined by our commitment to transforming ideas into action. Always looking to learn, grow, and find better solutions; questioning what we think we know based on experience and evidence, and staying open to the idea that we might be wrong.

Real

Passion, authenticity, and honesty are at the core of who we are. We believe in being true to ourselves, which builds trust and deepens our connections with both our team and our customers. This genuine approach is what guides us in everything we do.

Fun

People know us as fun and approachable, and that’s how we want everyone to feel — whether you’re working with us or using our courses. We create content that’s inviting and easy to connect with, making sure everyone feels welcome and supported. It’s our goal to make learning and connecting enjoyable and accessible for everyone we serve.

Relentless

Our founder lives by the personal motto; Relentlessly Positive. This tenacious, intentional focus on what’s possible with unwavering optimism help build meaningful connections with others who are committed to taking action with the same positive mindset.

Course Presenters

Proud Members Of

Catholic Media Association
Catholic Family Life Association logo
2024 Winner of the Catholic Media Awards

2024 CMA Award Winner:
Best Video – Catechesis

2024 Winner of the Catholic Media Awards

2024 CMA Award Winner: Best Video – Catechesis

Milestones

  • 2009

     

    Creation of Online Marriage Preparation

    The Marriage Group® was formed with a vision of delivering online, on-demand, marriage preparation courses. The founders of The Marriage Group came from backgrounds in technology, online marketing, and organization-building in the business world. Working in collaboration with the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, the first-of-its-kind Catholic marriage prep class was born. This production later became known as Living Our Faith in Love and has been enjoyed by thousands of engaged couples throughout the United States and abroad.

  • 2011

     

    "A Marriage in the Lord" Online Course

    The Marriage Group® worked in collaboration with the Family Ministries Office at the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago to create an online marriage preparation course, A Marriage in the Lord, with content based upon Chicago’s weekend pre-cana course by the same name.

  • 2012

     

    Billings Ovulation Method of NFP

    The Marriage Group® again collaborated with the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago to create an online course teaching the Billings Ovulation Method of Natural Family Planning. The course has since been completed by thousands of couples around the world.

  • 2013

     

    Online Catholic Marriage Prep Class in Spanish

    Current estimates state that 40% of the Catholic Church in the United States is Hispanic. To serve this important and growing community, The Marriage Group® collaborated with the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Archdiocese of Miami to produce the Spanish-speaking online marriage prep class, Preparación Matrimonial Católica.

  • 2014

     

    Spanish Teaching of the Billings Ovulation Method of NFP

    In our continued efforts to serve the Spanish-speaking community, Aprende PFN En Línea, was produced in Costa Rica.

  • 2016

     

    Living Our Faith in Love Catholic Pre-Cana

    Growing on our commitment to continuous creation of new programs and online experiences that resonate with today’s couples, we collaborated with ministry leaders and presenters throughout the United States to produce Living Our Faith in Love in high-definition. It’s a course that feels “today,” while adhering to biblical Catholic teachings and values.

  • 2017

     

    NFP Life®

    Our previous course about Natural Family Planning focused specifically on the Billings Ovulation Method. Answering the call for a broad-based introduction to NFP, a class that would add value to any ministry program regardless of the specific method(s) they promote locally, we produced NFP Life. This presentation is an affordable way to introduce women and couples to the good news of Natural Family Planning.

  • 2019

     

    Claudio Mora Joins Our Team

    Following seven years serving the Diocese of Dallas, Texas, as Director of Family Life, Claudio joined The Marriage Group® as our Director of Catholic Programs. He has been an advocate for our courses for several years. Claudio’s perspective as a Director of Family Life and his formal education in religion and theology will bring The Marriage Group to a new level in service to engaged and married couples. View Claudio’s Profile, Bio, and Articles

  • 2021

     

    New Theology and Spirituality of Marriage Segment

    We filmed a new Theology and Spirituality of Marriage segment for our online, on-demand Pre-Cana program in Dallas in July of 2021. In this video series, Claudio Mora, Director of Catholic Programs, delivers the good news of marriage that is best lived — rooted and grounded in the foundations of Catholic faith — in a beautifully profound and approachable way. Read more about it and watch the trailer here.

  • 2022

     

    Brand New Natural Family Planning Production

    In February of 2022, The Marriage Group® strengthened its programming of Natural Family Planning with a “built-from-scratch” production of new course content. Featuring Kyle and Dr. Danielle Koestner, the new NFP segment in our leading online, on-demand Pre-Cana introduces the Church’s teaching through their personal testimony. The new version of NFP Life™ dives deeper with instruction of the beauty and science of various NFP methods.

  • 2023

     

    New headquarters and video production studio

    The Marriage Group® moved its headquarters to a renovated church building in Port Huron’s historic district. With added space, the team designed a new video studio which will be home to all future content filmed for our courses.

  • 2024

     

    Our Family Grew!

    Michelle Shepley joined our team as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. With extensive experience spanning small family-run businesses and large corporations, Michelle brings a unique blend of expertise and leadership. Her deep Catholic faith and 36-year marriage reflect her strong values, which align perfectly with our mission and vision for sustainable growth.

    We expanded our offerings with fresh, impactful content for marriage preparation and enrichment, developed in collaboration with esteemed marriage ministry leaders Andrew and Terri Lyke, Tom and Marcy Renken, and Dr. Lauri Przybysz. Additionally, we produce new materials for Natural Family Planning education, created with the expertise of Daria Bailey and Natalie Klinkhammer, further enriching our resources for couples and families.

  • 2025

     

    Platform Innovation

    We started 2025 with the launch of Marriage Every Day™, a digital community created to accompany couples beyond their wedding day. This initiative extends our work from marriage preparation into ongoing formation, encouraging couples to grow in faith, love, and commitment through intentional daily practices.

    2025 ended with the introduction of Custom Course Creation™, a first-of-its-kind customized marriage preparation experience. As couples register, they share key details about their lives and circumstances, allowing the course to dynamically include content tailored to their specific situation. All couples still receive the core formation of Catholic marriage preparation (theology of marriage, communication, conflict resolution, family of origin, Natural Family Planning, and more). Then, based on each couples’ specific situation, they may also receive additional modules that speak directly to realities they face, such as military life or forming a blended family.

    These innovations allow marriage preparation to feel more personal, more meaningful, and more relevant, helping couples begin their vocation with greater confidence, clarity, and hope for the life they are building together.

View Our Courses