Helpful Articles and Relationship Tips

So, your priest or marriage mentor said you need to do a premarital assessment. You’re here reading this article, so you’re likely a high achiever who wants to get this right. There are three popular premarital assessments that help couples…

As many of us are avoiding carnal indulgences, allowing us to focus on improving our spirituality in a deeply profound way, additionally I encourage you and your beloved to focus on enriching your marriage for Lent.

Enriching Your Marriage for Lent

We are well into this season of Lent, remembering the love of God that was poured out through Jesus with his death and celebrating his resurrection. Through that, we truly learn how to love like Jesus — selfless and with humility. Although…

Developing Personal Spirituality: A Stay-At-Home Mom’s Guide to Spiritual Growth

Married Life, Mothers, Natural Family Planning, Parenting, Practical Advice, Spirituality

When I was a young mom, I had several mentors in my life that were around 15 years or more older than me and in the later stages of parenting. To me, they radiated spirituality after years of practicing their faith, and they seemed so composed…

What is a Relationship Inventory or Premarital Assessment?

Taking a relationship assessment or doing a premarital relationship inventory during premarital preparation or premarital counseling can feel intimidating. How much time will this take? How much do I have to tell the priest about my personal…

Scheduling Sabbath Rest: How Mothers Can Recover from Busyness

Married Life, Mothers, Parenting, Practical Advice, Spirituality

Whenever mothers think about rest it can lead to guilt. The demands of motherhood are constant. Babies, toddlers, even teenagers can’t set their needs aside to give their moms a break. Mothers know they need rest, but how in the world are…

Don’t Save it All for Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air! Greeting cards, chocolates, and roses fill every aisle at the grocery store. Your favorite local restaurant is booked solid on the 14th. Couples everywhere are celebrating their undying love for one another — for one day…

Valentine’s Day: More than Hearts, Chocolates, and Roses

Would the real Saint Valentine please stand up? Yes, it may seem funny, but if we look at the history of the Catholic Church, and what the martyrology (a catalog of Roman Catholic martyrs and saints) says, we will find that there are three…

Resting Your Mind – How Mothers Can Calm Their Inner Voices

Married Life, Mothers, Parenting, Practical Advice, Spirituality

Juggling the duties of stay-at-home-motherhood can be overwhelming at times, but there are many ways moms can find refuge to rest their minds, recover from busyness, and develop their personal spirituality. Moms face a lot of judgment and…

Reviewing Refocusing and Reenergizing Your Relationship

Jump to: Get Started Review, Refocus, and Reenergize Your Marriage Romancing and Pursuing Each Other Growing in Love — Practically and Spiritually Put it in Action It's the beginning of the year, and for most, that…

Theology and Spirituality of Marriage Topic

New Year, New Theology and Spirituality of Marriage Segment

The Marriage Group is excited to announce a brand new Theology and Spirituality of Marriage segment to its popular online Pre-Cana course, Living Our Faith in Love! 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.

Your Traditions (In Motion)

Helpful Information, Married Life, Relationship Tips

In the last article, we provided questions to spark discussion between you and your spouse and the challenge was to come up with new traditions of your own, as a couple. So... Did you do that? If so, we hope your conversations led to fruitful…

Marriage and Traditions

The moment you say, "I do," you and your partner begin your adventure of intentionally getting to know each other at deeper levels. The mystery of who you and your spouse are and how you and your spouse came to be is a gift for you to both unwrap…

Fall in Love All Over Again

Fall is a great time for those of us who love anything pumpkin, cooler weather, and apple orchards. It is also a great time to reflect upon the time we've spent for the past several months, as the year begins to wind down.

Doing Ministry in Difficult Times

As a ministry leader, you may be feeling lonely, tired, overworked, and lost. Doing ministry in these circumstances is not easy! Please know we are here to help you! You are not alone. Here are some ideas that you can implement now that you are trying to do more with less resources

Setting Goals in Your Marriage

You cannot predict the future, but you can plan for the future. Okay, okay, I know that’s pretty cliché, but if something is a cliché, it usually means it’s true, right? The Future (personifying it a little bit here) is scary by…

Affordable Out of the Box Date Ideas

Whether you just started your adventure together, or you are seasoned veterans when it comes to marriage, we all know how important it is to maintain consistent and intentional date nights. It may actually be more important once you start having…

What to Expect at Pre-Cana

Are you recently engaged? Is your wedding day fast approaching? Either way, you are probably wondering what to expect at Pre-Cana. We have some insight on the types of programs and how they work. When an engaged Catholic couple begins…

Planning a Catholic Wedding Ceremony

Planning a wedding ceremony can be difficult at times, but always rewarding in the end. Planning a Catholic wedding ceremony has a few extra nuances that need to be taken into consideration. Why a Catholic Wedding? Getting married in the Catholic…

Pre-Cana in 2020

Marriage Preparation, News

In 2020 we served over 6,500 couples from all over the world. Let's take a look at the information from couples who took our most popular Pre-Cana course in 2020, Living Our Faith in Love. Data was interesting for Pre-Cana in 2020 Dioceses…

Online vs. In Person Pre-Cana?

Helpful Information, Marriage Preparation, Married Life

You have decided to get married in the Catholic Church — now what? You might have heard by now that you need to go through an approved marriage preparation program, otherwise known as "Pre-Cana." The next step is for you to determine whether…

Who Instituted the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church?

Have you ever wondered who instituted the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church? Have you asked yourself where is Marriage in the Bible? This might be a question that is important to you and your fiance, especially now that you are…

Engagement in These Wild Times

God is Bigger than a Pandemic. By now, we probably do not want to hear anything else about COVID-19 and its effects on our lives. The whole world has changed because of this pandemic. There are many adaptations, changes, and new ways of doing…

Why Is It Important for Catholics to get Married?

When we ask couples who are preparing for marriage, “Why do you want to get married in the Catholic Church?” sometimes the answers include…. “It is a family tradition”, or … “it is the right thing to do”, or “our family expects…

Pre-Cana and Zoom

Helpful Information, News

“Is this working?” “Can you all hear me?” “Hello? Can you all hear me?” That’s pretty much how every Zoom call starts out. These days, it seems like everything is a Zoom call — including Pre-Cana. However, is using…

What Happened When We Opted for Online Pre-Cana

Helpful Information, Marriage Preparation, Married Life

Aside from our wedding day, New Year’s Eve in 2018 was the best day of my life. Jake, my best friend and boyfriend of five years, proposed. We were elated, ringing in the new year bearing the excitement of becoming husband and wife. But after…

Holy Week, Easter, and the Reality of Marriage

Helpful Information, Married Life, News, Relationship Tips

When we think about this time in the Liturgical Calendar, Holy Week and Easter, we usually associate it with church services, long liturgies and rituals. We think of all this as something that happens ‘in church’ but we don’t see much…

Lent in Our Lives

Lent is a time of preparation for the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church has established this time as a period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving so we can be spiritually ready to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.

Leverage Online Marriage Prep During COVID and Canceled Pre-Cana Events

Ensure that couples preparing for an upcoming wedding can still complete an approved, comprehensive Pre-Cana program even if their in-person class was canceled.

Leverage Online Marriage Prep Courses During Coronavirus Outbreak

In the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak, ministry leaders are eager to understand, use, and promote our popular online, on-demand marriage preparation courses as a trusted alternative to gathered/group events. Many dioceses and parishes are…

National Marriage Week 2020

Every year from February 7th to the 14th we celebrate “National Marriage Week.” What is National Marriage Week? It is a week dedicated to celebrate and support marriages in the United States and also in other countries around the world. “National…

New Marriages The Holidays and The Extended Family

The holidays represent a great challenge to marriages and family life. We all enjoy getting together with family and friends and spending time with them. Balancing new marriages, the holidays, and the extended family can be difficult. What happens…

Advent and Marriage Preparation

Helpful Information, News

The name Advent (from the Latin word Adventus, which signifies a coming) is applied to the time of year during which the Church requires the faithful to prepare for the celebration of the feast of Christmas — the anniversary of the birth of…

Love is Thankful

How often do we remember to give thanks for the acts of love and kindness we constantly receive? How many times do we take for granted the love that surrounds us? The celebration of Thanksgiving comes into our lives once a year as a reminder…

Can you be married by a priest outside a Catholic church?

There are many beautiful places where a couple may want to celebrate their wedding. Some of these places may even have a special meaning to that couple. Maybe that’s the place where they met, or maybe that’s the place where they dreamed…

A Fruitful Orientation at the USCCB

October 8th-10th, several new Diocesan Directors of Family Life gathered at the Washington Retreat House in Washington, DC for an orientation that was put together by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and its Secretariat for Laity,…

What’s the Point of Doing Pre-Cana?

Marriage preparation? What is that? What’s the point of doing Pre-Cana? “My fiance and I have decided to get married in the Catholic Church. Why are we being asked to take classes?” These are all real and legitimate questions that…

What do you do at Pre-Cana?

Helpful Information, Married Life

You are getting married in the Catholic Church. Congratulations! Now that the big decision is made and you have decided to begin this process, you may have heard about “Pre-Cana” and you may be wondering what it is and how will it benefit…

Who is the Real Minister of the Sacrament of Marriage?

An important aspect about preparing for marriage in the Catholic Church is finding and selecting the priest who will preside over the celebration. Couples usually find the church first and, therefore, the priest who is at that particular…

NACFLM Conference 2019

A recap of our experience attending the 2019 NACFLM Conference where we were able to reconnect with peers, discover new materials, and make new connections.

3 Tips To Help Your Marriage Preparation Program

“There are a number of legitimate ways to structure programmes of marriage preparation, and each local Church will discern how best to provide a suitable formation without distancing young people from the sacrament.” (Amoris Laetitia #207) As…

Summer Growing Summer Loving Marriage Enrichment

June is the beginning of summer in the United States. It is also when most couples and families take time to rest and re-energize. We take trips to visit the beach, the lake, parks, etc. In general, it is a season for rest and relaxation; a…

The Marriage Group Welcomes Claudio Mora to its Team

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel with my eye upon you.” There has never been a doubt in my mind that God has been guiding my steps throughout my life. His presence has been so clear…

10 Years of The Marriage Group

https://vimeo.com/331461731 In 2009, together with two friends that became business partners, I set out to bring a comprehensive marriage preparation experience online, where today's couples are most comfortable. Although we were confident…

What We Learned About Our Couples in 2018

Helpful Information, Marriage Preparation, News

Today's Catholic couples are intentional about the marriage preparation experience, but they're busier than ever, so they desire flexibility. In 2018 alone, over 5,000 couples from around the world enjoyed our online marriage preparation experience! Having served more engaged Catholic couples than any other provider, we have learned a great deal about the couples themselves, how they found us, and their experience from start to finish.

4 Affordable Dates That Won’t Break The Bank

When it comes to any date, it’s pretty safe to say that we all like to be impressed by the other, and we like to be impressive as well. Truthfully though, don’t most of us simply appreciate a romantic effort most times, leaving the pricey…

Wedding Dates to Avoid and Dates to Consider

First Things First: Choosing Your Wedding Day Be honest, you have most likely had the "when and where" picked out for your big day for about as long as you can remember. Am I right? Yes, of course, and so did I! We’ll save the "where" for…

Can we get married during Lent in the Catholic Church?

First of all, congratulations on your engagement and soon coming wedding! What a very exciting, sacramental, and beautiful event in your life. Standing before God and man reciting your vows to your beloved is one of the most profound moments…

What do Ash Wednesday and Lent mean?

Marriage Preparation, Married Life, Relationship Tips

'Tis the season...Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season are upon us! No matter what your religious affiliations or beliefs are, have you ever wondered or needed a fresh description of what it all means and its purpose? If your answer is, "yes",…

“That they Might Be One”: Ecumenical Marriages

When a Catholic and a non-Catholic marry one another, obvious differences in doctrine, worship, or personal piety inevitably lead to tension. So how can an ecumenical marriage thrive? You were drawn to this person in particular, not their religion…

Everyone Needs A Cheerleader!

Relationship Tips

Everyone needs a cheerleader. Let us say that again: everyone needs a cheerleader. We can’t deny that there is an abundance of negative talk and images out there today. Although that may be true, we often miss that there is just as much,…

New Money Matters Segment

The Marriage Group is excited to announce a brand new Money Matters segment to its popular online marriage prep class, Living Our Faith in Love™! Introducing Michelle Shepley, Vice President and Senior Mortgage Sales Manager of a regional…

The Newlywed’s Guide To Talking About Investments

Money is one of the most common causes of friction during the first year of marriage. When you first enter into a union it is important to discuss money matters, but you might be wondering: what kind of personal finances should I bring up? Your…

Marriage Prep During the Christmas Season

Marriage Preparation, Relationship Tips

Merry Christmas to our parish and diocesan partners all around the country! We just wanted to send out a quick reminder about one of the challenges and blessings of marriage prep during the Christmas/Advent season. We serve thousands of couples…

Staying out of the Deep End: Tips for Engagement Happiness

When you take the ultimate commitment plunge – getting engaged — there are an increasing number of deep waterways you may have to navigate together. To name a few, there’s adjusting to your new relationship status, making decisions together,…

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – The Pros and Cons of Getting Married Abroad

With 21% of Americans getting married abroad in 2015, the destination wedding is becoming more attractive. This is in the face of the increasing cost of domestic weddings. Apart from the financial benefits, couples may also envisage the beautiful…

Free eBook: Meeting Today’s Churchgoers Online

Helpful Information, News

We are offering a free eBook: Meeting Today's Churchgoers Online. This ebook discusses how to effectively communicate with your parishioners and attendees outside of the Church. Based on our previous blog post, you will learn to use Social…

A Brief History of Marriage: 1960s-Present

Married Life

Marriage has a long history, originating before written records, possibly during the Stone Age. However, as cultural norms shift, so too has the definition and nature of marriage. It wasn't until the fall of the Romans that the Catholic Church…

How to Limit Your Wedding Guest List Without Hurting Peoples’ Feelings

Weddings are such wonderful times, especially for the bride and groom, who are celebrating their decision to become one. But, planning a wedding is not always fun, and there is quite a bit of bureaucracy behind preparing for such a major event.…

One Marriage, One Income.

Marriage Preparation, Married Life, Relationship Tips

'For richer, for poorer'.... it's right there in the traditional marriage vows, but how many of us consider the consequences of actually living it out in the real world? The sad statistic is that up to 50% of marriages end in divorce, with finances…

Adjusting Expectations in the First Weeks and Months of Marriage

The newlywed period is an exciting time. Not only are you still coming down from the buzz of your wedding and all its associated events, you and your partner are also getting to know each other as husband and wife. While this time can be blissful,…

Staying Committed in the Social Media Age

Relationship Tips

Social media is a wonderful tool to use for connecting with friends, family, and loved ones, who may not otherwise be able to connect. Along with that freedom comes a good deal of self-discipline to be able to use appropriately and responsibly,…

Demo the Course in 5 Minutes!

Greetings! Gordon Whitney here, one of the producers for The Marriage Group, and I wanted to invite you to demo our popular online marriage prep course, Living Our Faith in Love. With this 5 minute walkthrough, you as Clergy will be able…

Best Wedding Planning Apps

Planning your wedding is such a joyous time, but it can be a stressful one. Especially when you truly just want everything to be perfect. Not only will you be thinking about all of your guests (what they will do, what they will eat and how they…

Church Outside of Church: Truly Meeting Today’s Churchgoers Where They Are.

Meeting today's churchgoers where they are should never mean compromising your message in order to be "hip" and "cool" (oh, how cringeworthy those buzz words are...). That being said, we cannot deny that times are changing, especially when…

An Introduction to and Benefits of Online Learning

Today, more and more people are embracing the benefits of e-learning. “E-learning” or “online learning” refers to any education that takes place via electronic media. This is most commonly done through the internet. E-learning is appealing…

On-Screen Captioning Enhances Course Experiences

The Marriage Group has enhanced its popular online Catholic marriage prep class, Living Our Faith in Love, and NFP Life: An Introduction to Natural Family Planning, with the addition of on-screen captioning in both English and Spanish. Just…

What is Natural Family Planning (NFP)?

Natural Family Planning

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a method of planning your family in a natural way that respects the Catholic Church and allows you to manage your fertility. NFP allows you the freedom to achieve, postpone or avoid pregnancy. The unique…

Marriage Prep Courses For Modern Couples

Meeting Catholic Church Requirements Marriage prep should always be up-to-date with the changing of times. Young couples today desire accessible, convenient, uplifting, and modern ways of doing things. When planning to marry in the Catholic…

How do you get married in the Catholic Church?

Finding a partner to share the rest of your life with is a blessing. If you’ve recently gotten engaged and are planning to be married in the Catholic Church, there are a few steps to do so. Catholics recognize marriage as a Sacrament, so taking…

What is Pre-Cana in the Catholic Church?