Engaged Couples
Marriage Preparation
Congratulations on Your Engagement!
We’re honoured to walk with you as you prepare for the beautiful vocation of marriage in the Catholic Church. What an exciting journey ahead! The Church rejoices in your commitment to marry and wants to support you every step of the way. Our hope and prayer is that you, as a couple, and your family will become a vibrant part of parish life wherever you call home.
The Catechism teaches us: “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership for the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament” (CCC 1601).
A sacramental marriage invites God Himself—who is love (1 Jn 4:8)—into the center of your relationship. He leads, strengthens, and directs couples who seek Him. True love requires ongoing, sacrificial, unconditional giving and receiving, modeled on Christ’s love revealed to us.
Marriage Preparation in the Diocese of Pembroke
The Sacrament of Marriage is a serious, lifelong commitment requiring thoughtful preparation. We’re here to help you grow in your love for each other and deepen your relationship with Christ and His Church. Because the Church cares deeply about your marriage, preparation is mandatory in the Diocese of Pembroke.
Next Steps:
- Meet with your parish priest to begin the preparation process
- Register for a marriage preparation course hosted by experienced married couples and clergy
- Plan ahead — We strongly recommend completing the program at least six months before your wedding date
We look forward to supporting you as you prepare for this sacred commitment!
Marriage Preparation Program Topics
Our program, God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage, covers essential topics across two full-day sessions:
Day 1 – Life Skills for Marriage
- Discovering Your Marriage Mission
- The Fourfold Commitment of Married Love
- Seven Key Virtues of a Joy-Filled Marriage
- Bringing Your Goals into Focus
- Communicating Love – Learning and Respecting Love Styles
- Key Virtues for Communicating Better
- Resolving Conflict
- Managing Your Time, Money, and Energy
- Fostering Intimacy in Marriage – Sexuality and Prayer
Day 2 – God’s Plan for Love
- God’s Plan for Marriage “In the Beginning”
- Christ Restores God’s Plan for Marriage
- What Are We Saying “I Do” To?
- Where the Words of Your Vows Become Flesh
- The Beauty of Openness to Life (Natural Family Planning)
- Living God’s Plan for Marriage – Prayer, Confession, Eucharist, Couple Testimony
Program Details
Next Session:
Saturday, March 29, 2026 and Saturday, April 12, 2026
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM both days
Lunch included
Cost: $125 per couple
Format: All programs are now offered IN-PERSON unless otherwise communicated.
The diocesan program is offered three times per year in various parishes throughout the Diocese of Pembroke.
Natural Family Planning (NFP)
Natural Family Planning allows husband and wife to fully express their gift of love while remaining open to life, in accordance with God’s plan for marriage and family. It is a natural, effective way for spouses to regulate the spacing of children—studies show NFP can be as effective as artificial contraception.
NFP is a simple method of monitoring a woman’s fertility cycle based on observable symptoms. Couples can choose to abstain during fertile days or engage in relations to maximize their chances of conceiving.
Why Choose NFP?
Many couples choose NFP because it:
- Respects the natural ecology of the woman’s body (no artificial substances or chemicals)
- Builds affection and communication between spouses
- Provides a real sense of freedom rooted in love and respect for each other and for God
Learn more about Natural Family Planning
USCCB Natural Family Planning: https://www.usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning
This is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ official NFP page—authoritative, comprehensive, explains the Church’s teaching clearly.
Couple to Couple League: https://ccli.org
One of the oldest and most established Catholic NFP organizations. They teach the Sympto-Thermal Method.
Marquette Model: https://nfp.marquette.edu
University-based, scientifically rigorous approach developed at Marquette University.
Billings Ovulation Method: https://www.billings-ovulation-method.org.au
Since Dave and Elena Afelskie teach Billings Method, this is the authoritative source for that specific approach.”
Ready to chat with an expert?
We have NFP Instructors right here in the Diocese of Pembroke
James and Ellie Hrkach
Location: Pakenham
Phone: 613-623-7459
Method: Sympto-Thermal (offered online or in-person)
Dave and Elena Afelskie
Location: Barry’s Bay
Phone: 613-756-7718
Method: Billings Ovulation
Marriage Enrichment
Diocesan “Celebrate Marriage” Dinner
This dinner is held to celebrate marriage and offer a time of marriage enrichment for married couples, from year to year, as we are able. There is a guest speaker, catered dinner, social time for couples and a short opportunity for adoration/exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, ending with a blessing for all couples, especially those celebrating a special anniversary.
Next “Celebrate Marriage” dinner – TBD
World Wide Marriage Encounter
World Wide Marriage Encounter (wwme.org) is a religious (Catholic) based weekend program designed to help married couples discover or rediscover the need for God in their marriages, improve their marriages, grow closer to each other, and improve their commitment to one another.
Retrouvaille
Retrouvaille (retrouvaille.org): This program, which gets its name from a French word meaning “rediscovery,” offers couples tools to establish (or rediscover) a loving marriage relationship. Thousands of couples experiencing difficulty establishing or maintaining happy relationships or headed for divorce have overcome their marital problems by attending the program.
Online resources
See additional online resources by clicking here.
Books
There are a number of helpful books on marriage in the office that can be lent out. Please contact us for more information.
Family
Family Resources
Whether or not you had the opportunity to grow up in a faith filled family and were given loving instruction on the Catholic faith, you may find these Catholic family-friendly resources helpful. Please contact us if you have any other helpful resources that we can add here for other families to benefit from. We are all in this together, and so we need the tools other families have used and have benefited from. Thank you!
Programs
Summer Retreats for Families
Additional Links
See our links page for additional resources.
Ministry for the Separated & Divorced/Remarried
The Diocese of Pembroke is working hard to put together a team of individuals who wish to help support and journey with those who are going through a separation, divorce or are remarried outside the Catholic Church and wish to come into communion with the Church.
We need volunteers who have gone through the healing process, have fully healed from their own loss and grief and are able to accompany others in their journey towards healing. Volunteers need to be committed to their Catholic faith and be compassionate and understanding of the pain and suffering that others are experiencing in these difficult times.
For now we can only refer you to Ottawa’s online ministry……
BY MY SIDE – OTTAWA – A PROGRAM OF SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIP AND HEALING FOR SEPARATED AND DIVORCED CATHOLICS
This 6 week online women-only and 6 week online men’s-only program starts on March 27, 2021. By My Side is a nonprofit structured support group for separated and divorced Catholics. All classes are hosted virtually. Christ holds those who suffer close to his heart and desires to bring about healing. This program helps participants find their way to reconciliation, peace and hope through Christ and the Church. We ask participants for a $40 payment to help cover resources and promotion. Any leftover funds are donated directly to charity. Our program (previously known has Journey of Hope Ottawa) began 6 years ago and has had over 100 class participants. Included are resources, 2 follow-up classes, and monthly Facebook posts offering Spiritual Food for Thought. To find out more and to register go to www.bymyside.ca.