No matter how well a couple knows each other, being married is very different from not being married. Pre-marriage education encourages couples to communicate with each other about issues that don't necessarily occur when they are caught up in the whirl of courtship, engagement and planning for a wedding.
Couples wishing to marry in the Catholic Church are expected to attend a pre-marriage course or if this is not possible for some reason to spend time in marriage preparation with the priest who is to officiate at their marriage. Courses are presented by trained facilitators in a relaxed and confidential setting. They provide couples with knowledge and skills to help create depth in their marriage vows, allowing them an opportunity to explore their own individual relationship and help them recognise and build upon its strengths.
While most dioceses offer the FOCUS course as part of the pre-marriage programme, each diocese is responsible for running their own pre marriage programme. Discover more about Catholic pre-marriage education by contacting your diocesan office: Auckland, Hamilton (07) 856 7267, Palmerston North (06) 358-8079 Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin (03) 474 1994.
All courses are based on the principles of adult education, and involve couples drawing on their own experiences and family background to identify the issues they see as important in their marriage. The areas covered by the courses may include:
Copyright 2008 Catholic Communications for the NZ Catholic Bishops' Conference
