You may have already spoken to your priest or deacon, who led you to this page. If not, the first step is to reach out to the priest or deacon of your choice.

• All engaged couples are required to receive a sacramental preparation and must meet with their priest/deacon at least six months (or more) prior to the desired wedding date. This marriage preparation process consists of Four Phases. Initial contact with priest/deacon will:
• Establish rapport with you in order to support and counsel you at this most important time in your life. 
• Examine your motives for marriage. 
• Explore any special circumstances that may affect marriage, e.g., age, cultural background, pregnancy, military service, physical or emotional problems, levels of faith and religious issues. 
• Explain the Marriage Preparation process. 
• Obtain personal information, explain what other documentation is needed, and determine whether any dispensations or permissions will be necessary.

Your priest or deacon will then: 

• Administer a PREMARITAL INSTRUMENT* to assist in beginning the assessment of your readiness to marry.
• Discuss the results of the FOCCUS instrument. 
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your communication process. 
• Examine the sacramental aspects of your human covenant. 
• Assess your readiness for marriage and complete the Prenuptial Questionnaire. 
• Begin the liturgical wedding plans with parish guidelines, as well as inform you of the cost and suggested offering.  

 *A premarital inventory is a tool designed to help you assess your readiness for marriage. It is not a pass/fail indicator. Instead, it is meant to help you discover more about yourselves and each other. Our diocese utilizes the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication Understanding and Study) instrument to help you identify issues that need to be discussed, reflected on, understood, studied for problem-solving, skill-building and decision-making. 

Proper and effective preparation is essential to ensure successful and lasting marriages. Below are listed four options available to couples preparing for marriage approved by the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

MENTOR CENTERED PROGRAMS
Relationship-focused programs are the ideal option for marriage preparation. They provide a personalized, relational approach, and they have the potential for fostering long-term connections between couples who can support one other as they encounter joys and challenges throughout their lives rather than just during the preparation stage. 

1. Witness to Love - This parish-based mentor program is offered in a number of parishes in our diocese and we believe it to be the most effective marriage preparation program available today.  Ask your parish if this option is available to you, or for more details, go to  https://witnesstolove.org/.  If you are a parish or pastor interested in starting a Witness to Love Program, your liaison can walk you through the process.

2. Catholic Marriage Prep Online - Ideal for couples who are unable to connect with local resources.  Unlike other online marriage prep programs, which require a couple to watch a series of videos and discuss the content amongst themselves before obtaining a certificate of completion, Catholic Marriage Prep Online connects engaged couples with a mentor couple online who assists them through the process. They cover both theology and catechesis as well as the practical skills needed for a successful marriage. The sessions are structured in a "go at your own pace" format - scheduling with a mentor couple isn't necessary.  For details or to register go to https://catholicmarriageprep.com.NON-MENTOR CENTERED OPTIONS
Three other diocesan approved options for marriage preparation are the ECHO for Engaged couples retreat, the [ENGAGED] course hosted by Paul and Gretchen George of Discover the Art of Living, and the Catholic Engaged Encounter Retreat, which are both intended to supplement a broader marriage preparation process facilitated by either the pastor or deacon officiating the wedding or their designated representative. 
 
1. ECHO for Engaged Couples:  At ECHO at Maryhill Renewal Center, engaged couples will come together for the weekend to dive into St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body in preparation to enter into the sacrament of marriage while in the context of authentic community with other couples and mentors. The retreat will offer dynamic talks, life giving discussions, quality time, encounters with Christ through the sacraments, art, music, silent prayer, and so much more! This is a good supplement to any marriage prep program you have going on in your parish, or as the Witness to Love Retreat component.

For Engaged Couples - Echo Community

2. ENGAGED Course - Registration and more information can be found at https://www.artoflivingministry.com/engaged-overview.  This is a combination of a video retreat and a live processing discussion over Zoom with Paul and Gretchen George. After registering, you will take the video retreat on your own and then schedule a personal Zoom call with Paul and Gretchen to unpack what you received in the retreat.

3. Catholic Engaged Encounter Retreat - These weekend retreats give engaged couples the opportunity to intentionally invest in their relationship as they prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage.  While these retreats are not held in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, there are opportunities to attend retreats in the Dioceses of Lafayette, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge.  

In the final step, your priest or deacon will:

• Discuss what you have learned and experienced at your formal marriage preparation program.
• Discuss your understanding of sacrament in light of your formal marriage preparation.
• Discuss your responsibilities as members of God's people, as spouses and future parents.
• Complete all documentary requirements. As appropriate, grant permission for mixed marriage and/or apply for appropriate permissions or dispensations.
• Discuss the reception of Penance and Holy Eucharist as a fitting preparation for the sacrament of Matrimony.
• Finalize the wedding liturgy and discuss the wedding rehearsal.