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Types of Marriage Preparation in Portsmouth Diocese

Whilst the same core elements can be found in all forms of marriage preparation in Portsmouth Diocese there is are a number of different ways in which it is provided.  We believe this diversity is one of our great strengths and gives couples the opprotunity to find a format that suits them.  In a marriage prepartion course you can expect to consider aspects of relationships such as communication and conflict, and also what marriage means in the Church.

Meeting with a Priest

Some priests or deacons will provide preparation for individual couples over a number of sessions arranged at times to suit everyone.  This is becoming less frequent but it is still important for couples to meet with a priest at some point as they prepare for marriage.

Parish-based Teams

A number of parishes or pastoral areas have their own teams who provide courses or days for couples getting married locally.  In some cases it may involve a number of evenings, a whole Saturday or a weekend.  These courses often have a few couples attending and the advantage of being local.  Some courses, such as "Love and Cherish" are provided in collaboration with other Christian communities and provide an ecumenical dimension that may suit people coming from differing traditions. Your priest should be able to tell you if there are any courses provided in the area.

Marriage Care Courses

Marriage Care is a national Catholic charity that supports marriage through the provision of relationship counselling and through marriage preparation courses.  It is the largest provider on marriage preparation in the country.  Several centres operate around the diocese and provide marriage preparation days throughout the year.  These days are usually attended by a number of couples and provide the opportunity to meet other people preparing for marriage, although you will never be expected to share personal details about your relationship.  Many parishes can refer you to local courses or you can contact Marriage Care nationally to find your local centre.

FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication Understanding and Study)

This is an internationally recognised form of marriage preparation that is provided in England  by Marriage Care.  Individual couples work with a FOCCUS provider through a questionnaire based assessment of their attitudes, expectations and values.  The process is not designed to look for incompatibility but simply to help identify areas of strength in your relationship and those that could require extra attention over the years and so help to reduce conflict.  FOCCUS is provided on its own or in combination with preparation courses of other types.  More information is available on the Marriage Care website.