“The Family finds in the plan of God the creator and redeemer not only its identity, what it is, but also its mission, what it can and should do.”
(Familiaris Consortio 1981, Pope John Paul II)
Sponsor Couples are an essential part of a ministry that helps pastors to prepare engaged couples for marriage.
Their purpose is to complement the Marriage Guidelines for marriage preparation in facilitating the engaged couples a better understanding of themselves and the Sacrament of Marriage. Sponsor couples have the responsibility to guide the engaged couple through the marriage preparation process as role models, teachers, and facilitators of communication. If you are interested in becoming a Sponsor Couple for your parish, please consult with your local pastor.
FOCCUS is an instrument designed to help couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship. It is a tool to aid pastors, sponsor couples, or others ministering to couples to help them name and work through issues before marriage.
The ministry of Marriage Preparation can be one of the most rewarding experiences for a married couple who is involved in the immediate marriage preparation of a young, engaged couple.