Marriage Preparation

Click here for Marriage Preparation and Nullity Case Certification Training

Congratulations on your engagement! The Church rejoices that you have decided to give yourselves to each other in a loving, life-long commitment and to enrich the Church and the world through your marriage and family. The Diocese of Phoenix wants to give you all the support necessary for you to have the best marriage possible. Your marriage preparation began a long time ago when you were a child, learning examples of love from those around you. You began to form friendships and to learn what it meant to love, forgive, listen to, converse with, and simply be with another person. These experiences helped to make you who you are today and perhaps led you to your fiancé.

Marriage preparation in the Diocese of Phoenix is your immediate preparation for the Sacrament of Matrimony, beginning at least six months prior to your wedding. You begin the process by talking with your local pastor who will help guide you through the process. The Diocese requires you to participate in one of the following classes for marriage preparation education:

Phoenix Area Diocesan Program:                                    Northwestern Arizona/Lake Havasu Program:

Love for Life Weekend                                                   Picture of Love

Parish Programs:                                                           
Evenings for the Engaged

Unitas

These formation classes give you some tools that you will find useful throughout your marriage. Also, they help foster the virtues of communication, understanding, and mutual love so integral to your lifelong commitment.

The Diocese of Phoenix also requires you to participate in a Natural Family Planning (NFP) class. To learn more about NFP, go here. To see a list of classes and to sign up, go here.

To read the current marriage preparation policy for the Diocese of Phoenix, click on one of the following links:

English Summary of Diocesan Policy

Resumen de la Póliza Diocesana