What we are learning from Zoom Training of Sponsor Couple ™ ministry teams.
Four KEY elements of effective marriage preparation:
1 - "Daily Dialogue" is an essential skill for establishing and sustaining healthy/holy marriage. “Daily Dialogue” is the couple’s “go to” method for dealing with their need for connection, understanding and emotional support. They may not use Daily Dialogue every day, but each of them knows how to ask for dialogue, and knows the importance of responding to their partner's request for dialogue. Sponsor Couple ™ training teams make dialogue a personal priority because they are aware they will be effective witnesses in assisting couples prepare for marriage when they “practice what they preach”. Each couple develops the specific method of dialogue they find most effective. For Better & For Ever ™ offers written content (Chapters 9 & 10) and web links about dialogue.
2 – “Family of Origin” issues are a typical source of issues that couples deal with by means of Daily Dialogue. “Family of Origin” issues will include cultural issues, significant relationships of the past, influence from peers and social media. Sometimes the issue may be very difficult to share, like a memory of being abused as a child, but it can also be as simple as: "I wonder if you would consider watching a movie together this evening?"
3 - Sponsor Couple ™ ministry teams offer the most appropriate setting for accompaniment of those preparing for marriage. Sponsor Couple ™ training teaches them to initiate Follow-up beyond the wedding into the early year(s) of marriage. The goal is to continue the unique support for the marriage of newly wed couple that began during their meetings prior to their wedding day. This Follow-up support should also include encouraging the couple to become involved in helping other couples prepare for marriage. Married couples who have experienced the Sponsor Couple ™ process when they prepared for marriage already know the value of this ministry and how to "pass on" the gift they have received.
4 – The For Better & For Ever ™ books and the website at https://marriagepreparation.com/ are resources couples can use for discernment of their vocation, marriage preparation, validation of civil marriage and preparation for marriage after obtaining a declaration of nullity on a previous marriage. These resources provide theological and psychological content ~ in simple, user friendly, ecumenical language ~ because many preparing for marriage in the Catholic Church are not Roman Catholic.
If you agree these are KEY elements of marriage preparation, please add you name, email and city/state to our international list of folks who affirm the importance of these elements in programs offered by dioceses and local parishes > SPONSOR COUPLE ™ FEEDBACK.