Preparation for marriage in the Catholic Church can be accomplished by participating in one of several options. All programs focus on issues pertinent to a couple preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony. They emphasize self-awareness as well as techniques to improve communication. Natural Family planning is strongly recommended as part of a good Marriage Preparation.

Options a couple may choose from include:

• A Marriage in the Lord - A ten-hour program presented in a large group setting or as a small in-home experience, usually one night a week for two and one half hours over a period of four weeks. Please contact your local Parish or Deanery for Marriage Preparation registration.
  
  Flyer and Registration form for Marriage Preparation (2007)
• Engaged Encounter - A forty-hour weekend experience presented by a team of married couples and a priest. The weekend is Catholic in orientation with personal reflection and dialogue as the main thrusts. Meals are taken in common and the weekend ends with Sunday Mass. (Add) Further information is available by calling Catholic Engaged Encounter at (951) 737-9399 or at www.eeweekend.org
  
  Catholic Engaged Encounter
  P.O. Box 6374
  Norco, CA 92860
• "Unitas" Preparing for a Sacramental Marriage - A sixteen-hour program presented by a team of married couples and a deacon couple.  Meetings take place one night a week for two hours in a parish setting.  Emphasizing three key elements (the sacramental covenant, commitment to a life long union, and open and honest communication), “Unitas” is an experience-based program that makes extensive use of real-life case studies to help couples understand what they will experience in marriage.  Further information is available at http://www.hsccfv.org/cats.php?table=/marriage_prep.shtml of call (714) 963-1811.
• To Trust Again - A ten-hour program for couples entering marriage after one or both partners has experienced loss by death or after a Church annulment. Please call Mike & Lori Mullen at (714) 528-0417.
  
  Flyer and Registration form for To Trust Again (2007)

• El Amor Nuestro de Cada Dia - A ten-hour Spanish Marriage Preparation program for Engage couples. El sacramento del matrimonio es un compromiso serio para toda la vida. La Iglesia requiere que cada pareja asista a clases pre-matrimoniales como parte del proceso de preparación para el matrimonio. Los programas enfatizan la habilidad de conocerse a uno mismo y construir una buena comunicación entre la pareja. Un programa de diez horas que usualmente se da en dos sesiones de seis horas cada una. Para registrarse le pedimos que se comunique con su Parroquia o su Decanato.
• Convalidation - A ten-hour Spanish Marriage Preparation program for couples who have been married in a civil ceremony and wish to marry in the Catholic Church. Un programa que usualmente se da a las parejas que ya están casadas por el civil y desean convalidar su matrimonio ante la Iglesia ó a las parejas que ya viven juntas y desean casarse. Este programa es de diez horas que se da en dos sesiones de seis horas cada una. Para registrarse le pedimos que se comunique con su Parroquia o Decanato.