Spring Marriage Supplement

Programs help couples prepare for marriage

Couples planning to be married in the Catholic Church are required to participate in a marriage preparation class on the parish or diocesan level.

Marriage preparation programs include one-day Pre Cana Conferences, Tobit Weekends and parish-based mentoring with sponsor couples and priests.

Pre Cana Conferences are scheduled on a Sunday afternoon each month, except in November and December, at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House, 5353 E. 56th St., in Indianapolis to help engaged couples prepare for the sacrament of marriage.

This year, Pre Cana Conferences are scheduled on Feb. 19, March 5, March 26, April 2, April 30, May 21, June 4, July 23, Aug. 6 and Oct. 22.

“Volunteer couples, priests and other professionals facilitate the afternoon session by sharing their experience and knowledge of Christian marriage,” according to the Pre Cana Program brochure.

Presentations cover “Family of Origin Theory,” “Communication Styles,” “Christian Marriage” and “Natural Family Planning.”

The program is sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Family Ministries. The program fee of $30 per couple includes the workbook Perspectives on Marriage as well as a light lunch.

Tobit is “a program designed to make your Christian marriage a success,” according to the brochure. The Tobit Weekend was designed and started in 1976 by Franciscan Father Martin Wolter, who ministered at the former Alverna Retreat House in Indianapolis.

The brochure explains that a priest and volunteer mentor couples present discussion topics intended to help couples “enter into a deeper relationship with Christ and realize the importance of having him at the center of your relationship.”

The Tobit program is held at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House, beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday and concluding at about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, and costs $280 per couple.

Tobit Weekends are scheduled on Feb. 24-26, April 21-23, May 19-21, June 16-18, July 21-23, Sept. 15-17, Oct. 20-22 and Nov. 17-19.

(For more information about the Pre Cana Conference, call the archdiocesan Office of Family Ministries at 317-236-1596 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1596. The program fee is nonrefundable. For more information about Tobit Weekends, call Fatima Retreat House at 317-545-7681.) †