Marriage and Family Life

We offer several options for marriage preparation in our Diocese.

One of the purposes for these courses is for you to spend time together as a couple, which can be a real gift amongst the busyness of preparing for a wedding or life in general.  

All courses have sessions that will include input and discussion on these topics:

• Understanding Self

• Communication and Conflict Resolution

• Life and Financial Decision Making

• Intimacy and Family Planning

• Forgiveness

• The Sacrament of Marriage

Engaged Encounter, weekend course.

14th-15th October, 2023 at Tirohanga Camp, Outram

Register Here

For more information, contact:  Jo Krysa  jokrysa@hotmail.co.uk 

Engaged Encounter is a way of looking beyond the wedding day to a lifetime of marriage and gives couples the opportunity and guidance to build the skills for a lifelong marriage. A key factor is withdrawal from the pressures and distractions of daily life to provide the engaged couple with space in which to plan their life together after the wedding is over. They can take time out from planning their wedding to focus on themselves and discuss what’s important to them.  This weekend course is designed to give plenty of time for private discussion in which the couple can talk honestly and intensely about their future life together.  The course has a very simple format of listening, writing, reading and discussing.

1. The presenting couples will shares their experience on a particular topic

2. You and your fiancé answer a set of questions individually (in separate places)

3. You will then come back together and read through your fiancé’s answers in private

4. You are invited to discuss your responses with your fiancé

 The course is designed to be a family friendly weekend developed so children are welcome and care and activities will be provided for them.  This course is open to couples of all ages and stages in marriage.

Love is a Decision course offered in Dunedin.

Contact:  Amy Armstrong at amya@cdd.org.nz

Love Is A Decision is a Catholic marriage preparation course designed in New Zealand which aims to facilitate a Christian understanding of the marriage relationship. This course provides the opportunity for you to sit down and discuss issues that will help you grow together and prepare you for the journey ahead in a comfortable and safe environment.  

We also offer an online course option.  This helps deal with any Covid issues as marriage dates that don’t fit in with the weekend course dates we are offering. 

This course is called Smart Loving and it is produced out of Australia and endorsed by our Bishop.  

At the end of the course you receive a certificate stating you have done the course.  

Cost is currently $99 AUD.  We will match you up with a follow up mentor couple if you wish.

For further information on the online course option, please email Amy Armstrong at amya@cdd.org.nz

We have a couple in Invercargill offering a weekday evening course. For further information on this option please contact Amy Armstrong for details:  amya@cdd.org.nz