" I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage.
With my body I honour you,
and all that I have I share with you
in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "

Beautiful words and wonderful promises made between bride and groom as they begin married life. So much love, so much hope.

"Success in marriage is more than finding the right person: it is a matter of being the right person ...." Rabbi BR Brickner

As a Diocese we offer marriage preparation courses (COMAC) to help couples in their married life together. Please read on for details of the course and reasons as to why we believe marriage preparation is so important.

Is it really worth the Effort?

The Bishop writes

"Marriage is a tremendous step to take. It involves all our relationships - with our chosen partner, with our family and with our friends. It has implications that are financial, legal, social & spiritual.

We can either drift into marriage or we can size the opportunity to have a closer look at ourselves, our partners, at our hopes and indeed fears about life in general!

These courses are to help you take your marriage seriously, no to tell people how to run your life. They will give you space, but at the same time give you the opportunity to prepare yourselves for the adventure that is marriage.

I urge all those who are being married in our parishes to attend one of these courses. In this way we can help provide not only a building for a ceremony, but a thoughtful beginning of a new way of life. It is worth the effort"

Archbishop John Neil

The course is for all couples intending to marry. It is presented in a relaxed style, and hopefully will serve as a time out day for both to concentrate on their future together.

A summary of contents of the workshops includes:

Communications: Basic feelings of love, Trust, Hurt, Anger etc. How to deal with conflict/Talking/Listening

Understanding: Appreciating the differences as much as what we have in common

Sexuality: How each gender approaches their own sexuality. Attitudes to sex.

Family Planning: General talk on methods & Fertility awareness

Money & us: Ideas on sharing/Budget, Exercise/Attitude to money

Adjustments: I to us" Personal responsibilities & feelings. Managing Anger & Stress

"God & US": The meaning of true love! Believing & Thanking God for each other.

Ideas for use in the Parish

• Send cards to all those married in the parish in the previous Year
• Organise a supper for couple or a coffee morning for those who have been married for 50 years or more
• Offer free baby-sitting to couples to enable them to have a night out
• Hold a music and/or poetry evening in the theme of love
• Organise a "celebrate marriage" meal!
• Hold a Valentines Day dinner dance/disco
• Display in Church "Marriage then and now: photographs, flowers, dresses, certificates, bills
• Hold a week of meeting and discussion groups
• Focus on marriage during the Sunday service: pray for marriage in the intercessions remembering those who are in stressful or broken relationships; sermon on relationships;marriage thanksgiving service with renewal of marriage vows and/orrededication; bless those who have lost their spouses through separation, divorce or death.