We, at the Office of Faith Formation and Parish Life, are available to support parish ministries in actively promoting the value and benefits of a Eucharistic marriage and Catholic family life through outreach, education, reflection and prayer.
Archdiocese of Hartford Marriage Initiative 2025
As we begin the universal Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, we are reminded by Pope Francis
that embracing marriage and having a child are acts of profound hope that set a direction for our lifelong pilgrimage of faith, hope, and love as a family. (Spes Non Confundit, 9)
More and more couples are saying “I don’t” to a sacramental marriage in the church let’s shift the narrative! The goal of this initiative is to talk about the sacrament of matrimony in a new ways that will draw couples into our churches and fosters relationships that build parish life and community.
Make Marriage the Topic of Conversation
National Marriage Week is February 7 – 14, 2025 and is an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family.
The theme for 2025 is “Marriage: Source of Hope, Spring of Renewal. Pursue a Lasting Love!”
The USCCB has many resources to help you spread the Good News on the vocation of marriage and National Marriage Week 2025. Below are other resources for promotion marriage in your parish:
Weekly Reading Themes – Homily Talking Points
- Radiate Love Monthly Calendar highlights one weekend during the month where the readings support the vocation of marriage. Use this notes to spread the Good News about marriage.
- January 19 – Wedding of Cana – Bring on the Wine
- February 9 – National Marriage Day – Marriage is a Trip and God Has the Map!
- March 2 – Humble Pie
- April 6 – Love is a Verb
- May 11 – Honoring All Mothers
- June 15 – The Love of the Father
- The USCCB created this document to help pastors speak about World Marriage Day, February 9, 2025. Click here to download the document.
Encourage Ministry Groups to Celebrate Catholic Marriage and Family Life
1. Bring Themes Celebrating Marriage and Family to Your Youth
Kids should hear regularly of the gift of marriage and family, helping them to consider the importance of this vocation. Check out curricular options for schools, catechists, and youth ministry.
2. Offer Ongoing Formation for Catechists/Teachers about Marriage
Marriage is a crucial sacrament and educating catechists and teachers helps them to communicate about this topic with young people.
3. Host Family Fun Nights for Your Whole Parish/School
Intentionally invite families for movie night, barbecues, Vacation Bible School, trivia night, Mardi Gras, baseball in the park, to build a culture of family fun.
4. Celebrate Marriage and Family at the Events You Already Have
When you host Grandparents’ Day, Valentine’s Day, Father/Daughter Dances, Family Fun Nights, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, give a round of applause and blessing for married couples or families with kids.
5. Do Service Centered around Supporting Families in Your Community
Engage in Works of Mercy
Host a baby shower, make no-sew blankets for families, or bring dinner to a new mom in the parish. Start the Children’s Liturgy of the Word at your parish or offer babysitting to new families.
6. Offer a Vocation Night Inviting Couples, Priests, and Religious to tell their Vocation Story
Children look to adults to share their life experiences and inspire their dreams. Talk about vocation, and not just career choice, as a way to plan their life according to God’s call.
Build a Marriage Culture in Your Parish
1. Offer blessings for married couples and families.
Offer blessings throughout the year by inviting forward parishioners – engaged couples, newlyweds, and couples celebrating an anniversary, expectant mothers, new parents and infants or adopted children.
2. Include Prayers for marriage during the Prayers of the Faithful.
Include married couples and families in your prayers of the faithful every week (Spanish), and pray for young people to discern the vocation to marriage.
3. Joyfully welcome families with children.
Include a special announcement before Mass or leave an encouraging note in the pews saying children are welcome even if they make noise. Offer prayer bags for kids with a coloring sheet or Magnifikid, and crayons.
4. Identify married couples and personally invite them into ministry.
Are there couples in the pews who have been married at least 5 years who could serve as mentor couples or in marriage ministry? Invite them!
5. Host family events
Invite families to parish social events (parish picnic, ice cream social, pizza party) or have holiday themed activities for children. Offer a date night for parents that includes babysitting and speaker who presents on parenting issues or marriage skills or enrichment.
6. Offer skill-building events for married couples
Learning skills and receiving support from the community can make the difference between a thriving marriage and a marriage on the rocks. Make skill-building a regular part of parish life.
7. Make sacramental preparation an opportunity to promote and strengthen Marriages
During the process of Baptismal preparation or first sacrament prep, ask the child’s parents about their marriage: Is it sacramental union or civil? Invite them to consider receiving the sacrament of marriage. Many who couples bring their child for first sacraments are still growing into understanding their call to Christian marriage and family life. Offer resources and opportunities to learn about convalidation, the benefits of marriage, marriage skills, and fertility awareness.
