The Role of Sponsor Couples in Christian Marriage Preparation
The Catholic Church views Christian marriage as a distinct calling, believing that the love shared between a married couple exemplifies Christ's unconditional love.
As a sponsor couple, you represent the most valuable resource we can provide to engaged couples during their marriage preparation. Your lived experiences bring the principles of Christian marriage to life. In this role, you will guide the engaged couple through a preparation program designed to deepen their understanding of each other and their vocation in Christian marriage. Moreover, you will serve as “modelers,” imparting wisdom through the sharing of your own marital relationship, which often speaks more profoundly than any formal class or textbook.
Sponsor couples must actively practice the Catholic faith, and their marriage should be recognized by the Catholic Church. It is advisable that the couple has been married for a minimum of ten years or boasts a mature relationship. They need to be willing to share their life experiences, demonstrating to the engaged couple how to navigate their evolving relationship in practical terms. As you prepare the engaged couple and share insights, you will also enrich your own marriage.
In this program, the engaged couple will complete an online Facilitating Open Couple Communication Understanding and Study (FOCCUS) pre-inventory marriage preparation survey. Once completed, the Director of Marriage and Family Life will be notified that the survey is ready for review. An engaged couple sponsor will then be assigned to the engaged couple. Over five sessions, you will meet in the home of the sponsor couple at a time that suits both couples. These meetings are intimate and have received much praise from engaged couples who have participated in them. Additionally, a Diocesan program offers group sessions in a classroom setting for unique circumstances.
As a sponsor couple, you will need to attend a two-day training session led by a certified engaged couple sponsor facilitator trainer. The Sponsor Couple Program offers a personalized approach that addresses the specific needs and concerns of the engaged couple in a one-on-one setting. Sharing experiences often leads to laughter and sometimes tears, as both couples come to know one another. The engaged couple benefits from a genuine interest in their future marriage, while the sponsor couple is invigorated by the engaged couple's enthusiasm and optimism. This ministry is incredibly heartwarming, and when “your couple” walks down the aisle, you may find yourself with that proverbial lump in your throat.
If you are interested in helping engaged couples grasp the commitment necessary for a successful marriage while enhancing your own relationship with your spouse, this ministry may be a perfect fit for you. For any questions, please reach out to Diane Salazar at (972) 279-6581, ext. 107, or via email at DianeS@stmichaelgarland.org.