Family Life

Civil Marraige Initiative: It is never too late to invite Jesus into your marriage.

Marriage Formation process for Civilly Married Couples

If you are a civilly married couple who is ready to begin the journey towards the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, or you are open to learning more about the process, these are the first steps that we would recommend:

Have a conversation with your pastor.

This is an important first step. Each couple is unique, and your pastor needs to meet with you to understand your journey as a couple thus far. While engaged couples have a very specific formation timeline (9-12 months), the timeline for couples who have been civilly married for five or more years varies depending on their particular situation. Your pastor will determine what you need to complete for your formation (such as meetings with a mentor couple or a retreat) and how long that formation will take. The Family Life Office has recommended a timeframe of 3-6 months, but your pastor has the flexibility to change that as needed.

Have you or your spouse been married before?

If either spouse has previous marriages, you must address this before you are able to celebrate your marriage in the Church. The Cana Project can assist you in figuring out what needs to be done first and guide you through the process. Situations vary greatly between couples. The Cana Project will help you determine next steps. Learn more.

Seeking other sacraments in addition to marriage?

Some couples seeking the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony also desire to become Catholic or to complete their Sacraments of Initiation (First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation). It is important to remember that before the other sacraments can be celebrated, the marriage needs to be resolved first. If you think you are in this situation, please see this video for more information.

Your pastor will determine what you need to complete for your formation (such as meetings with a mentor couple or a retreat) and how long that formation will take. The Family Life Office has recommended a timeframe of 3-6 months, but your pastor has the flexibility to change that as needed.

Make your marriage better than ever.

Your pastor may ask you to attend a Three to Get Married retreat or to pick a mentor couple to accompany you through the Witness to Love Civil Marriage Initiative program. We invite you to learn more about those particular programs to see if those are formation resources that would benefit your relationship.

Stay connected to your parish community!

One of the more important steps to inviting Christ into your marriage is to attend Mass, to pray together, and to get connected with your parish community. Although you may not currently be able to receive Holy Communion, your presence in the parish is needed and wanted. The parish is there to accompany and support you as you begin this journey towards an authentic, Christ-centered marriage.

Additional Resources:

The Cana Project video series provides answer to frequently asked questions. Videos are available in English and Spanish.

Marriage Enrichment

Strengthen your marriage and the marriages around you. Growth doesn’t stop after your wedding. Ongoing formation for marriages is a key ingredient for happy, healthy marriages. Don’t let your marriage fade into the background.

Ongoing Marriage Enrichment Resources:

Three to Stay Married Workshops

The Three to Stay Married workshops are part of the ongoing formation provided by the Family Life Office for married couples. These workshops are available in both English and Spanish and are hosted in parishes throughout the Diocese of Tyler. To find the next Three to Stay Married Workshop visit, www.dioceseoftyler.org/events. 

Be Light Series

Be Light, a 5 year marriage enrichment movement, draws Catholic married couples closer together in Christ while being transformed into family missionary disciples within their own communities.

Teams of Our Lady

Teams of Our Lady is a Catholic movement of “Married Spirituality” which brings together Christian couples united by the Sacrament of Marriage and who wish, together, to deepen the graces of their sacrament. Couples have found a way to meet their needs and desires of growing closer in love and faith through Teams. For more information or to get connected to a Team contact, Chris and Paulina Campbell at campbell4life2017@gmail.com.

Teams of Our Lady PDF

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend (WWME) could be THE weekend for the two of you to reconnect and revitalize your marriage.

Guided by experienced couples and a priest, you will have a chance to to rekindle your romance, become more aware of God’s desire for your marriage, focus on each other, and learn new ways of communicating more effectively in a private, positive atmosphere.

WWME English Brochure    EMM Spanish Brochure

Resources for Catholic Counseling

CatholicCounselors.com

CatholicTherapists.com

Natural Family Planning (NFP) and Fertility Awareness Based Methods allow a woman to track the fertile and infertile times during her reproductive cycle. She can use this information to better understand her health. NFP relies on specific methods in which a couple learns to observe the woman’s naturally occurring signs of fertile and infertile phases during a menstrual cycle. Couples can use this knowledge as a tool in their family planning and to better understand their combined fertility. Using fertility awareness and NFP is ultimately to accept the divine gift of spousal unity in marriage.

For more information and resourcese visit www.dioceseoftyler.org/nfp

Springs in the Desert 

Springs in the Desert accompanies those struggling with infertility by offering a place of respite and solidarity where they can know God’s love for them and discover his unique call to fruitfulness. It is a ministry that offers intentional accompaniment to couples through their podcast, blogs, and in-person events. Springs in the Desert also provides resources to pastors, parish leaders and healthcare professionals to help them minister more effectively to couples experiencing infertility.

Visit their website: www.springsinthedesert.org 

Book Recommendations:

Twelve Stripes Deep: How Infertility & Other Suffering Delivered My Greatest Joys by Mary Bruno 

Holding Space for Joy: A Prayer Companion for Women Struggling with Infertility by Mary Bruno

Please know of our prayers for all families who have experienced the painful cross of losing a child. The following resources offer practical, spiritual, and support resources for those who are experiencing a loss.

We Carry You Still

Miscarriage and Infant Loss Ministry that offers resources, memory boxes, and education tools for families experiencing a loss.

Learn more.

Red Bird Ministries

An organization that systematically guides individuals and couples through the complexity and trauma that happens with the loss of a child through miscarriage and stillbirth or as an infant, child, adolescent, or adult. They also serve families who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide.

Learn more.

Catholic Miscarriage Support

Provides immediate, practical support for those who have lost a child to miscarriage.

Learn more.

Grieving with Hope: Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss (also available in Spanish)

Co-Authored by Margalita Poletunow, LPC, LMHC – a miscarriage and infant loss therapist – this book includes reflections, visio divina, and additional resources.  This also includes witness stories by three women who have experienced loss in various forms. It is our hope that this companion provides the opportunity for you or a loved one to feel seen, known, and loved in the cross of child loss.

Learn more.

Mass of Remembrance for Pregnancy and Infant Loss (Annually)

Each year during the month of October, Masses of Remembrance for Pregnancy and Infant Loss are celebrated in different parts of the diocese. For more information on upcoming Masses, please contact the Family Life Office.