Living as a Catholic Catholic life Marriage & Family Life Marriage & Family Life The Sacrament of Matrimony is a doorway of grace to a lifelong vocation of love. Preparation for marriage begins long before the wedding day, in the personal faith of the future spouses, but is discerned together and with others as a couple grows in love. In the presence of God and the faith community, the couple confer the Sacrament on one another in the wedding liturgy, making an offering of themselves to each another, and for the good of society through their family life. Thus, marriage is an ongoing sacrament, which is there to strengthen them and is open to creating and raising a family. All marriages will go through difficulties, but that does not mean that the marriage was a mistake, just that there are challenges even in good things. The Church, through various organisations and movements, offers marriage support and enrichment to couples and families. The Alliance of Catholic Marriage Organisations is formed of many groups that support couples at all stages of their relationship, from marriage preparation to marriage enrichment, as well as when marriages experience difficulties. Some of these are mentioned below. More information on the vocation to marriage can be found on the Vocations Office website. DOWNLOAD Accompanying Couples over a Lifetime document For more information on Weddings (Office for Marriage) within the Archdiocese of Birmingham please click here Paul Northam is the Advisor for Evangelisation & Discipleship (with Marriage & Family Life). 0121 321 5148 / 07760 965 886 [email protected] Marriage and Family Life in the Archdiocese Annual Diocesan Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage A Celebration of Love! Are you celebrating a significant wedding anniversary? Are you engaged to be married? Or would you simply like to give thanks to God for your marriage, and ask for His ongoing blessings? If so, we would like to invite you to attend our Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage which happens at 12noon on the first Saturday in May each year at St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. The registration page goes live around the New Year, with updated information about the Thanksgiving Mass. Should you need any more information in the meantime, please contact Paul Northam via the details above, or check here for the latest updates SOME Catholic Marriage Organisations Marriage Preparation The three main providers in the UK are Marriage Care, Worldwide Marriage Encounter & SmartLoving. Marriage Care Offers marriage preparation, relationship counselling and more. We specialise in helping couples build and sustain strong, fulfilling, healthy relationships, and in providing support in times of relationship difficulty. Marriage Care Worldwide Marriage Encounter Marriage Encounter is a national catholic organisation that offers two experiences to enrich relationships, improve family relationships and bring God to the heart of your marriage and families. Our experiences are available in two formats as a live experience held at hotels or online. Worldwide Marriage Encounter SmartLoving Brought to you by the Marriage Resource Centre, SmartLoving provides resources to support couples throughout their commitment life-cycle. The SmartLoving series is recognised internationally as one of the most comprehensive range of materials for Catholic marriage formation. SmartLoving Marriage support for those experiencing difficulties Retrouvaille Retrouvaille is the name of a programme designed to help heal and renew marriages. The word "Retrouvaille" simply means "rediscovery". The programme offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your partner, and a loving relationship in your marriage. Retrouvaille helps couples find hope and healing for their marriage. Summer and Christmas holidays are peak times of stress for marriages, but support is available. The next weekend to be hosted by Retrouvaille is 12 - 15 February 2026, offering a virtual programme. Visit the website: Retrouvaille Retrouvaille Testimonials Faith in the Family video series Faith in the Family is a 15-part video series, offering an overview of key aspects of the Catholic Faith and its practice. Narrated by Fr Marcus Holden, from the Archdiocese of Southwark, and featuring interviews from numerous parents, this series provides clear catechetical instruction and practical advice suitable for parishes, schools and homes. Each segment is around 7 - 8 minutes long and a resource to support and encourage a living faith in everyday life. The videos follow the chapters of the book Faith in the Family: A Handbook for Parents Faith in the Family videos Manage Cookie Preferences