The program is designed in helping couples prepare for marriage and the goal of the program is to introduce engaged couples to marriage as a vocation to love. In the last years, the course was only offered to those registered at Holy Cross Parish and this year it was extended to other parishes in Ottawa.

Different couples are chosen as speakers to speak on the different topics selected in the program. The only experiences these couples need are to be ‘loving couples who believe in the sacrament of marriage’. The topics within “Evening for the Engaged” program are:

• Looking at Marriage Together
• Ways to Communicate Love
• Images of God and Married Love
• Marriage and Intimacy
• The Sacrament of Matrimony
• Building a Stronger Marriage
• Finance (optional, not included in program but added for the couples)

Engaged couples are requested to call the parish office to register.

A course is held once a year (a second course is provided if we have enough couples). The program is 7 weeks long, and couples meet once every Tuesday from 7 - 9 pm in the comfort of a home. The old saying, “there’s no place like home” rings true when bringing couples in for marriage preparation. They are warmly greeted by the facilitator and sometimes children and even pets and they get a true feeling of being a part of a family and welcomed. It is less formal and it doesn’t seem like a course as much as a sharing experience. The program “Evening for the Engaged” is used, which provides a leaders guide as well as handouts. There are different couples who talk for the different topics. The only experience needed is a loving couple who believe in marriage as a sacrament.