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Prepare to get married!


Prepare to get married! 'Engage', a new resource which aims to help engaged couples prepare for married life was launched by the Diocese of Westminster yesterday. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, said: "Many young people, when expressing their dreams and hopes express the desire to one day be happily married and to have a family. But a successful marriage requires love; a love which comes through kindness, self giving and forgiveness. By integrating Catholic teaching on marriage with a mix of practical wisdom and contemporary relationship psychology, the Engage resource will allow engaged couples in our parishes to prepare better for marriage and to base their marriage on the love of God." The 'Engage' resource is run by married couples, who guide engaged couples through six sessions, each of which addresses a different issue including communication, spiritual intimacy and sex. Originating in Australia, 'Engage' was piloted in the Diocese of Westminster in 2008 and couples responded with enthusiasm. Now the resource is to be made available to all 216 churches in the Diocese. Jason Smith, who, along with his fiancé Alison Anthony, have taken part in an Engage pilot course, said: "'Engage' is beneficial not just for Catholics but also for people marrying into the Catholic faith. It is a worthwhile preparation course en route to marriage." Bishop Bernard Longley, Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Westminster said: "'Engage' is an excellent way of underlining the Catholic Church's understanding of marriage. Well-prepared couples entering into the sacrament of marriage have a fantastic contribution to make to the life of the local community and society in general, as well as to the life of the Church." The course has been introduced to the Diocese of Westminster by Edmund Adamus, Diocesan Director of Pastoral Affairs. He said: "We have been working hard searching 'the market' for good, contemporary, fresh marriage preparation that truly reflects the Catholic teaching for married life and sexuality but which addresses the needs of couples today. Engage fulfils all of these criteria." Source: Archbishops House

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