Resources for Couples

About Marriage

Marriage: Sacrament of Matrimony
Frequently asked questions about the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Marriage Preparation and Family Life
Information about the required marriage preparation program for couples planning to get married in the Archdiocese of Toronto; offered by the Office of Marriage Preparation and Family Life of Catholic Family Services of Toronto.

Video: Bishop Robert Barron on the Sacrament of Marriage
Bishop Barron invites us, while we rejoice in the couple’s love for each other, to reflect on the couple as a sign of Christ’s love for the Church.

Prayers

Pope Francis

Video: Pope Francis’ tips to make a marriage work

Video: Pope Francis’ advice to married couples

Amoris Laetitia
Amoris Laetitia offers concrete reminders of the beauty of family life, despite all the challenges this vocation can entail. Pope Francis writes eloquently about how forming a family means being part of God's dream, joining him in building a world "where no one will feel alone."

From the Archdiocese of Toronto

Video: Michael and Yvette - 25 Years of Marriage
On the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary, Michael and Yvette Bailey of Pickering, Ontario speak of how they first met and their experiences at Marriage Encounter. They also share some marital tips and advice.

Video: David & Mary Lozowsky - 40 Years of Marriage
On the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary, David and Mary Lozowsky of Brampton, Ontario speak of the day they were married, how they were drawn to the Church, and the countless joys and challenges they've faced - having been separated three times before re-committing.

Video: Philip and Clarita Malolos - 50 Years of Marriage
On the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, Philip and Clarita Malolos of Scarborough, Ontario speak of the moment when they first met as well as some stories from the past half-century. We also hear from their grandson who speaks about the great witness his grandparents have been for him.

Video: Frank & Mary Rajtek - 60 Years of Marriage
On the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary, Frank and Mary Rajtek of Etobicoke, Ontario speak of the joys and challenges of being married and offer advice to those considering the vocation of marriage.

Marriage Enrichment

BLD Toronto - Bukas Loob Sa Diyos (Open in Spirit to God)
BLD is a communion of encountered families, called by the Lord to build communities of disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will renew and strengthen our Christian faithful through programs of Christian encounter (Marriage, Family, Solo Parent, Singles, Youth Encounters and Life in the Spirit Seminars), of Spiritual Growth, of Pastoral Care and of Poverty Alleviation.

Couples for Christ
Couples for Christ (CFC) is an international Catholic movement intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian marriage and family life. CFC couples have committed themselves to the Lord and to one another so that they may grow in maturity as men and women of God and fulfill their primary vocation of raising families grounded in Christian values, in the service and love of God. If you are interested in joining Couples for Christ or need more information, please call 905-851-2119 or visit the Couples for Christ website.

Focolare Movement
The New Family Movement, a branch of the Focolare focuses on families who, renewed by the Gospel put into practice its Spirituality of Unity. The relationship within the couple and the upbringing of children are rooted in Jesus’ message, “Love one another as I have loved you”. This helps to build a constructive rapport within the family and with everyone that we meet in our daily life. Please email vincemarluca@gmail.com to learn more about the Focolare Movement in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Learn more: Focolare Movement: Experiencing God’s love through the Focolare Movement - on our blog

Missionary Families for Christ
We are an evangelistic and missionary community committed to become families empowered by the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth. We strive for holiness of life, as we commit to renew the temporal order through our work with the poor, our work for justice, and our work for life. We are a servant of the Church, working to renew her children through every generation and throughout the world, until the Lord returns once again.

Movement for Marriage Enrichment
As an apostolic movement of the Church, to foster the enrichment of the Sacrament of marriage through deepened understanding of the spiritual, moral, and temporal life of couples and their families.

Retrouvaille: A lifeline for troubled marriages
If you are thinking of separation or divorce, or you are already separated but want to try again, consider Retrouvaille. If you and your spouse want your marriage to work and are willing to put in a full weekend of hard work and your best effort, then you are invited, even urged, to attend a Retrouvaille Weekend. For confidential information on upcoming Retrouvaille weekends in the Archdiocese of Toronto, please call 416-281-6007 or visit the Retrouvaille website.

Learn more: Retrouvaille: Hope and Healing for Broken Marriages - on our blog

Teams of Our Lady
Teams of Our Lady is an international movement to enrich marriage spirituality. The aim of the movement is to help couples live out a married spirituality and to discover the full richness of the sacrament of marriage. Each Team is made up of five to seven couples and a Spiritual Director/Priest. Meeting monthly in each other’s homes, Teams provide support and encouragement to the couple in their spiritual journey and daily lives.

Learn more: Teams of Our Lady: Enriching Marriage Spirituality - on our blog

Worldwide Marriage Encounter
The Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) Weekend is a positive and personal experience offering married couples an opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. It is a chance to look deeply into their relationship with each other and with God; a unique approach aimed at revitalizing and enriching a couple’s marriage. For more information on WWME, contact the nearest affiliate in your area by entering your postal code on the Worldwide Marriage Encounter website.

Learn more: Marriage: A Nurturing Grace - on our blog

See the full listing of registered lay associations in the Archdiocese of Toronto

Resources

Online Faith Formation
The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) is an e-learning initiative that supports adult faith, catechist, and lay ecclesial leadership formation in the Catholic Faith. There are over 100 courses at the non-degree level, including some in Spanish. Topics include Church History, Sacraments, Prayers, Scripture, Catechesis, Liturgy, Communication, World Religions, and Social Justice. Examples of courses related to marriage and the family are:

Catholic Teaching on Chastity, Family Life, and Human Sexuality Education
Praying With Children

Significant partnership discount through the Archdiocese of Toronto: $50 (USD) per course. For more information, go to Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation website or contact Connie Price, 416-934-3400, ext. 513 or cprice@archtoronto.org.

World Marriage Day
An initiative of Worldwide Marriage Encounter that provides resources and extensive information on World Marriage Day that is celebrated in many dioceses throughout North America in February each year.

For Your Marriage
An initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops with extensive resources on dating, engagement, and parenting. It also has information on marriage and relevant teachings pertaining to Holy Matrimony in the Catholic Church.

Seven Day Virtual (at-home) Marriage Retreats
These resources are designed for couples to pray and reflect together at home. Retreat themes include Marriage: School of Life and Love, Amoris Laetitia, A Retreat with Pope, Marriage and Mercy and Marriage...One Flesh, Given and Received. While these retreats can be used at any time, consider beginning a retreat on the Monday leading up to the celebration of Marriage Sunday. The theme for 2024 is Love Beyond Words.