Highlights

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Celebrating 37 years as a Program in May 2011
• Over 24,000 married and engaged couples have attended
  • 15,000 Married Couples
  • 9,000 Engaged Couples
• Over 1,200 program presentations have been conducted
  • 1,100 in English
  • 200 in Spanish
• Over 110 parishes/congregations have sponsored the Program
• Fifteen have had 25 or more program presentations
• Five have had 50 or more program presentations
• Twelve have been active for 25 years or more.

FAITH-BASED

Ecumenism and Interfaith

The Marriage Enrichment Program promotes Christian unity and inter-religious collaboration.  It can be sponsored by Christian Churches and those of other faiths.  The program as presently formulated is based on Christian Marriage.  When sponsored by a Catholic parish the program reflects the Catholic faith principally through the liturgy (e.g., Mass) and the talk on "Marriage a Sacrament."  When sponsored by other Christian Churches or those of other faiths, the teachings of the host congregation or community are expressed.  This can be done by substitution of a prayer service for Mass and by changing the "Marriage A Sacrament" talk (for example, to "Marriage a Covenant" or to "Marriage a Church Ordinance") to reflect the host congregations teaching on marriage.

Incorporating the faith of the host church/congregation into the program can be done without altering the format or purpose.  Couples attending in a church or congregation not of their faith should understand that the prayer services are the expression of the faith of the host parish/congregation.  The program should never be used to proselytize (attempt to convert).

The program is to help enrich marriage by including God in the couple relationship.  The basic process is an expression of real life experiences and develops mutual support for married couples.  The program can be tailored to the needs of any community of people based on love and commitment to marriage.

DIVERSITY

Diversity is an underlying characteristic and strength of this program. The diversity experience and lessons learned include:

• Clergy/Religious/Laity: Clergy and religious give of their vocation to help married couples grow in the vocation of marriage - All vocations working together.
• Man/Woman/God: God becomes a living part of every aspect of marriage  --  husband and wife together in ministry.
• Married Couples / Engaged Couples / Youth: Engaged couples and single young adults benefit from the experience of married couples.  Married couples reflect on their courtship in helping renew their loving relationship.  All ages and experiences in marriage are represented in the programs - we are all learners and we are all teachers.
• Large and Small Parishes/Congregations: Experience has shown that the program "works" in large and small parishes/congregations and in large and small communities  --  the process works everywhere.
• Inter-church & Inter-faith in Spirit and Purpose: The program began in a Catholic parish but has grown to other Christian denominations and to other faiths.  Through the program, there are many couples from mixed faith marriages and couples from various faiths that participate on teams and serve in leadership positions  --  building community together.
• Multicultural: Many cultures are represented throughout the ministry and their individuality is expressed in many ways.  One example is in New Mexico where currently the Anglo, Hispanic and Native American cultures are working together and sponsoring the program.  Some parishes sponsor the program in both English and  Spanish  --  oneness.
• National and International Thrust: The program quickly grew beyond the Archdiocese of Santa - first throughout New Mexico, then to Mexico - and is now also active in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah  --  unified in purpose.

The program values and celebrates diversity and searches for ways to promote it.