Highlights

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Celebrating 42 years as a ministry in 2016.
• Programs cover the marriage life-cycle.
• Programs are available in English and Spanish.
• Over 26,000 married and engaged couples have participated.
• Over 1,400 program presentations have been conducted. 
• Over 122 parishes/congregations have sponsored the ministry.
• Fifteen parishes have had 25 or more program presentations.
• Five parishes have had 50 or more program presentations.
• Twelve parishes have been active for 25 years or more.

FAITH-BASED

Ecumenism and Interfaith

The Marriage Enrichment ministry promotes Christian unity and inter-religious collaboration.  It can be sponsored by Christian Churches and those of other faiths.  The goal 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. 

Diversity

Diversity is an underlying characteristic and strength of this ministry. 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 Outreach: The program quickly grew beyond the Archdiocese of Santa - first throughout New Mexico, then to California, Texas, and Colorado  --  unified in purpose.

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