Join us at St. John of the Cross Cluster for Inspiring Homilies and Faith-Filled Fellowship
In every age, the human heart longs for faithful, enduring love. Yet the Church reminds us that marriage is not simply a human desire—it is a vocation, a sacred calling through which God sanctifies His people and reveals His covenant love (cf. Ephesians 5:25).
This Novena for a Holy Marriage has been prepared to guide you into a deeper relationship with God as you discern, prepare for, or intercede for the vocation of marriage. Rooted in Sacred Scripture and nourished by the sacramental life of the Church, these prayers invite you to seek not merely a relationship, but a love that is holy, faithful, and ordered to God’s will.
Because each person’s journey is different, this novena is offered in two complementary forms.
Building Your Catholic Marriage in Love and Faith
The Marriage Preparation Retreat at the Christian Life Center (CLC) is a faith-filled program designed to help engaged and newly married couples prepare for a strong, joyful, and lasting Catholic marriage. Rooted in the curriculum “Transformed in Live. Building Your Catholic Marriage in Love,” this retreat invites couples to grow together in prayer, communication, trust, and sacramental commitment.
At CLC, marriage preparation is more than instruction—it is a journey of faith. Experienced married couples, enriched by years of real-life marital experience, serve as presenters and mentors. They accompany new couples with wisdom, testimony, and practical guidance, helping participants discover how Christ becomes the center of married life.
During this Catholic marriage preparation retreat, couples will experience:
Holy Mass and shared prayer
Inspirational talks on love, commitment, and communication
Panel discussions with seasoned married couples
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
Interactive sessions for couples
Fellowship and fun activities that build connection and trust
This retreat provides both spiritual formation and practical tools to help couples build a marriage grounded in faith, respect, and lifelong devotion.
📍 Location: Christian Life Center (CLC)
📅 Dates: March 21 and March 28, 2026
⛪ Activities: Mass, talks, confession, panels, and community fellowship
Whether you are preparing for your wedding or strengthening a young marriage, this retreat offers a sacred space to grow together in Christ.
The Marriage Prep Retreat at CLC helps couples:
understand the sacrament of Matrimony
deepen spiritual intimacy with Christ
strengthen communication and conflict resolution
learn from experienced Catholic couples
build a marriage rooted in prayer, trust, and love
Our goal is to help couples not only prepare for a wedding day, but for a lifetime of faithful, joyful Catholic marriage.
Engaged couples
Newly married couples
Couples seeking deeper formation in Catholic marriage
Anyone preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony
All are welcome to journey with us at the Christian Life Center.
Come and experience a retreat that nurtures love, faith, and commitment. Let Christ guide your relationship as you prepare for a strong and holy marriage.
You are warmly invited to the Marriage Preparation Retreat at CLC.
Return to the Marriage Prep Page
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Our Vision — Witnessing Love in the Sacrament of Matrimony
Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage invites couples to see their union not only as a personal commitment, but as a true vocation—a calling from God to witness His love in the world. Scripture reveals marriage as a sacred covenant rooted in God’s own fidelity, reflecting Christ’s self‑giving love for the Church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25–32). From the very beginning, God declared, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18), showing that marriage is part of His divine plan to form families where faith is nurtured and love is shared abundantly. In preparing for this sacrament, couples are invited to ground their relationship in prayer, virtue, forgiveness, and mutual self‑giving, so that their life together reflects the faithfulness, mercy, and steadfast love of God.
Marriage is also a mission—an outward‑looking vocation that serves the needs of the Church and the wider community. As a domestic church, the Christian family becomes a place where the Gospel is lived, taught, and handed on, echoing Jesus’ commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). United in Christ, married couples are called to be signs of hope, unity, and sacrificial love in a world longing for authentic witness. Through hospitality, service, and active participation in parish life, their shared life becomes a living proclamation of the Gospel. This page invites you to explore how our parish accompanies couples in preparing for this beautiful sacrament—helping them embrace marriage not only as a lifelong covenant, but as a joyful ministry of love, service, and discipleship in the heart of the Church.
Instruction for this session: Do the Activities before the session
May 2, 2026
Time : 9:00 - 10:00 AM
May 2, 2026
Time : 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Instruction for this session: Do the Activities before the session
May 16, 2026
Time : 90:00 - 10:00 AM
Instruction for this session: Do the Activities before the session
Instruction for this session: Do the Activities before the session
May 16, 2026
Time : 10:30 - 11:30 AM
May 30, 2026
Time : 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Instruction for this session: Do the Activities before the session
Instruction for this session: Do the Activities before the session
May 30, 2026
Time : 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM
The Marriage Preparation Support Team at the Christian Life Center (CLC) is a faith-filled group of experienced married couples dedicated to accompanying engaged and newly married couples on their journey toward the Sacrament of Matrimony. Their mission is to walk with future spouses in love, wisdom, and practical Christian guidance as they prepare for a joyful and lasting Catholic marriage.
This support team is made up of couples with diverse life experiences in marriage. Some members serve as presenters, offering formation on communication, commitment, prayer, and family life. Others work behind the scenes to ensure the retreat and sessions run smoothly with hospitality, logistics, and organization.
During presentations, team members also contribute actively by sharing real-life testimonies, asking important questions that new couples may hesitate to voice, and helping create an atmosphere of trust and openness. Their presence allows participants to engage honestly with topics such as conflict resolution, faith in daily life, intimacy, finances, forgiveness, and parenting.
A special role of the team is to form the panel on spiritual practices in marriage, where couples witness how prayer, the Eucharist, Scripture, and sacramental life sustain love over time. Through dialogue and lived experience, participants learn how Christ becomes the foundation of married life.
The Marriage Preparation Support Team does more than simply teach—it accompanies. Through attentive listening, encouragement, and witness, the team walks with engaged couples as they prepare to build their future on a solid foundation of faith, mutual respect, and enduring love.
The program is overseen by Fr. Simon, SMA, Director of the Christian Life Center (CLC), who ensures its faithful vision, organization, and pastoral integrity.
As we enter into this Marriage Preparation retreat, all participants are invited to embrace a Fundamental Ground Rule: Confidentiality. What is shared within this space remains within this space. This commitment fosters trust, openness, and authentic dialogue.
We ask everyone to honor this essential principle as a shared responsibility, creating a safe and respectful environment where each couple feels free to speak honestly and be heard without judgment. This spirit of confidentiality is the foundation of the emotional safety that allows meaningful growth and deeper connection to take place.
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