Program
Overview
Parish-based marriage Preparation and formation program
For Better & For Ever® is a parish-based marriage preparation and formation program designed to help couples prepare for—and sustain—lifelong Christian marriage through dialogue and interaction with a trained sponsor couple.
Rooted in Catholic teaching and aligned with Canon Law, the program supports couples before engagement, during engagement, and after the wedding, while equipping parishes and dioceses with a practical, sustainable model for marriage ministry.
What Makes For Better & For Ever® Different
Rather than relying on classroom-style instruction or one-time programs, For Better & For Ever® centers on relationship formation through conversation and accompaniment.
At the heart of the program is a couple-to-couple model in which a trained married couple—known as a Sponsor Couple®—walks alongside engaged couples through a structured process of reflection, dialogue, and follow-up.
- Treats marriage as a vocation, not an event
- Emphasize skills that must be learned and practiced
- Recognizes the influence of family of origin and personal history
- Extends pastoral care beyond the wedding day
For Better & For Ever® is designed to serve:
- Single and dating adults discerning readiness for marriage
- Engaged couples preparing for sacramental marriage
- Newly married couples navigating the early years of marriage
- Married couples serving as a Sponsor Couple
- Clergy, parishes, and dioceses responsible for marriage formation
While the program is rooted in Catholic theology, it is adaptable for interchurch, interfaith, and couples of other faith backgrounds, with multiple editions available to meet pastoral needs.
How the Program Works
Formation Through Dialogue
Couples use the For Better & For Ever® workbook to reflect individually, share responses with one another, and engage in guided conversations with their Sponsor Couple. Topics include communication, family of origin, faith, finances, sexuality, conscience, and marital spirituality.
Accompaniment by a Sponsor Couple team
Sponsor Couple ministers are married couples of the parish trained to accompany—not instruct—engaged couples. They share lived experience, model healthy dialogue, and provide encouragement before and after the wedding.
Parish-Based Ministry
The program is rooted in the parish, integrating engaged couples into parish life and inviting married couples into meaningful ministry. This strengthens both marriage preparation and marriage enrichment within the parish
Follow-Up After the Wedding
Marriage preparation does not end on the wedding day. The Sponsor Couple accompanies the newly married through the first year(s) of marriage as they adjust to the realities of marriage and family life.
Alignment with Church Teaching
For Better & For Ever® is fully aligned with:
- Canon Law (Canons 1063–1064) on marriage preparation and pastoral care
- The Church’s vision of remote, proximate, and immediate preparation
- Recent calls for a “catechumenate for marriage”
- The pastoral emphasis on accompaniment articulated by Pope Francis
The program has received ecclesial approval, national awards, and continues to be refined through pastoral experience and feedback from couples and clergy.
Benefits for Couples, Parishes, and Dioceses
For Couples
- Greater clarity and confidence entering marriage
- Stronger communication and conflict-resolution skills
- Realistic expectations about married life
- Ongoing support beyond the wedding
For Married Couples serving as a Sponsor Couple®
- Marriage enrichment through service
- Deep reflection on their own vocation
- Meaningful engagement in parish life
For Better & For Ever® was created in response to a simple but urgent reality: marriage formation must be relational, intentional, and ongoing.
By forming couples through dialogue and accompaniment—before and after the wedding—the program helps the Church
fulfill her mission to strengthen marriages, families, and parish life for generations to come.
