Marriage Preparation
"Marriage consecrated by God preserves that bond between man and woman that God has blessed ever since the creation of the world." - Pope Francis
Helpful Resources for Planning a Catholic Wedding
Marriage Prep Calendar for the Diocese of Portland 2024-2025
What Catholics Believe - The Sacraments: Marriage by Father Mark Nolette for Harvest magazine
Planning a Catholic Wedding from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Catholic Wedding Help from Our Sunday Visitor
Rosary for Engaged Couples including special prayers and meditations (developed for the Year of the Family, available in English, Spanish, and French)
Connecting with a Parish
A vital step in preparing for your marriage is to talk with the priest or deacon, so you can lock in a date and a church for your ceremony and begin the immediate preparation needed for the sacrament of holy matrimony. Talk with him about the marriage preparation requirements and local possibilities. You may arrange to participate in a program at the parish or through another option recognized by the Diocese of Portland.
Parishes most often offer marriage preparation programs once a year. Some are in-person only, and others are completed fully or partially online.
Find a Catholic parish in Maine
Upcoming In-Person Marriage Preparation Programs
Upcoming 2025 Programs
Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes
March, 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
(Five consecutive Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Rectory
307 Congress Street, Portland
Click to learn more or to register
Catholic parishes in Greater Portland present the “Transformed in Love” sacramental marriage preparation program at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Rectory twice each year. Local clergy, presenters, and parish couples lead and host this 5-week program on Sunday afternoons. The content provides engaged couples with the opportunity to reflect on their Catholic faith, the gift of the sacrament of marriage, and various aspects of married life together and with other couples who are also preparing for their weddings. Attendance on all dates is required, and all sessions will be held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Rectory (307 Congress Street, Portland). All engaged couples preparing for the sacrament of marriage are welcome to participate, with registration preference given to parishioners and those preparing for marriage in the Portland Peninsula and Island Parishes and St. John Paul II Parish.
A program registration fee of $100 is required at registration, which includes all program materials. Financial assistance is available. Please check with your pastor to make sure that this program meets your parish requirements for a marriage preparation course before registering.
For more information on the program, you can call the Portland Peninsula and Islands Pastoral Center and speak with Carolyn Mitchell, the staff coordinator for the program: 207-773-7746.
St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Bangor
Saturday, March 8 and Saturday, March 22 (sessions begin at 8:00 a.m.)
Registration deadline is February 21
St. Joseph Church
531 North Main Street, Brewer
Click to learn more or to register
Transformed in Love: A Catholic Marriage Preparation Program will be held at St. Joseph Church, 531 Main Street in Brewer. Both sessions must be attended in order to complete the program. Topics will include knowing your true self, strengthening communications skills, managing expectations, financial planning and strategies, and keeping Christ at the center of our marriage. The cost is $100 per couple which covers material and meals.
Please contact the program coordinator with questions: Jen Hikel, 207-217-1449 (call or text) or email [email protected]
All Saints Parish, Brunswick
April 5 (6:00 p.m.- 9:00p.m.), April 6 (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
St. Charles Borromeo Church
132 McKeen Street, Brunswick
Click to learn more or register
All Saints Parish in Brunswick will host a Marriage Preparation Retreat. It will be led by All Saints Parish Marriage Preparation Team, which includes married couples and clergy, you will be inspired and challenged through presentations, personal reflection, couple conversations, group sharing, and Mass. Presentations are based on Better Together, published by Dynamic Catholic.
It includes light dinner on Friday and a breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
Cost: $50/couple
For more information, please email [email protected]
Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish, Madawaska
March 15, 16 (starts 8 a.m. on Saturday until 11:30 a.m. Sunday) Snow date: March 22, 23
Christian Life Center
444 U.S. Route One, Frenchville
For more information or to register: [email protected] or 207-543-6193.
Cost: $120 couple
Couples traveling from a distance are invited to stay overnight on Friday, March 14
Online Preparation Programs
Preparing for Sacramental Marriage from Kathy & Steve Beirne, Portland ME
Transformed in Love Marriage Preparation from the Archdiocese of Boston
Pre-Cana: Living Our Faith In Love from the Archdiocese of Chicago
Agape Catholic Ministries from Colorado Springs
Are you a current member of the US military? Check out the website for the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA to learn what they offer for marriage preparation.
For Parish Leaders
If you have any questions, contact Hannah or Lori in the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation at 207-773-6471.
"Telling Anew the Story of Marriage" (Marriage Preparation Guidelines - 2009)
Diocesan policy, permissions, dispensations, etc.
Why do Catholics get married in the Church?
This short video gives a reason rooted in Christ and the couple.
