Catholic Marriage Preparation Survey 2010
Welcome to the 2010 Catholic Marriage Preparation Survey for England and Wales.
We want to hear from everyone involved in preparing couples for marriage in the Catholic Church* as well as from the couples themselves.
This is an effort by the Committee for Marriage and Family Life to establish who is preparing couples, how they're carrying out the preparation and how it's experienced by the couples.
* in 2010.
Survey of Marriage Preparation Providers
Do you run a marriage preparation programme? We want to know more about you and your programme?
Did you experience a marriage preparation course in 2010?
This survey is for couples. We want your feedback.
Supply monthly statistics
Are you a marriage preparation provider?
How many couples completed your course this month?
Please click here to complete the monthly statistics survey (providers).
Are you a priest preparing couples for marriage?
We have a separate survey for priests to complete.
Please click here to .complete the monthly statistics survey (priests)
Frequently asked questions
Q: Why is this happening now?
A: Last November the Bishops of England and Wales welcomed a proposal from the Committee for Marriage and Family Life to consult dioceses on the use of marriage preparation materials and to collect information and appropriate statistics. The Committee had been concerned that the planned review of the provision of marriage preparation and support, originally envisaged as part of Listening 2004: My Family My Church, had not yet been achieved.
Q: My husband and I have been preparing couples in our parish for several years now. We are not connected with the diocesan programme or any marriage organisation. Do you still want to hear from us?
A: Yes, we certainly do. It’s often easier to find out what the major networks and providers are doing but your experience is equally valuable and it will be much appreciated if you can share it.
Q: Many of the couples I prepare book their wedding too late to be directed to the regular parish programme so I end up preparing them myself. Does the survey anticipate this scenario?
A: Very much so – that’s why we have separated the monthly returns for priests from lay providers. There is a place there where you can add comments – please use this to add any further information you think should be brought to the Committee’s attention
Q: I do not run a marriage preparation course in the month of January. Your online form would not let me proceed further as it required answers to which I do not yet have the answers.
A: There is no need to provide statistics for months when you have not prepared any couples. When you do have figures for a month you can use the drop down menu to select the month concerned and the form will allow you to proceed.
Q: A group of us provide the marriage preparation course in our deanery. Surely if we all participate in the survey you won't get an accurate picture?
A: We invite each of you to complete the survey for providers so that we can know more about you and have a better idea of how many of you are involved. But you are right, we only need one of you to complete the monthly statistical return.
Have these answers helped? If not, please email us or call Amanda on 020 7901 4825 (Mon pm, Tues am, Thursday)
Links
Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage: Pontifical Council for the Family