Marriage Preparation Programs
Verified Programs at our Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Congratulations on your decision to live your vocation of marriage! The Catholic Church recognizes marriage as a calling from God and a sacred lifelong commitment. By choosing the Sacrament of Matrimony, you recognize the Lord's call to consecrate your life to loving each other and to making Him a sharer in your own love story.
All of the following programs provide the necessary preparation to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony for both engaged couples and those seeking convalidation.
May God bless you abundantly as you prepare for the Sacrament of Matrimony and embark together on this beautiful journey of love and holiness!
On-Site Programs
NEW! Catholic Engaged Encounter in ENGLISH
A wedding is a day. A marriage is a lifetime. The Catholic Engaged Encounter marriage preparation weekend will help you develop the ability to communicate effectively and openly –an important tool you will need for building a great marriage.
This overnight retreat incorporates presentations, self-reflection, and couple’s dialogue. Catholic married couples share their experiences of living out the values of a sacramental marriage, supported by an ordained priest or deacon, and invite couples to have private one-on-one dialogues to learn about each other and the Sacrament of Matrimony. The experience offers engaged couples a unique opportunity to explore together five interrelated themes: The Family we grew up in, Sacramental Marriage, Communication, Intimacy, and Values.
Learn what other couples have to say about the Catholic Engaged Encounter retreat, here.
2025 Dates:
August 2-3
December 6-7
Couple Registration: $250.
Your registration fee includes all materials, meals, and the Saturday overnight stay in our dorms. The retreat starts on Saturday at 8:00 am and runs through Sunday, 4:30 pm.
Where: Cameron Retreat Center
2405 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77021
Transformed in Love
Transformed in Love is an overnight retreat to help you start your marriage the right way. This program summarizes the Church’s view of Marriage, and will provide you with the tools for setting the cornerstone of your marriage in the best way.
Transformed in Love will help to explain what love is, and the wonder of the sacredness of marriage. It will prepare you for what to expect on your wedding day, and guide you in managing your family's finances. It will help you understand who you are, and how to communicate effectively with your spouse. And Transformed in Love will help to build and maintain an atmosphere of continuous spiritual growth for your family.
We want your Sacrament of Matrimony to be a most precious moment. We want you to build a home, a domestic church, with your loved one. We want you to start a family together, grow old together, and to always give the best of you to your beloved spouse.
2025 Available Dates
March 15-16
May 17-18
June 21-22
July 12-13
October 11-12
November 8-9
Standard Registration: $250
Your registration fee includes all materials, meals, and an overnight stay in our dorms. The retreat starts on Saturday at 8:00 am and runs through Sunday, 4:30 pm.
Where: Cameron Retreat Center
2405 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77021
Before the Vows
- Super Saturday: A short series of essential and powerful talks.
- Fundamental video-based classes for you to take at your own pace.
- Saturday retreat focused on the spiritual aspects of marriage in the presence of our Lord.
We created this program to invite you to become the protagonist of your own journey, discover God’s love as He reaches out to you, and elevate your marriage to His provident plan.
Available dates for 2025
Super Saturday & Retreat
UPDATED DATE - April 26 & May 10
August 30 & September 20
*Click the hyperlink to access registration*
Please note that you must attend both, the Super Saturday and Retreat in order to receive a completion certificate.
The fee is 250 USD and includes both sessions, materials, meals, and a certificate of completion.
Where: Cameron Retreat Center
2405 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77021
Fully Online Program Now Available
Agape
The Agape program from CatholicMarriagePrep.com is based on Saint John Paul II's Theology of the Body and offers personalized one-on-one online mentoring by carefully trained married couples. These mentors guide couples throughout the entire process. CatholicMarriagePrep.com encourages couples to deepen their relationships with each other and with Christ. A distinctive feature of Agape is to foster meaningful discussions between the future bride and groom, helping them build a foundation for a strong, healthy, holy, and Christ-centered marriage. This 100% program recommended for physically separated couples is available in English, Spanish, and French and offers separate Military and Urgent Care courses. We encourage participating couples to find and engage in additional community-building opportunities at their home parishes.
The program costs USD 230 per couple or USD 289 for rush couples.
Click on this link for checking how it works and register. (You will be directed to a website outside the Archdiocese).
To download the quick reference brochure for your later use, click here.
Before registering, please make sure you have conducted your prenuptial interview at your parish, and you are cleared to begin your marriage preparation process. Enjoy your preparation!
Once completed, present your certificate of completion to your pastor or Family Life Director at your preparation parish, and keep a copy for you, for possible record comparison. To complete the process, we also recommend asking your church about the online NFP classes available for you!
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