Presenters Approximately one third of parishes in the Diocese of Leeds have trained Marriage Preparation Presenters. (We are always looking for new people to support this important ministry so read on to find out how you can become involved.) The parish priest is responsible for ensuring that every couple getting married in the Catholic Church receives appropriate preparation. The Leeds Diocesan Marriage Preparation Programme and Training supports priests in this so that marriage preparation becomes properly and catechetically focussed within the parish community. Trained parishioners work alongside parish priests to help engaged couples face some of the key practical and theological aspects of marriage. (Parish priests also have many other resources available to help them so if your parish does not advertise Marriage Preparation it does not mean that it is not getting done.) Some presenters work as married couples and some work in parish or deanery teams offering their services to other parishes as well as their own. All 80 MPPs are now trained in the Leeds Diocesan Marriage Preparation Programme which has been used very happily and succesfully since 2000 and has been revised and updated. A small number of MPPs use other resources like Marriage Care or Marriage Encounter material. In all cases the MPPs give their time freely. Who can be a Marriage Preparation Presenter? Practising Catholics and those married to Catholics and who are capable of supporting the Catholic ethos of the programme are very welcome to apply - to your parish priest in the first instance. Look at the brief intro to the programme in the 'Marriage' drop down menu and Contact this office for more information. Marriage Preparation Training (2011 group pictured) Next training 2012: Monday evenings 7pm - 9.30pm November 5th; 12th; 19th; and 26th. Venue: Hinsley Hall, Leeds www.hinsley-hall.co.uk Volunteers for training are encouraged to have attended or assisted at a course being offered to engaged couples by existing Marriage Preparation Presenters if possible and must be recommended by the parish priest, deacon or dean. See your parish priest and contact the FLM office if you would like to join in this year's training. Ongoing Support Who pays? Any expenses incurred in the running a marriage preparation course in a parish or deanery (for example for refreshments, photocopying, venue charges) can be claimed on parish finances. The parish may want to make a gift of this by offering free preparation to couples or it may want to pass the cost on by charging a flat rate per couple. Alternatively voluntary and anonymous donations could be invited for the parish Marriage Preparation Budget. In all cases marriage preparation presenters should be able to claim their legitimate expenses from the parish. Marriage Preparation Presenters ‘chill out’ at Wentworth Castle By Breda Theakston Family Life Ministry (FLM) Coordinator After two and a half years the annual Refresher Day for Marriage Preparation Presenters was back, with some differences, in May 2009. ‘Very good”; “relaxing”; “refreshing”; “just what I needed” were some of the responses at the end of the day offered to all who work with engaged couples in the dioceses of Hallam and Leeds. A key difference this year was location. In order to be open to Hallam Diocese we relocated to lovely And instead of too much ‘heady input’ we focussed this year on the heart. On offering people some real refreshment for themselves as human beings beloved of God, as well as for their ministry. During the slightly busier morning session a DVD clip was shown from the Home is a Holy Place DVD, produced by the ‘Celebrating Family’ Project of the Bishops of Participants were invited to take advantage of the lovely surroundings to find space and refreshment in nature – only the slightly damp chill after our delicious hot lunch in the grand Blue Room of the old country house caused a few shivers. At Mass Mgr Peter Rosser, Episcopal Vicar for Christian Life in Leeds Diocese reflected on the importance of marriage as a sign of God’s love. Marvelling that the Gospel ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ John 15: 9-17 could not have been better chosen for our day he said “Marriage is the primary sacrament” revealing to the world an outward sign of God’s love for us: unfailing, committed, permanent. Couples were often surprised, he said, to find that their true vocation is to ‘be in love!’ Mgr Rosser called on us to do the novena of the season, and for Marriage Preparation Presenters to make sure that God was the backdrop to everything they do with engaged couples and, for a little light reading, he heartily recommended Graham Green’s ‘The Power and the Glory’. Our aim in planning the day was to ‘do something beautiful’ for those whose lives and ministry exemplify and encourage marital love. Even with a relaxing schedule the day seemed too short and not everything planned got done. Thankfully though, Jane and Charles Perryman of Hallam Diocese did make sure that the day ended beautifully with their rousing music for the Thanks to all who helped make the day what it was, especially Marjorie Parker and Fr Peter, and thanks to all who give their time and talents to walk with engaged couples as they prepare for the most amazingly fruitful relationship of their lives. Pray for us and for engaged, married, separated and divorced people everywhere. Train to be a Marriage Preparation Presenter: 4 evenings in
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