Marriage preparation course transforms engaged couples

In the whirlwind of planning the “perfect fairy tale wedding”, Rebecca Evans, like many “brides to be,” found herself prioritising the logistics and details of “the big day” over the actual sacrament of marriage. 

“It’s easy to get caught up in the to-do list,” she explained, reflecting on her engagement period to fiancée, Campbell last year. “I was very obsessed with the details. It’s very easy for that to become your whole focus.” 

However, one weekend retreat, the Marriage Preparation Course, organised by the Life Marriage and Family Team (LMF) within the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation became a pivotal moment in the Evans’ journey toward marriage. 

“We came away from the weekend with new ways to think about the sacrament, new understandings of each other. It helped us refocus us on what’s important—our relationship together and our relationship with God,” said Campbell. 

The archdiocese is once again hosting its “Marriage Preparation Weekend” with the theme “Everlasting Love” on 2-3 May, 2025, at St Martha’s in Leichhardt, offering engaged couples a valuable opportunity to prepare for a lasting marriage grounded in Catholic teachings. 

“The Marriage Preparation Weekend is about preparing engaged couples to live their marriage in the light of Christ’s grace and the teachings of the Catholic Church,” explains Michael Jaksic, from the LMF team.  

“Marriage is probably the most important relationship in most people’s lives, and also the most demanding. Because it’s the most demanding, it requires effort and ongoing support and education to make relationships last,” said Michael. 

One of the most impactful moments for Rebecca and Campbell came from a talk from Fr Daniele Russo who spoke of marriage as “a reflection of God’s relationship between the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit,” recalls Rebecca. This theological perspective reignited their excitement about the sacrament they were preparing to enter. 

Campbell recalled a talk from an experienced married couple who reminded them that “you will never have it all figured out. And the whole point is that every day, you’re just figuring out the next thing together—as a team.”  

The course is split across two days with day on beginning on Friday evening from 6pm to 10pm and day two beginning at 9am and ending at 5pm. 

They advise engaged couples to “not only find the time, but set aside time to do it early in your engagement,” said Campbell. 

Rebecca and Campbell completed the course just a month before their wedding and wished they’d done it sooner. “It was the perfect way to realign, refocus and go back to Jesus and say, this is what it’s all about. This is who we’re doing it for.”  

For couples interested in registering, please follow the link.