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Register for these
Upcoming Dates

February 11 - 14 SOLD OUT!
March 25 - 28
May 20 - 23
June 17 - 20
July 22 - 25
August 5

Prepare to Love for a Lifetime!

Three to Get Married

...is a marriage preparation course offered by The Center for Family Development to engaged couples in the DC Metropolitan area. The course satisfies the Pre-Cana requirement for couples getting married in the Archdiocese of Washington, the Arlington Diocese, and by pastoral permission for those marrying outside the local area. Our program aims to provide each couple with a reflective and in-depth preparation for a joyful, faith-filled marriage—based on love that not only endures but actually grows stronger year after year. 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

What to Expect

Three to Get Married, draws upon the best in contemporary psychology, practical wisdom from the experience of married couples, and the beauty of the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage and family life in order to give you the best foundation on which to build a successful marriage. We want you to grow more deeply in love and knowledge of each other, but also in your love and knowledge of God. More profoundly, we hope you will see that these loves are intimately related—it takes three to get married!

You'll enjoy a memorable weekend that includes a mixture of talks, questionnaires, and time for personal reflection, allowing couples to deepen their understanding of Catholic marriage—with all of its possibilities and challenges. The program begins by focusing on the human and practical aspects of marriage, the themes then move toward the spiritual, concluding on Sunday with a day-long couple’s retreat, with opportunities for confession and Sunday Mass.

 

Typical Weekend Schedule:

Thursday night: 
7:00-7:15
 Registration….Welcome Reception
7:15-8:00
 Introduction to the Weekend: What’s so Special about a Catholic Marriage?
         8:00-9:30 FOCCUS Inventory and personal interviews
9:30
 Departure / Discuss FOCCUS questions on ride home
Friday night: 
7:30 – 8:30
 Communication in Marriage  
8:30-8:45
 Break
8:45-9:30
 How the Family You Come From Affects the Family You Become  
9:30
 Departure / Discuss Questionnaire on Ride Home
Saturday:
8:30-9:00
 Continental Breakfast
9:00-9:45
 Raising Kids – What Does it Take?
9:45-10:15
 Questionnaire
10:15-11:00
 Modern Myths about Marriage and Money  
11:00-11:30
 Questionnaire
11:30--12:15
 Conscience Issues and Married Love  
12:15-12:45
 Questionnaire
12:45-1:45
 Lunch 
1:45-2:30
 Openness To Life: Personal Fulfillment Through Self-Giving
2:30-3:00
 Questionnaire
3:00-3:45
 Newlywed Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
3:45-4:30
 The Practical Aspects of Understanding Your Fertility   
4:30-4:45
 Break
4:45-5:30
 Meeting the Emotional Needs of your Spouse
5:30
 Departure / Discuss Questionnaires on ride home and over dinner.
Sunday:   A Day of  Reflection
9:00-9:30am
 Breakfast 
9:30-10:15
 Marriage: “In the Beginning…”   
10:15-10:45
 Questionnaire
10:45-11:45
 The True Meaning of Love    
11:45-12:15 pm
 Questionnaire
12:15-1:00
 Lunch
1:00-2:00
 The Sacramentality of Marriage  
2:00-2:30
 Questionnaire
2:30-3:30
 The Sacramental Life
3:30-4:00
 Questionnaire
4:00-5:00
 Closing Mass

Breakfast and lunch will be provided on Saturday and Sunday.
Attendance at all talks and activities is mandatory in order to receive certificate of completion.   
Schedule subject to change.

Personal Interviews
On Thursday evening, each person will meet with one of our team members for a short interview. This is an opportunity for us to get to know you and discover how we can best meet your needs during the weekend. Although some of the requested information is similar, it does not take the place of the official “prenuptial investigation” that must be completed by the priest who is overseeing your preparation.

The FOCCUS Inventory           
Also on Thursday evening, all couples will take the FOCCUS Inventory, administered by clinicians from the Alpha Omega Counseling Clinic. Each couple will have the opportunity to schedule a consultation with one of the Clinicians to review the results of the FOCCUS; this meeting usually takes place in the week following the marriage prep session. The Alpha Omega Clinic will also provide the compiled results to the priest preparing each couple. Couples who have already taken the FOCCUS will be offered a supplemental tool called “FOCCUS for the Future” along with the opportunity for a feedback consultation with an Alpha Omega Clinician. 

What is the FOCCUS?    
FOCCUS is a self diagnostic inventory designed to help couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship.  It is a tool to help couples identify and work through issues before marriage. The FOCCUS is not a test nor meant as a predictor of success or failure, but a discussion instrument intended to maximize the marriage preparation process by tailoring it to the individual couple and by providing comprehensive content to assist the couple preparing for marriage and those working with them.

 Certificate of Completion  
Upon completion of the weekend, each couple receives documentation to give to the priest who is preparing them. 

 Cost     
$275 per couple. Includes: conference materials, FOCCUS materials and follow-up consultation, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks.

  2010 Weekend Dates  

 Comments and Kudos!

  • Sean & Kim ~ "We had a tremendously positive experience during our marriage preparation weekend at CFD and have recommended it wholeheartedly to other couples. The talks during the weekend were informative, stimulating, and inspirational, and we have put into practice many of practical lessons we learned that weekend. After completing the weekend we felt we had made real progress toward building a solid foundation for our marriage.  We have returned to CFD since being married for the Newlywed Program. It is nice to know that the CFD is committed to supporting couples after their wedding day and helping them continue to grow and strengthen their relationships."  
     
  • Tony & Asseneth ~ "We are consistently impressed with the programs and events at the Center for Family Development. Every CFD event we have attended has not only been centered around the Catholic faith, but has offered us practical advice about applying Catholic teaching in our life. We can tell that there is a great deal of prayer and planning behind every program and every talk at the CFD. The events have been very fun and we feel that the CFD's Marriage Preparation and Newlywed Programs have helped us get a very positive start to our marriage."  
     
  •  Shannon & Matt ~ "It was great to spend time focused on our  marriage, especially since we've been spending so much time working on the wedding day details!" 

     
  • Connie ~ "This program exceeded my expectations and I know it will help my marriage."  

     
  • Patrick ~ "I came in thinking I wouldn't learn much, and I left with a refreshed and renewed approach to our married life!"  

     
  • Dennis ~ "Excellent program!  My fiancee and I are looking forward to coming back for more CFD programs in the future! " 

     
  • Alyssa ~ "I was impressed by the talks and the entire program.  I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend." 

     
  • Simon ~ "This program really opened my eyes to the next chapter of my life, and gave me tools and resources to help us in the future." 

     
  • Kevin & Maria ~ "Thank you for an amazing weekend!  This will definitely assist us in making better decisions in our marriage.  It will also help me bring God into my life more."

     
  • Sandra ~ "I have experienced so much this weekend, I don't know how to thank you.  CFD is a great place, and you have helped me answer so many questions.  Thank you!"

 How to Register     
ONLINE REGISTRATION is appreciated!  Please click on your preferred date at the top of this page to begin your registration process.