In June of 2022, the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life released Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life: Pastoral Guidelines for Particular Churches. The document responded to Pope Francis's desire to offer pastors, spouses, and all those who work in family ministry a renewed vision and methodology of preparation for the sacrament of marriage and all married life that includes all the stages of the sacramental journey: the times of preparation for marriage, its celebration and the years that follow, especially when spouses might go through crises and moments of discouragement.
Printed versions are available through OSV and Ascension Press.
In November of 2024, the USCCB held a workshop for bishops to discuss how the catechumenate model of marriage preparation can be incorporated in the United States.
Marriage Catechumenate Resources
- Marriage and Family Life Directors Share Why the Catechumenate is Important
- Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life Pastoral Guidelines for Local Churches, Gabriella Gambino, Undersecretary for Family and Life of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life
- The Reasoning of Pope Francis for a Marriage Catechumenate, by Msgr. Patrick Dubois
- Presentation on Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life at the 2022 World Meeting of Families
- Fr. Tim Donovan on the Catechumenal Process
Diocesan Resources
- Guidelines for the Marriage Catechumenate (Archdiocese of Cincinnati)
- Framework for the Marriage Catechumenate (Archdiocese of Dubuque)
- Marriage Catechumenate (Diocese of Lansing)
For more information, contact us at laity@usccb.org using "Marriage Catechumenate" in the subject line.