Three Components of Marriage Preparation:
 
Prepare/Enrich Premarital Inventory:
The first step in our marriage preparation process is taking the Prepare/Enrich Premarital Inventory.  This assessment is an online survey that you take with your partner to help you identify the unique strengths and potential growth areas of your relationship. It is a sophisticated instrument that must be interpreted by a trained facilitator.  At St. Paul’s, we have several couples who are trained Prepare/Enrich facilitators; they will meet with you 1-3 times, depending on your needs.  The detailed feedback you learn proven relationship skills and increase your understanding of one another. The cost to take this inventory is $35 and is paid online when you take the inventory. The facilitators volunteer their time.
 
Sacramental Preparation:      

• Sponsor Couple Program: "Preparing to Live in Love," is a seven-week experiential program that provides you with the benefits of a personal mentor couple. If you decide to participate in this for your premarital education, then you will be assigned a mentor couple who will work with your schedules in setting up meeting times. Meetings usually take place in the mentor couple’s home. This is an extraordinary marriage preparation program that combines the practical side of marriage preparation (skill building, relationship insights) with a very personal and relevant component - an opportunity for the engaged couple to address their unique relationship with another married couple and learn about the day-to-day challenges and joys of married life.  The cost for the materials for this program is $125.00.

• Engaged Encounter weekend: Couples may choose to attend an Engaged Encounter weekend through the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. This is a 3-day/2 night retreat, and it is a very good one-time experience for couples preparing for the sacrament. The cost for the retreat is $225.

 
 
Natural Family Planning:
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the Catholic Church's approved method of family planning. It is safe, healthy, and nearly 100% effective, with no negative side effects for either husband or wife.  As opposed to other family planning methods, such as artificial contraceptives, NFP uplifts the couple's marital union and places it before God who is all Love. Find out why so many couples love using Natural Family Planning!
 
Standard Sympto-Thermal Method (SST)
Contact Information: Barrett and Jessica Counts; 281.997.2508; or email BarrettAndJessicaNFP@gmail.com
 
Creighton Method
Contact information: Laurel Demary, FCP; 281-993-6410 or email triumphofmary@gmail.com.
 
Or go to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston website to sign up for classes through the diocese: www.archgh.org