News - Marriage & Family Life

The observances of National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Day (Sunday, Feb. 12) are an opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family. This year's theme, "Marriage...one flesh, given and received" highlights the one-flesh union of husband and wife that is willed by God. Resources available through the link.

The Office of Marriage and Family Life shares its 2023 Marriage Preparation course dates for first time marriages, convalidation/remarriage, and Platicas (en Español). Registration for 2023 courses will open soon.

Share the events of Celebrate Catholic Family Life with the whole family. Download the Family Participation Passport & attend an event in each category. Submit your Family Passport for the closing drawing on October 7, 2022 (submit by Oct. 5) for an opportunity to win fun prizes.  Submission details and passports in English and Spanish through the link.

The California Catholic Conference of Bishops profoundly welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobb’s v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which has affirmed our dearly held belief that life is precious, valuable, and should be protected, and that states have a compelling interest to protect the unborn and limit abortion. This has been our prayer, the Church’s prayer, for the last 50 years. Full statement through the link.

Celebrate the X World Meeting of Families, "Family Love: a vocation and Path to Holiness”, this week. Full schedule of events through the link.

The California bishops have proposed a different vision for California – one where women, children, and families are welcomed, supported, and accompanied by the Catholic community. Recording of our webinar conversation available through the link.

La filtración del borrador del dictamen de la Corte Suprema en el caso Dobbs provocó que el gobernador y los líderes legislativos de California anunciaran su intención de crear una enmienda constitucional en California para proteger el derecho al aborto. Esto destruirá vidas, familias y limitará significativamente la capacidad de la Iglesia Católica en California para proteger a los no nacidos. Este es el momento para que la Iglesia y sus 12 millones de católicos intervengan en sus comunidades, se opongan activa y públicamente a esta enmienda y cumplan con nuestra responsabilidad bautismal de proteger la vida en cada etapa y en cada oportunidad.

The leak of the draft Supreme Court ruling in the Dobbs case triggered the governor and California legislative leadership to announce its intent to create a California constitutional amendment to protect the right to abortion. This will destroy lives, families, and significantly limit the ability of the Catholic Church in California to protect the unborn. This is the moment for the Church and its 12 million Catholics to engage with their communities, actively and publicly oppose this amendment, and fulfill our baptismal responsibility to protect life at every stage, and at every opportunity.

Engaged couples are encouraged to read through and select the right course for them and secure your preferred date as soon as possible. If you are unsure which course is right for your situation, please contact the Office of Marriage & Family Life.

On Nov. 18, Join Catholics and Protestants across the country coming together online to pray for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. This is the case that could could overturn Roe v. Wade—the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states.

Invitación a la segunda sesión de formación (consta de 3 sesiones en línea) para entrenar a los entrenadores que ofrecen los talleres de Pre-Cana.

The Church needs good and holy priests, it needs good and holy religious, it needs good and holy married couples and all the other vocations mentioned above. The different vocations complement each other and build upon each other. They make for a vibrant Church built of ‘living stones’ to carry the message of God’s love in Jesus to others. Learn more through the link.

National Marriage Week will be celebrated February 7-14, with World Marriage Day commemorated on the second Sunday of February (2/14). USCCB has resources available and events to support this year's theme, “To Have, To Hold, To Honor".