One of the great vocations of the Church

Christian marriage is not a contract between two people who happen to be Catholic. It is a covenant between a baptised man and a baptised woman, raised by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament. The Catechism teaches that "the matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptised persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament" (CCC 1601). It is one of the seven sacraments. It builds the Church.

In his Pastoral Letter for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday, 26 April 2026, Bishop Davies named Christian marriage first among the vocations he placed before the diocese.

"Today, I want to join Pope Leo in inviting all considering their calling to take these steps to discover their vocation, whether this will be found in Christian Marriage; the Consecrated Life of Sisters or Brothers; the Catholic Priesthood; the service of the Diaconate; or the greatness of the lay vocation lived in the midst of the world."

The future of the Church in this diocese depends in real part on Catholic marriages that take the sacrament seriously and live it in front of their children, their parishes, and their neighbourhoods.

Three properties of sacramental marriage

The Church teaches three things about Christian marriage that are worth saying plainly.

These are not heroic ideals layered onto an ordinary contract. They are the shape of the sacrament. Without them there is no Christian marriage. With them, two ordinary people become a sign of Christ's love for the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32).

Marriage preparation in the diocese

The Diocese of Shrewsbury runs an active marriage preparation programme called Betrothed. The most recent residential ran in Chester from 20 to 27 June 2026. Couples preparing for marriage attend either Betrothed or an equivalent programme in their parish, with the support of their parish priest.

Betrothed and the parish-based programmes cover the same ground:

The aim is not to put couples through hoops. It is to give them the language and habits of Christian marriage before the wedding day, so that the sacrament is met ready, not by accident.

The Marriage and Family Life Office

Care for marriage in the diocese is held by the Marriage and Family Life Office. Two named members of staff hold this work day to day:

If you are engaged, recently married, or simply trying to live the sacrament more deeply, this office is yours.

How to plan a Catholic wedding: the practical steps

If you are planning to marry in the Catholic Church in this diocese, the practical pattern is well established.

If you are already married

This article is for engaged couples and for those discerning marriage as a vocation. It is also for the marriages already in this diocese. The sacrament is not just received on the day; it is lived through every year that follows. The diocese supports spouses through the Marriage and Family Life Office, parish events, the annual Mass, and the wider network of Catholic marriage formation. If your marriage is in difficulty, your parish priest is the first door, and the office in Prenton is the second.

Your next step

If you are engaged, contact the parish priest of either the bride or the groom at least six months before your proposed wedding date.