Catholic Church's marriage preparation course

GET TUTORED NOW BEFORE TYING THE WEDDING KNOT…
Camil Parkhe
Monday, March 02nd, 2009 AT 11:03 AM
Tags: Christian youths, marry, widding kont, preparation course
Youths attend a marriage preparation course which concluded at Nav Sadhana hall in the city on Sunday. The Catholic Church has made the two-day course mandatory
Pune: Christian youths planning to marry in the next few months this year will have to secure a certificate of having attended a marriage preparation course before they face the altar and say ‘I Do’.
The two-day course for the would-be brides and bridegrooms deals with basic lessons in relationship between husband and wife, intimacy between the two, sex education, responsible parenthood and family planning.
A batch of 80 boys and girls who planned to get married during the next few months attended the course in preparation for their marital life, held at Nav Sadhana Diocesan Pastoral Centre on Tadiwala Road on Saturday and Sunday.
The Catholic Church has made the marriage preparation course as mandatory for marriages solemnised in churches. The Vatican has directed bishops all over the world to organise the courses with the help of experts.
“You may wonder how we celibate priests can guide you about marital life,” said Pune Bishop Valerian D’Souza in his inaugural address on Saturday.
“But many times, people seek our counselling on drug addiction of one of their family members or about some family crisis. We are here to help you to start your married life, so that you are equipped to face the challenges ahead,” he said.
“The Church conducts these courses so that the youths know certain issues, problems and difficulties likely to be faced by newly wed couples and how to face them,” said Fr Roque Alphonso, course coordinator. The Catholic Church does not recognise divorces although it does annul marriages in some rare cases.
“We encourage the would-be husband and wife to attend the course together. The course also involves thought sharing of the two,” said Fr Alphonso. Often the course also provides the first opportunity for the boy and girl to talk to each other, he said.
Except two lectures by the clergy, all the other lectures during the course are given by married couples. Dr Noella Godinho, medical administrator of Sahyadri Hospital in Hadaspsar, guides the youths on sex education, causes of infertility and natural family planning while her husband, Philip, speaks on sexuality, intimacy, the myths and reality of living together.
“The course content is good. It offers insights into many issues related to married life,” said Ajit Waghmare from Sahakarnagar who attended the course along with his fiancée, Pradnya, from Nashik. These courses are held at Navsadhana every two or three months in English, Hindi and Marathi. “The boys and girls come for the course just to secure the mandatory certificate but while going home, they are always happy that they attended it,” says Fr Alphonso.