National Marriage Week | Every February 7-14
“Marriage…one flesh, given and received”
The Archdiocese of San Antonio promotes National Marriage Week. Thank you, Pastors, for recognizing and celebrating marriage at your parish.
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. It also indicates the personal self-gift of each spouse, one to the other. These concepts point to Christ who gives Himself under the appearance of bread and wine—as real flesh and blood.
Find resources for the celebration of marriage below or download the guide (PDF).
Celebrate Married Couples
Pastors are encouraged to celebrate an Anniversary Mass for married couples on World Marriage Day, Sunday, February 12, 2023. The purpose of this Mass is to advocate and promote the sacrament of Marriage by recognizing and celebrating married couples in the parish. Pastors may choose to host this special Mass in one of three ways:
- Designate one of the weekend Masses as the Anniversary Mass
- Designate all the weekend Masses as Anniversary Masses for an Anniversary Mass weekend
- Schedule a special Mass outside of regular weekend Mass times
Blessing of the Couples
Pastors or deacons can bless the married couples during the Sunday liturgy of World Marriage Sunday on February 12, 2023. The priest can use the blessing from the Book of Blessings (Chapter 1, part III B: paragraph nos. 107-114), Order for the Blessing of a Married Couple (Order of the Blessing within Mass on Other Occasions). Pastors or deacons can also bless the married couples using a prayer for married couples from the USCCB.
Download prayer for Married Couples here:
Prayer of the Faithful
Incorporate one of the following petitions in your Prayer of the Faithful in weekend Masses:
Anniversary Certificate Template
Pastors can complete, sign, and distribute certificates of recognition for each married couple celebrating an anniversary. We recommend using an online registration form to take the names and years of marriage from each couple. Then, add the information to the provided certificate template and print to distribute at the Anniversary Mass:
Bulletin Announcement
Parishes may promote the Anniversary Mass by publishing the following announcement in the bulletin in the weeks leading up to Sunday, February 12:
National Marriage Week
Preaching Resources
Posters
At-Home Marriage Retreat for Couples
Holy Hour
Host a special Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration for engaged and married couples (in-person and/or online) utilizing the topic of marriage. This can be also done for youth and young adult groups on the vocation to married life.
Additional Resources
Marriage Ministry Resources
Visit the Resource page to find resources on marriage ministries, human sexuality, counseling, spiritual direction, parenting, and family life.
For Your Marriage Resources
For Your Marriage helps couples at all stages of life to understand and live God’s plan for happy, holy marriages by providing educational and spiritual resources. The website was launched in 2007 as part of the National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage, an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to communicate the meaning and value of married life for the Church and for society.
Online Marriage Encounter Retreats
Visit Worldwide Marriage Encounter to see upcoming weekend retreats for married couples.
Marriage Preparation Retreats
Assist engaged couples on their journey to marriage by taking advantage of many opportunities for marriage preparation retreats.
Natural Family Planning
Offer married couples free resources on Natural Family Planning. USCCB approved and Theology of the Body integrated. Sessions, coaches and resources available in English and Spanish on the MyParishNFP website.
Questions or Comments?
Barry Schoedel
Director for Family Evangelization & Faith Formation
Phone: 210-734-1960
Email: [email protected]
