Couples
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How do I register to access my courses/ workbook videos?
If you had access to Witness to Love courses or workbook videos before May 2024, click "Login" from the main menu to create a new account in our system. Use the same email you used on app.witnesstolove.org to get access to your courses. Once you verify your email and login, you'll be prompted to fill out a registration form to include your parish and (future) spouse's information. Please do not bypass this form, as it is necessary to properly link you to your fiance, mentors, and parish.
Still can't see your courses? Reach out to us at parishsupport@witnesstolove.org
If you are starting your journey after May 2024, your parish Marriage Formation/Prep Coordinator or coach should invite you to the appropriate course.* The "bride" or "groom" will receive an email to register in our new system, and he or she will be prompted to add his or her (future) spouse and mentors (if applicable).
*If your parish or diocese is subscribed to the Be More Retreat, you do not need your coordinator's invitation. Simply create an account or access your account by clicking Login. When you select a parish or diocese that is subscribed to Be More, you'll get automatic access.
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My Registration didn't work. What now?
If you completed your registration but didn't get a verification email:
- Check your spam/junk or trash folders
- Our system may recognize your email from data transferred from our old app. Sign in and select "Forgot Password"
- Check spam/junk again if you do not receive this email within 5 minutes. Try refreshing your browser.
- Still can't sign in? Reach out to us at parishsupport@witnesstolove.org
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What is the Hybrid Experience (formerly Virtual Pathway)?
The Hybrid Experience combines the accessibility of online marriage prep with the accompaniment that couples deserve.
It offers couples the same formation they would receive at the parish, while Witness to Love trained coaches fulfill the role of the Marriage Formation Coordinator. We work together with your priest/ deacon to make sure you are fulfilling the formation requirements for your diocese.
Our WTL Coaches will support you virtually, while you meet with your mentors in person (if possible).
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Once I have purchased my Hybrid Experience (formerly Virtual Pathway) materials, how do I get access to the videos that accompany the workbook?
You will receive automatic access to the videos in the learning platform under "Courses" upon completion of purchase.
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Can we do this program on a weekend?
No, engaged couples will need at least 6 months and civilly-married couples will need 4 months to faithfully complete our program.
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Do we have to pick our own mentor couples?Yes, choosing your own mentor couple is a vital part of your formation process. When choosing a mentor couple please consider the following:
- Married 5 years or more in the Catholic Church
- Active in the Church
- Have a marriage and family you both admire
- Go to the same church as you do now OR attend the church you will be married at OR attend the church that you will be attending after the wedding
- Should not be immediate family members
Make sure to pray about your choice. Here are some questions to reflect on as you consider who to ask to be your mentor couple:
- Who can challenge you to have a better marriage?
- Do they have a strong relationship with Christ?
- Are they the couple you would go to naturally if you needed relationship help in the future?
- Do you like the way their kids turned out?
- Would you be happy if you had a marriage relationship like theirs?
- What specifically that you admire about their marriage? It doesn’t matter if you know them really well, but it does matter that you trust and admire them.
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How often do we meet with our mentor couple?
You will meet once a month for an hour and a half.
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Can I meet with a mentor couple virtually?
Yes, although this is not ideal you can still have your meetings virtually. If you both live near each other you should avoid meeting virtually.
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How can I get a certificate of completion?
Make sure you've started your course by clicking Begin Course and have progressed by clicking Next Lesson. The last lesson in your course, should be a Final Survey. Once you complete the survey, you'll be prompted to certify that you've completed this part of your formation and will get the option to Download your certificate. If you need to access the certificate again in the future, click on Certificates from the main menu.
Clergy
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How do I bring Witness to Love to my parish?
Please let us know more about you and your parish by filling out the questionnaire here. Upon completion of the survey, you will be provided information (and a discount code!) to order our Parish Review Pack. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with our materials and mission. You will also be contacted by a Witness to Love Ambassador who will be available to you as you learn more. We are here to support you throughout your discernment and answer any questions you may have.
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What does the Witness to Love Process look like?
- A couple meets with a priest
- The couple is asked to choose a mentor couple
- Coaching session with marriage prep coordinator
- The couple meets with their mentor couple once a month for 6 months. (4 months for civilly married couples)
- The couple attends a parish or diocese retreat or completes our Be More Retreat. Mentor couple is invited to attend.
- The priest meets with the couple and mentors the couple for a theology night.
- Wedding date
- Continued accompaniment by Mentor couple and parish community.
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What is the role of the marriage prep coordinator?The Marriage Prep Coordinator sets the tone for how marriage preparation happens in the Parish and has many roles. He or she
- Provides a visible face inviting the engaged couple into the life of the parish
- Coaches the mentor couples in their role
- Is known to all in the parish as the marriage prep “go to” person
- Is available to help and to support the engaged couple and the mentors both before and after the wedding
- Is an ongoing mentor to the mentors, letting them know about upcoming retreats and parish events
- Might host get togethers for couples over the years
In short, the Witness to Love MPC has a broad, deep and lasting role that is focused on building relationships with the two couples and evangelizing every step of the way.
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What is the cost of the materials?Couples sets are $95 each plus tax and shipping. This includes: 3 workbooks (one for the bride, one for the groom, one for the mentor couple to share); a Mentor’s Journey handbook, and access to our learning platform.
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Do you offer any discounts?Thanks to the generosity of our investors, WTL materials are already offered at a 60% discount. This means you only pay 40% of what it actually costs WTL for printing, technology, and support, while investors in WTL cover the rest. We will consider bulk discounts on a case-by-case basis.
Marriage Formation Coordinator (Parish)
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How do I invite couples to courses (or view workbook videos) in the learning platform?
As of May 2024, all users, including couples and coordinators who had access to the former WTL website and app, must create a new account on our system.
- Click the Login button on our main menu and use the same email you used in our old system to register on our new platform.
- Select your role- any non-couple role will have access to the "Manager" portal, where you can assign couples to courses.
- You'll receive an email to verify you account and setup a password. Once you login, you'll see Manager on the main menu of the learning platform.
- Click on Manager from the menu, scroll down to the List of Users, and click Add a User. Add ONLY one user–the "bride" OR "groom."
- Click on the contact card created for that user to invite him or her to the appropriate course by clicking Add to New Course.* Depending on the materials you've purchased, select the Engaged Couple Course or the Civilly Married Couple course.
- The user will receive an email prompting him or her to register, add their (future) spouse and mentors, and create a password.
- Once they Login, they'll see their assigned course under Courses.
*If you are subscribed to the Be More Retreat, you do not need to invite couples to the Be More Retreat Course. All users in your parish or diocese will have automatic access when selecting your parish or diocese at registration. Direct couples to the "How do I access my courses..." question under "Couples" for guidance on creating an account.
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Which Couple’s Marriage Prep set do I purchase?
Couples Marriage Prep sets may be purchased from Witness to Love’s online shop here. Each set includes three copies of the Witness to Love Couple’s Guide: Gearing Up for a Lifelong Journey (workbook), one copy of Mentor’s Journey: How Your Marriage Can Change the World, and 4 “seats” in the app course. The future “bride” and “groom” should each get a workbook, while the mentor couple shares a workbook and the Mentor’s Journey book. Please order one set per engaged or civilly-married couple–mentor couple materials are included.
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Can I purchase more than one at a time?
Yes, you can purchase as many sets as you need. We recommend ordering sets for at least half the number of weddings/year. Example: If your parish has 20 weddings/year, order 10 sets so you have some on hand and can order more when the stock is running low.
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Can a parish be invoiced for materials purchased?
A parish may be invoiced for a materials order by selecting ‘pay by check’ at checkout. You will receive an invoice to the email address included on the order form that may be paid by credit card or check after the order is placed.
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What materials are there to train mentor couples?
We do not recommend any specific 'training' or additional resources for WTL mentor couples. They are asked to share their marriage and experiences with the engaged couple using the Mentor's Journey book, WTL workbook, and the videos in the app course as a guide for conversation. This creates an authentic dialogue and opportunity for connection and growth. Engaged or civilly-married couples and their mentors receive an orientation or coaching from the Marriage Prep Coordinator before they begin their regular meetings.
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What do we do when the couple does not have a mentor couple?
To create a Showcase Mentor Couples album to share with engaged couples having difficulty discerning a chosen mentor couple, you may use this WTL Mentor Showcase Inventory. Here is an EXAMPLE Showcase Mentor Couple Album Page. The engaged couple would ‘choose’ from a recommended list of showcase couples. After discernment and selection, an invitation is extended to the chosen mentor couple by the engaged couple.
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Who covers the Prepare-Enrich or FOCCUS in the parish?
Anyone trained in Prepare-Enrich or FOCCUS may cover the inventory results with the engaged couple (i.e. Marriage Prep Coordinator, Coach Couples, Clergy). If anyone on your marriage ministry team needs to be trained in Prepare-Enrich, they may enroll on WTL’s website at a discounted cost here.
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Can we use FOCCUS with Witness to Love
Yes. For parishes using both Witness to Love and FOCCUS, please use this resource document for implementation support. This resource was created by both Witness to Love and FOCCUS leaders to provide a collaborative directive.
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What if I input an email address incorrectly when adding a couple to a course?Please email Parish Support at parishsupport@witnesstolove.org and our team will assist you with this need.
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If a couple drops out of the program, can I reuse a license?
Licenses are not reusable. If a couple drops out of the program, please contact our Parish Support Team at parishsupport@witnesstolove.org to reinstate the license in your parish account.
Diocesan Leaders
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We have an existing diocesan marriage preparation retreat. Do we have to get rid of it if we implement Witness to Love?
If you diocesan marriage preparation retreat includes the topics of the sacramentality of marriage, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the theology of marriage (including topics of conjugal spirituality and Theology of the Body) you should not get rid of it - it will complement the Witness to Love preparation beautifully!
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I would prefer to train our Mentors - how else can they share the Church’s teachings?
The Mentors in our marriage preparation process are lay volunteers who should not be asked to share the Church teachings since, quite often, they are unprepared to share the fulness of the teachings, but also because their role is to accompany the engaged couple, not catechise them. Our materials will prompt the Mentors to share stories from their lives, the times that things went well and the times when things got tough. Thus, they do become “teachers” of sorts, but this teaching aspect serves to bring the couples closer together in trust and friendship. If you are still unclear about the role of Mentors in the Witness to Love marriage preparation process, please reach out to us and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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My diocese is rural, with small parishes spread out and far away from one another. Will Witness to Love work for our diocese?
Yes! We have seen our ministry work well in both urban and rural settings. Witness to Love is not a rigid, “out of a box” ministry. Each diocese, parish community, and parish have unique needs and we’ve seen a variety of different adjustments that work well for a particular community while integrating the Witness to Love process. Our parish support and diocesan support team work closely with diocesan directors and/or coordinators to resolve any difficulties and share the best practices we have learned over the years.
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What is the best way to bring Witness to Love to our diocese?
The best “first step” is to fill out our Diocesan Questionnaire! After filling out the questionnaire, you can purchase our Diocesan Review Pack at a 50% discount. The Review Pack is filled with samples of all of our materials and will give you a good idea of how our ministry works (email us at diocese@witnesstolove.org to get the discount code). We will also reach out to you and schedule a call to learn more about your needs and answer any questions you may have.
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I am a new director and some of the parishes in my diocese already use Witness to Love. How can I learn more about it?
We would recommend that you:
- Order our Diocesan Review Pack to see our materials;
- Schedule a conversation with us by emailing Izabella at diocese@witnesstolove.org;
- Consider getting trained online. We can offer you a diocesan discount for your training. Please email us at diocese@witnesstolove.org for the discount code.
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What other dioceses use Witness to Love?
We are in over 80 dioceses in North America! Email diocese@witnesstolove.org to see how WTL transforming parish communities and evangelizing spouses near you!
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Is Witness to Love a USCCB approved marriage preparation?
Yes! The USCCB Office of Marriage and Family Life Ministry has approved and lists Witness to Love on its full marriage preparation page.