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Spanish Witness to Love Civil Marriage Initiative

Witness to Love announces the launch of its Spanish Civil Marriage Initiative designed to serve the specific needs of Hispanic and Latino couples in civil or long-standing free unions. This one-of-a-kind initiative equips dioceses, parishes, and communities to seek out, support, encourage,and inspire Hispanic couples in civil unions to pursue the joy of sacramental marriage.  Through this new initiative, couples will find a deeper sense of belonging within their parishes and discover how their marriage is called to be a great gift for each other, the Church, and society at large.

Ryan and Mary Rose Verret

Witness to Love is a virtues-based, Catechumenate model of marriage renewal and preparation that integrates modern principles of psychology and the virtues to help couples facilitate an authentic dialogue about their relationship.

Mary-Rose & Ryan Verret are the co-founders of Witness to Love and the authors of Witness to Love: How to Help the Next Generation Build Marriages that Survive and Thrive. Together Ryan and Mary-Rose speak on issues regarding evangelization, marriage, and disciples-hip. In June 2021 the Verrets were invited by the Vatican to present at the International Forum: Where do we stand with Amoris Laetitia? – on the impact of men-tor couples in evangelization. They are frequent guests on Catholic TV and radio and they reside in the heart of Cajun Country in Louisiana with their five children. Their passion is teaching couples to share their marriage with others and to understand that their home is a missionary outpost of the local parish.

 

Sample Interview Questions:

1) Can you briefly tell our listeners/viewers about Witness to Love – what it is and how your ministry came to be, and what makes it unique?

2) How is your newest initiative for Hispanic civilly married couples meeting a need in the Church that has never before been met?

3) Why is it that civil marriages or free unions are so common among Hispanic Catholics, and how is this Civil Marriage Initiative encouraging sacramental marriages?

4) How does a parish get started with your program? How can interested individuals go through your program?

 

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Download Sample Interview Questions

“In the spirit of Pope Francis and accompaniment, there are many more Hispanic/Latino couples in civil unions that need to be invited to come forth to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony. Many have misunderstandings or fears that could be put to rest if parishes were properly equipped to identify, invite, and support these couples.”  ~Jason Shanks, President of the OSV Institute

Witness to Love is thrilled to work with Our Sunday Visitor on this critical and timely project of serving couples. Never before has there been a national effort to reach and serve civilly married couples and create a process and a program just for them. OSV understands the needs of the Catholic Church today and we are so grateful that they have given to this initiative!

 

 

Spanish Civil Marriage Initiative Parish Resources: