Sponsor Couple A Sponsor Couple is a couple-to-couple ministry in which married couples mentor engaged couples to help them prepare for Christian marriage. The goal is to: Foster a sense of care and concern to the engaged couples and help them prepare for their commitment within the Church and community. Explore with the engaged couples issues through the results of the marriage preparation instrument (FOCCUS). Help the engaged learn to pray together. Provide engaged couples an opportunity to understand Sacramental Marriage through their own lived experience. What does the training involve? The six-hour training uses many different learning modes; group interaction, lectures and role playing. Some topics are: Role of the Sponsor Couple Working Together as a Couple Using the Relationship Assessment Tool (FOCCUS) Overview of Marriage Preparation Marital Spirituality Special Areas of Concern, i.e. cohabitation, premarital sex, interfaith Training Dates Scheduled Date Time Location TBD TBD Pastoral Center (map) Training may also be scheduled on a parish or deanery/regional basis. Contact our office to arrange additional training sessions. Registration & Cost Click here for registration form. Registration deadline is at least one week prior to the scheduled training. Complete registration form and send to... Office of Marriage & Family/SPC 305 7th Ave N Ste 100 Saint Cloud, MN 56303-3633 After the training, parishes are billed $100 per couple (if training is given in a parish setting, an additional fee for mileage is charged). The fee includes the FOCCUS manual, handouts, training expenses and refreshments. Suggested Qualities of a Sponsor Couple Believe in marriage as a permanent and faithful commitment. Belief in God and Church are necessary to a successful relationship. Are generous, warm and nonjudgmental. Are realistic and hopeful regarding the day-to-day living of marriage. Are open-minded and can share their own lived witness of the sacrament. Have the ability to listen well, reflect back and encourage participation without threatening. Can be witnesses and companions with the engaged couples in their continued search for a fulfilling and successful marriage. Have been married for at least three years, are following the teachings of the Catholic Church, and support the diocesan guidelines in preparing couples for marriage. Endorse and support the teachings of the Church such as birth control, premarital sex, cohabitation, etc. Understand the principle of confidentiality.