National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage

Diocesan Focus Groups With Married Couples

Between June and December 2005, more than 80 U.S. dioceses conducted focus groups with newly married, middle years, and older couples; Spanish-speaking couples; remarried couples; interfaith and interchurch couples; separated and divorced person; and single young adults. Participants identified their major issues and concerns around marriage; discussed their experience of marriage ministry in their diocese and parishes; and offered suggestions to improve church outreach to engaged and married couples.