The Office for Family Life fosters a family perspective in Church and society that promotes ministry to, with, by, and for families in all stages. The Office supports marriage formation and pastoral care to advance the missionary discipleship of the Domestic Church in the Diocese of Orange.
Inviting all married couples!
COUPLETALK – Jan. 8-Feb. 12, 2026
Couples are invited to kick off the year strong by learning communication and conflict resolution skills in a fun and interactive way with CoupleTalk!
CoupleTalk®️ is the latest release of Relationship Enhancement®️ (RE), which is backed by decades of research to be the most effective relationship and marriage education program available to be offered by nonprofessionals.
Thursdays, January 8 to February 12, 2026 (6 sessions)
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center
13280 Chapman Ave. Garden Grove, CA 92840
The program is free and for couples age 18+
Free childcare is provided
There is a $100 gift card incentive for qualifying couples who complete the entire program
This project is supported by Federal Grant #90ZB0037 from ACF. Its content is solely the responsibility of the Relationship Research Foundation (USrelationships) and does not necessarily represent the official views of ACF.
For Engaged and Married Couples
In 2026, the Diocese of Orange is hosting an event on January 23 – the Feast of the Espousals of Mary & Joseph. This will be for engaged couples and newlyweds (married 5 years or less) and their pastors. For more information, contact [email protected]
Every year, National Marriage Week is February 7-14 and World Marriage Day is the second Sunday of February.
National Marriage Week coincides with the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, making it the perfect time to celebrate the joys and virtues that marriage brings into our lives. Research consistently demonstrates that married couples experience great health, financial stability, and personal happiness. Moreover, it provides the best environment for raising children, offering them a better chance at life.
Join National Marriage Week in celebrating love beyond words and creating a lasting impact on the institution of marriage. For more information and to get involved, visit www.MarriageWeek.org. The US Bishops also provide Catholic resources for marriage and National Marriage Week at foryourmarriage.org
Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life
We are thrilled to be approved for a grant from the Catholic Marriage Initiatives Fund in support of our implementation of key aspects of the USCCB pastoral framework on marriage and family ministry Called to the Joy of Love.
The projects proposed in our grant application primarily focus on strengthening marriage formation in our Diocese with particular attention to the guidelines delineated in Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life by the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life in 2022.
Parishes interested in partnering with us to implement the catechumenate model of marriage preparation should complete and submit our online inquiry form.
Hope and Healing After Abortion
The Church understands and cares
Hope and Healing After Abortion is a sensitive, private, confidential experience of accompaniment. Our volunteers aim to provide a caring, compassionate, and non-judgmental presence for anyone who is suffering from the affects of abortion and who is seeking reconciliation with God and their faith community.
We annually host one-day retreats for women impacted by abortion:
- English retreat on April 18, 2026 in Sierra Madre, CA: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/bPE8KUqE0M
- Retiro en español 22 de agosto, 2026 en Sierra Madre, CA: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/uZss7y5f6d
Catholic Marriage is unique among other marital relationships because it is a sacrament that makes Christ present in our world. The relationship between husband and wife mirrors the relationship of Jesus Christ for his people. In the Catholic tradition, the husband and wife accept a role in God’s plan for humanity. They are ambassadors of God’s love, and they collaborate with God to keep humanity alive.
The vows exchanged by the couple are a sacred pact through which the spouses embrace each other, and, together, embrace Jesus as their partner. Through their union with Christ, they participate in the unbreakable pact between God and humanity: the covenant that was sealed in the death and resurrection of Christ.
Support Changes Everything
Pregnant? Need Help?
Local help is available: pregnancy clinics and centers, shelters and food distribution, mental health support, and resources for maternal and perinatal health.
Marriage
& Family
Formation
Pastoral
Care
