Marriage Kit for Leaders
Refresh and Renew Marriages in your Community
The Marriage Kit course leads married couples through a comprehensive enrichment experience that will refresh and renew their relationship.
Quality Marriage Enrichment
Designed for participation over 5-10 weeks, The Marriage Kit program is a timely response to synod calls for a ‘marriage catechumenate’; a continuing accompaniment with couples through their Sacrament of Marriage.
A parish community can offer SmartLoving Marriage Kit program for continued Sacramental support for married couples in the parish.
Comprehensive curriculum with practical relationship and communication skills. Lesson topics include couple activities and a Date Night
Quality videos featuring expert insights and relationship science presented by SmartLoving directors Dr Byron and Francine Pirola
Couples will see their relationship progress through relationship surveys at the beginning and completion of the course
Course Lesson Modules:
Want to know what you're signing up to before making your decision? View our example video from Lesson 1
Five powerful lessons to take couples on a journey of intimacy.
Designed for a non-religious audience, the Marriage Kit conforms to the ethics and morals of Christian teaching, using secular language to lead couples through a variety of relationship building activities. Adaptations for the SmartLoving platform include the addition of lesson prayers and scripture quotes designed to bring a subtle faith perspective.
As such, the Marriage Kit is well suited for couples in mixed-faith or low-faith marriages, providing scientifically and theologically sound relationship insights, without a heavy emphasis on an expressive Christian faith. For those hosting a group experience, the Leader Hub includes tips on how to enhance the experience with prayer, scripture and theological insights to complement the course content, according to the profile of your group.
Ready to Refer Couples?
Your parish noticeboard and what you choose to advertise at the back of the Church could enrich a marriage. We have created the following resources for you to print for couples in your community who are seeking trusted resources to enrich their marriage.
Brochures for your Community
Review our Courses
It is easy, just click the button below, create your account and get 30 days to review any of our Online courses.
Your Website Can Be A Place for Marriage & Family
Your website is the front door of your community. Often, the diocesan or parish website is the place a person first encounters your faith community seeking answers or help.
Would an engaged couple, a spouse in a difficult marriage, or a parent find what they need on your website?
With the SmartLoving suite of resources, you can easily and effectively link them to resources, information and support in marriage and family life.
Copy and paste our suggested website copy or edit to create a tailored message.
Check out two communities that we have worked with to support their pastoral care to couples in their community:
Marriage Kit Leader's Guide
We have created a Marriage Kit Leader's guide that you can print and share with your Chruch leadership team to explore the ways the course can be used in your community.
Craft your group experience
Live Delivery Group Experience
Traditional Classroom Model.*
The Live Deilivery Group Experience also referred to as the Plug & Play format supports you in hosting an in-person group course either in a physical setting (e.g. a church, parish hall, or home) or virtually via a webinar (e.g. Zoom, Facetime, MS Teams). Participants watch the videos together at the scheduled time, using the pause points to complete the activities in private conversation with thir spouse.
Lessons are delivered by the Leader in-person at a local venue or via your preferred video conference platform, or a combination of both.
Couples journey together, watching the videos and doing the couple activities on the group time table.
All couple activities are private.
A good time to schedule an annual plug and play Marriage Kit course at your parish is on Valnetine's Day (or soon after) as there are already multiple cultural reminders for a couple to invest in romance.
Online Accompanied Group Experience
Flipped Classroom Model.*
The Online Accompanied format supports you in hosting an group experience where participants access the teaching content via the SmartLoving online learning platform. Participants progress through each lesson privately in their own time, gathering online after each lesson at a scheduled time (eg every 2 weeks) for prayer, support and fellowship.
Lessons are delivered via the SmartLoving online learning platform and group gatherings happen via your preferred video conference platform, in-person, or a combination.
Couples journey independently, watching the videos and doing the couple activities on their own time table.
All couple activities are private.
with Executive Officer of Family and Life - Michael Otto, from the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton Australia on his experience of running the Marriage Kit in this format.
*The Traditional Classroom
In a Traditional Classroom, a 'teacher' presents the content to the 'students' as a group and sets activities to do at home to consolidate what they have learned. When the homework is reviewed ahead of the next lesson, if a student doesn't understand the topic or is sick when it is taught, he gets left behind. Everyone is expected to learn at the same time and at the same pace.
*Flipped Classroom
A Revolution in Educational Methodology
In the 'Flipped Classroom', the content is presented via video for 'students' to access at home in their own time. Students can replay the video, pause it to take notes, or speed through according to their ability. Later, at an agreed time, students consolidate their learning in class or group setting while the 'teacher' provides further assistance to those in need. The learning system is flexible and responsive to student needs.
The Marriage Kit Leader Hub
When you purchase the Marriage Kit Leader Hub, you get full access to all the Leader resources in both formats, plus access to the online course.
The Leader Hub contains:
Leader Notes - Plug & Play / Online Accompanied (printable PDF)
- Team training step by step
- Hospitality notes
- Registration of couples
- And more
Plug & Play Videos (streaming)
Lesson Outlines with Leader step by step guide
Promotional resources including artwork, social media and editable print files
Follow up communications campaign including articles and artwork.
Online Course access
Interactive PDF Handouts (printable)
Permission to print Handouts for group participants (Plug & Play format)
Discount coupon for couple registration (Online Accompanied format)
Nominal Royalty contribution form (Plug & Play format)
Get Access to the Leader Hub
View FREE Sample Material
Access Leaders Sample Notes and Lesson 1 Video
Optional Extras
Need a little assistance in getting set up?
We believe in empowering local couples to lead in their community so our resources are designed to make this easy with step-by-step instructions and detailed scripts. However, we understand that if you haven’t run the course before, you might find it a bit intimidating to get started.
We’ve got you covered with the optional extras below
Training Session
Add an online training session for your team at a time convenient to you. In-person training is available in some areas (travel expenses must be added).
Training session includes:
- Overview of the course content.
- Using our online platform.
- Theological + philosophical foundations.
- Practical considerations for your community.
- Q + A to address specific circumstances.
$200 AUD | $155 USD | £115 GBP
Contact us via [email protected]
Coach Package
Let us do the heavy lifting in preparing promotional materials as we walk each step with you through your first course. Your Coach Package includes:
- Everything in the Training Session.
- Customised marketing materials.
- Draft email campaigns.
- A social media campaign.
- A SL Coach to support you through out the course.
$500 AUD | $400 USD | £300 GBP
Book a free video consultation or contact us via [email protected]
Need to talk it over?
We're ready to design a solution for your organisation.
Book a free SmartLoving Video Consultation using our online booking calendar. The calendar should display available slots in your time zone and will send you a notification and reminders.
Terms & Conditions
Each purchase of the Marriage Kit Leader Hub is for use by one Leader (or married couple leader).
For organisational use with multiple leaders, please purchase individual access for each leader/couple.
Purchase includes access for one year to the Leader Hub and membership must remain active for those who wish to continue to use the Marriage Kit resources, including use of saved copies of the handouts, videos and other resources.
Membership can be renewed at 33% of the initial purchase. Please watch for renewal notices in your inbox.
For those using the Plug & Play format:
- A nominal royalty $5AUD (~ $4USD or £3GBP) per couple is suggested to be paid by leaders and we ask that you log the number of participants at the end of the course. This nominal royalty donation is to support SmartLoving's ministry as we have significant costs associated with this service. Please watch these video instructions on how to make the donation after your event.
- Printable Handouts are available for you to print for each participant and you may print as many copies as needed. You may not use these handouts (or extracts from them) outside the context of the course.
For those using the Online Accompanied format:
- Participants are required to have their own account on the SmartLoving learning platform where they can access the Marriage Kit online course.
- Access is available at 50% discount via coupon code.
Can't afford our fees? Don't let this be a barrier! Please make an application for financial assistance via our Community Development Program
Marriage Kit FAQs
SmartLoving Online Courses
Do you have gaps in your marriage catechumenate formation?
SmartLoving Online equips leaders to journey with couples as they navigate the joys and challenges of Catholic marriage. Drawing on a wealth of research, experience, relationship science and theology, our suite of programs will provide you with a complete Marriage Catechumenate solution.
Used by thousands of couples throughout the world, SmartLoving is trusted by clergy across
the USA, AU, NZ and UK.
Discern
For dating couples considering engagement.
Engaged
Preparing to marry in the Catholic Church.
Newlywed
Supporting couples in their first years of marriage.
Fertility
An integrated approach to Fertility Awareness Methods.
Marriage Kit
Enrichment for married couples.
Breakthrough
Support for spouses in difficult marriages.