Safe Environment Training

The Archdiocese of Louisville is committed to ensuring that children and youth who worship, study or participate in church-sponsored activities can do so in the safest and most secure setting possible. In an effort to fulfill this commitment, all employees or volunteers who have contact with children or youth (18 and under) for ANY length of time are required to participate in a 2-hour Safe Environment Training Workshop. Workshops are offered regularly throughout the year at various location around the Archdiocese.

For detailed information on the Safe Environment Program and the current list for scheduled workshops, click here.

Joined By Grace Companion Couple Training

Are you a married couple interested in working with engaged couples preparing for marriage?

Are you an engaged couple who would love to be accompanied in your preparation for your upcoming marriage by an experienced married couple at your parish?

The Joined by Grace marriage preparation program is offered at various parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Louisville to provide effective, one-on-one Catholic marriage preparation. Using this proven program offered via Ave Maria Press, married couples at a given parish are trained to walk with couples seeking marriage in an easy-to-use six session format which provides not only preparation for marriage but also accompaniment after the wedding during the all-important early period following the wedding.

Engaged couples should check with their parish to see if the program is currently being offered there. Training for Companion Couples is free and can be done on site at a given parish whenever is convenient.

Contact Deacon Stephen Bowling at family@archlou.org for more information or to schedule a training at your parish.

FOCCUS Training

The FOCCUS© Pre-Marriage Inventory is a comprehensive, user-friendly, affordable tool for professionals and lay individuals who are helping couples prepare for marriage. The 151-item, research-based inventory assesses couples’ agreement, disagreement, or indecision about statements related to important issues, such as communication, problem-solving, religion, family and friends, careers, cohabitation, parenting, sexuality, finances, and more.

The Archdiocese of Louisville recommends the FOCCUS inventory for their parishes preparing couples for marriage.

Training in the inventory is done online with FOCCUS personnel and takes about four hours to complete. It is open to all clergy or laity who work with engaged couples. Refresher sessions are always available as well. All parishes in the Archdiocese are approved organizations within the FOCCUS system.

For more details on the current training process, CLICK HERE.

For additional information, or with questions, contact Deacon Stephen Bowling at family@archlou.org.