Office of Family Life

Our Mission

The Archdiocese of Washington Office of Family Life serves the Archbishop and the needs of the priests and parishioners to build, strengthen, and create a culture of marriage and family life. The Office of Family Life carries out this mission and its responsibility to coordinate formal preparation in the Sacrament of Matrimony; training of mentor couples in marriage preparation; training couples in the methods of Natural Family Planning; supporting and promoting the healing of those who grieve the death of a loved one, as well separated and/or divorced Catholics; and has an apostolate for couples suffering from infertility. The Office of Family Life also organizes the annual Wedding Anniversary Mass, provides resources and training for the ministries of family life in parishes, offers marriage enrichment programs, education in chastity, and collaborates with other archdiocesan offices in the service of evangelization.

Contact us for…

• Formation and support of parish leaders in marriage preparation, training of mentor couples in marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, Natural Family Planning, and Archdiocese of Washington Separated and Divorced Ministry (ADW-SDC) support groups for separated or divorced Catholics.
• Resources for healing including anti-pornography, bereavement, domestic violence, infertility and miscarriage, marriage healing, separation or divorce, and same sex attraction.
• Information about the schedule for marriage preparation and marriage enrichment classes, Natural Family Planning classes, anti-pornography awareness talks, days of reflection for separated and divorced Catholics and spiritual support for grieving parents.