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Ryan and Mary-Rose Verret, along with Peter Jesserer Smith, have released a book titled "The Road to Missionary Discipleship: Forming Marriages and Families to Share the Joy of the Gospel." The authors critique current Catholic marriage preparation efforts as ineffective. They argue for a comprehensive marriage catechumenate that extends beyond the traditional Pre-Cana approach.
"Current efforts in standard (Catholic) marriage preparation are not working," write Ryan and Mary-Rose Verret. This sentiment is echoed by many who have observed a decline in church weddings among Catholic couples. Outdoor venues are increasingly popular, often due to personal or political grievances against the church's requirements.
In response to this trend, some U.S. bishops have adapted their policies. Baltimore’s Archbishop William E. Lori allowed outdoor weddings after observing that couples were avoiding church ceremonies when their preferred venues were not permitted. St. Augustine, Florida has designated diocesan locations for such weddings.
The book advocates for deep discipleship formation lasting years rather than weeks. It draws on ideas from Pope St. John Paul II's 1981 exhortation "Familiaris Consortio" and Pope Francis' 2016 document "Amoris Laetitia," which emphasized a new catechumenate covering all stages of sacramental life.
Ryan and Mary-Rose Verret, with journalist Peter Jesserer Smith, present a vision where engaged couples receive ongoing support from their parish community through mentorship and prayerful encouragement.
This ambitious proposal would require significant commitment from both the church and its members. The authors acknowledge this challenge but emphasize the potential benefits of creating a well-catechized community ready to support young families over time.
Elizabeth Scalia, editor-at-large for OSV News, notes that implementing such a program will take decades and necessitate rebuilding religious education programs comprehensively.
