The Institute begins by helping young couples in their discernment through Marriage Preparation. Couples are able to meet with one of our certified relationship coaches and counselors as a part of their discernment process. The Deanery of St. Jacob Netsvetov requires all persons seeking marriage to go through a formal marriage preparation program. 

Our program focuses on developing the family system through the use of reviewing current familial structures. It works to develop an authentically Christian form of marriage, in line with the Holy Scriptures while also developing the structure necessary for a long lasting marriage between the two individuals. This program works to test the couple in its ability to adapt to a new environment and form into a new cohesive organism that will withstand the trials and challenges of modern society. It will work to ensure that clear boundaries are in place, a hierarchy and structure of the family is established by the time of its completion. Most programs with couples could take up to 3 months with back to back sessions once a week. These sessions also help you review your own families and how these families have formed and shaped you. It will ask you hard questions, what are you willing to give up to marry this person, what do you have to keep. All of these questions are important as they can help to form the individuals to become a family unit. 

Those interested in starting a formal marriage prep program can contact us here.