As soon as you learn the names of the couple with whom you will be working, begin to pray for them and for yourselves. Pray with your spouse for guidance, understanding, a non-judgmental attitude, and an openness to respond to the engaged as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Seek opportunities for retreat and faith development, available at your parish and throughout the Archdiocese. Take advantage of adult education classes to keep your knowledge of Catholic ministry and adult learning current.

Contact the Division of Evangelization and Catechesis for schedules of Adult Education and Faith Formation Programs, 410-547-5403.

Pray for the engaged couple that they might hear what God wants for them as a couple. Ask that God give them a deep sense of what the Sacrament of Matrimony will truly mean for them.

You may be an interfaith couple. Whatever your faith tradition — Catholic, Christian, Jewish or simply someone who has a belief in God — don't be afraid to share it with the engaged. There has probably been a time when something happened to you that you recognized as God working in your life. Share those instances and the effects that it had on your relationship. The engaged need to know how to recognize God working in their lives.

Challenge them to have an excellent marriage. If you witness a sign of impending trouble in the couple's ways of relating, call it to their attention. This is done only after you and your spouse have discussed it (after the couple has left your home for the evening).

One way to approach explosive issues is to tell a story about yourselves or "another couple" with the target problem. See PLAY SOLOMON, Perspectives Workbook, p. 33.