Do you have a loving marriage but desire to deepen your relationship with your spouse and God?

Do you want to build a strong relationship with your fiancé(e) in preparation for your marriage?

Are you frustrated that despite your shared faith you still argue about important issues?

Do you long to pray with your spouse or fiancé(e) but don’t know where to start?

 

Our Catholic faith tells us that God created us to love and be loved. In marriage the love a couple has for each other becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love of God (CCC 1604).  We are all called to a life of holiness. We are all called to be expressions of God’s love in the world. If you are married or engaged to be married, this journey towards sanctity is meant to be achieved within your relationship.

Admittedly, the image of God’s love is not an easy one to live up to. Acquiring the virtues and skills necessary for a happy and holy marriage requires work (accompanied by a lot of grace, of course!) The book and workbook To Know, Love, and Serve: A Path to Marital Fulfilment 2nd Edition were created to assist Catholic couples in working towards this lofty goal.

 
 

Through prayer, reflection on Scripture verses and passages from Pope Emeritus Benedict’s encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God is love), discussion, and activities To Know, Love, and Serve: A Path to Marital Fulfilment 2nd Edition Can help you:

    • Develop better communication skills

    • Foster greater understanding of each other

    • Improve problem-solving abilities

    • Discuss issues important to healthy marriage

    • Deepen intimacy based on your state in life

    • Nurture a deeper spiritual life

To Know, Love, and Serve: A Path to Marital Fulfilment 2nd Edition follows an easy and practical format that will take you gradually through the steps necessary for attaining a relationship that is more pleasing to you, your spouse/ FiancÉ(E), and God.

The book & Workbook include the following topics:

    • Communication

    • Listening skills

    • Problem-solving

    • Roles & expectations

    • Spirituality

    • Intimacy

    • Openness to life

    • Parenting (for those with or without children)

    • Finances

    • Planning for the future

While working through these topics you will also touch on the issues of family background, forgiveness, gratitude, and the covenant of marriage.

Many couples spend lots of time working on their homes, careers, and children, while forgetting to make their marriages a priority. It is our hope and prayer that this marriage preparation and marriage enrichment book will give you an opportunity to look at different areas of your marriage, enjoy extra time together, learn something new about each other, and learn some new skills that will help you in attaining the sanctity God wants you to have in your marriage.

We are Melissa Guzik & Jean MacKenzie, Registered Psychologists, who have experience working with couples in all stages of their relationship and we are both blessed with marriages where we experience the daily struggles of living out our vocation. Melissa has been married since 2002 and has four children, and Jean has been married since 2001 and has seven children. We have created this book and workbook based not only on our professional lives in working with couples to enhance and save their marriages, but also from our experiences with our husbands, children, and faith journeys. We are both Catholic women who have found much joy and satisfaction in applying the freeing truths of the Catholic Church to our marriages. It is our hope that through this book, you will experience or renew this same freedom and strength in your marriage.

If you are ready to take your relationship with EACH OTHER and God to a new level, purchase To Know, Love and Serve: A Path to Marital Fulfilment 2nd Edition book and workbook today and take the next step on your marital journey towards sanctity!

 

FAQ

Facilitators & Group Leadership

  • Any committed couple or individual with a desire to support marital growth can facilitate a group. No prior experience is required—resources and training are available to help you get started.

  • There are several effective strategies:

    • The program can be offered at the diocesan level, with leaders for parish-level groups identified from among diocesan participants. 

    • The program can be offered at a parish-level with the pastor and leaders from existing ministries identifying and inviting people to facilitate the group. Parishes can also make announcements after Masses, in their bulletin, and on social media to invite people who may be interested. 

    • Parish organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women’s League, are encouraged to purchase and distribute copies of the book and workbook, making it easier for potential facilitators to see how easy it is to facilitate, thus encouraging them to step forward.

    • Anytime a group is run, invite participants to discern whether they feel called to facilitate future groups.

    • If there is one couple who is the lead facilitator, they could lead the first meeting and then invite other couples to lead subsequent meetings so that facilitation is shared among all the couples.

  • The authors offer direct and ongoing support to anyone interested in starting the program. The workbook includes an easy to use and comprehensive, step-by-step guide designed to help facilitators run groups smoothly and confidently. Please contact the authors at info@knowloveserve.info you would like to schedule a training with the authors.

Group Format & Flexibility

  • The program can be adapted to a variety of schedules: weekly, biweekly, or condensed into a weekend retreat. This flexibility allows groups to choose the format that best suits their needs.

  • Groups can meet in parish halls, private homes, or any comfortable meeting space. In private homes, couples can make the sessions a special occasion—such as a date night, potluck meal, wine and cheese gathering, or any format that encourages growth in faith and friendship. The program is suitable for both large and small groups, as well as retreat settings.

Online Participation & Support

  • Yes, the program can be facilitated online. The authors offer training and support to ensure a smooth and engaging virtual experience.

  • To facilitate a smooth online experience, consider the following recommendations:

    • For smaller groups, participants should keep their devices unmuted to encourage natural interactions. During sections intended for couples only (such as the Activity section, Resolution, and Closing Prayer), couples are advised to mute their devices to maintain privacy.

    • Group prayers should be led by one designated person.

    • For larger groups, participants are encouraged to keep devices muted to reduce background noise. Breakout groups can be used for small group discussions, during which couples may unmute their devices to interact more naturally.

Program Content & Outcomes

  • The program addresses key aspects of marital fulfilment, including communication, listening, problem-solving, roles and expectations, spirituality, openness to life, parenting, finances, and planning for the future. Topics such as gratitude, forgiveness, family of origin, in-laws, covenant, and sacrament are also woven throughout the program. Each session provides discussion prompts, activities, faith-based reflections, and practical tools for deepening love and understanding.

  • Participants report increased marital satisfaction, improved communication, deeper spiritual connection, and stronger relationships with other couples. The program also fosters mentorship, allowing couples at different stages of marriage to learn from and support one another.

Participation & Suitability

  • The material is designed for all couples, regardless of if they are engaged or how long they have been married. Groups often include couples with a wide range of marital experience, enriching discussions and fostering opportunities for mentorship. Resources for mentorship are incorporated into the program to further support these valuable relationships.

Starting a Group

  • Contact the authors for support and guidance if required at info@knowloveserve.info. Purchase the book and workbook for each couple—these are available at a bulk discount through Perpetua Press or individually on Amazon. Invite interested participants and choose a format and setting that works for your group. Comprehensive step-by-step guides and facilitator training are available to ensure a smooth experience.

    Books and workbooks can be purchased at Perpetua Press (perpetuapress.ca) or on Amazon worldwide.

  • Providing childcare during group meetings can allow couples with young children to participate more fully in the To Know, Love, and Werve program.

    One approach is to ask teenagers or confirmation students from the parish to volunteer as babysitters. This support can help ensure that parents can engage in the group without distractions.

Cost & Accessibility

  • The book and workbook together cost $30 CAD. Any additional costs (e.g., space rental, food, materials) will depend on the parish, facilitators, and group preferences. Sponsorships by parish groups or organizations may help offset expenses.

  • Each couple can participate in the program with only one book and one workbook. If each person in the couple prefer to each have their own copy, they are welcome to purchase them; however, one book and workbook should be sufficient so that they work together and write down information in the workbooks together. 

Faith & Parish Integration

  • The content is rooted in Catholic teaching but is accessible and beneficial for all Christian couples seeking to deepen their marital relationship.

  • Yes, many parishes use the program for marriage preparation, enrichment, and mentorship. The program’s structure supports mentorship by fostering relationships between couples at different stages of marriage.

Marriage Inventories & Assessment Tools

  • Yes. The program is compatible with marriage inventories such as Prepare/Enrich, FOCCUS, and others. These tools can be used alongside the workbook to help identify areas of concern within the relationship and support growth.

    It is recommended that the inventory be completed and reviewed before the use of To Know, Love, and Serve so that greater attention can be paid to areas of concern or that require additional support during the program.