UNITAS: Preparing for Marriage by Joann Heaney-Hunter & Louis Primavera ($14.95)*

“The Unitas program stands apart from others by cultivating the relationship between the engaged and the parish community, by its incorporation of liturgical rites, and by its reliance on theologically sound and pastorally sensitive presentations.”
--Diana Gaillardetz, Pastoral Associate for Family Ministries, St. Cecilia Parish, Houston Texas

Unitas is a process of marriage formation that is designed to help couples appreciate the importance of sacramental marriage in their lives and in the life of the wider Church community.

Unitas is not simply a six to eight week marriage education program. Rather, it is a sacramental formation process designed to help couples understand that they are a part of their local Church community, and to give them the information and skills that they will need to begin a sacramentally married life.

To help couples build faith and spirituality in their relationship.

To help couples develop an understanding of areas such as communication, family of origin, conscience development, intimacy building, and family formation.

To help couples establish ties with their Church community. We hope that couples will ponder the things we share with them and draw on these resources long after the process is over.

Unitas is based on the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and includes several elements that are similar to those found in the RCIA. For example, rituals with the entire community form an important part of the process.

The Unitas components include a leader’s guide, a couple’s workbook, and a set of videotapes (seven 20 minute presentations on three videocassettes) for use in leader training and session enhancement.

The Authors

Joann Heaney-Hunter, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theology at St. John’s University, New York, received a grant from members of FADICA and St. John’s University to develop an updated marriage formation process based on the RCIA, which was tested in parishes and dioceses throughout the U.S. over a three-year period. A dynamic speaker, Joann lives in Mineola, NY, with her husband Greg and daughters Beth and Kate.

Louis H. Primavera, Ph.D., is Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Science at St. John’s University and a psychologist with over 25 years of experience in marital counseling. He has been married to his wife Anne for over 30 years. Together they have two adult children, James and Bill

The Program Content

Unitas is designed so that each session:

Is about 2-2 1/2 hours of content, discussion, and activities.

Begins and ends with a brief prayer or Bible reading.

Uses in-session and at-home weekly activity sheets designed to reinforce the most important elements of each session.

Session 1:
Welcome and Theology of Marriage
Explains why we come to the Church for marriage.

Session 2:
Communication Skills
Introduces interpersonal skills that couples will need as they begin their life together.

Session 3:
Individual and Family
Discusses the importance of knowing ourselves and about human behavior.
Explores relationships within each person’s family of origin.
Asks couples to consider the ways that their family might influence their marriage.

Session 4:
Values in Marriage
Discusses the importance of values in marriage.
Explores the ways we develop values and the way the Church supports them.
Looks at the role of conscience in Christian marriage and how to develop it.

Session 5:
Intimacy and Sexuality
Focuses on various forms of intimacy, including sexual intimacy.
Explores the Church’s recent teachings on sexuality.

Session 6:
Balancing Practical Issues in Relationship
Focuses on a variety of household issues, including strategies for balancing work and family life and the careers of each marriage partner.

Session 7:
Developing a Spirituality of Marriage
Identifies the spiritual dimensions already present in couple’s lives.
Discusses the ways that spirituality is connected to every part of life, particularly how our spirituality is lived out in marriage.

How is Unitas different from the competition?

Unitas is the first marriage prep program based on the RCIA. Like the RCIA, Unitas uses rituals at Sunday Mass to help engaged couples build a lasting and active church membership.

Does Unitas have the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat?

Yes! The Imprimatur was granted by John R. McGann, D.D., Bishop of Rockville Center. The Nihil Obstat was granted by Msgr. John R. Strynkowski, S.T.D., Censor delgatus.

What are the videos about?

In the videos, the authors show how they use the Unitas program in their parishes. The videos are generally used by leaders new to Unitas and for brainstorming ideas for their sessions.

Can Unitas be used at the Diocesan level?

Yes! It is easy to adapt Unitas for use on a diocesan or regional level. Since Unitas is so flexible, it is an ideal program for diocesan and parish cooperation.

What sort of research was conducted in developing Unitas?

Two parishes worked with the authors to develop Unitas: St. Peter the Apostle in Islip Terrace, NY and Our Lady of Nazareth in Roanoke, VA.

What are people saying about Unitas?

“I am delighted to recommend Unitas as a thorough parish formation program for engaged couples. In my own diocese over the past four years we have focused on the ministry of marriage preparation. I believe that this is a graced time of renewed evangelization, education, and most of all, Christian formation for the lifelong sacrament of vocation and marriage. I pray many parishes will find Unitas to be a blessed ministerial tool for this essential catechetics ministry in the Catholic Church.” --Most Rev. John R. McGann, Bishop of Rockville Center

Available as a Couple's Workbook, Leader's Guide or set of three videos (includes seven 20-minute presentations). Please indicate your preference when ordering. If ordering the Leader's Guide or the videos, the price will be adjusted upon receipt of your order but will not be reflected on your program-generated receipt. Prices are as follows:

1. Couple's Workbook: $10.49 (list: $14.95)(#1756-3)
2. Leader's Guide: $13.95 (list: $19.95)(#1755-5)
3. Set of three videos: $89.95 (list: $99)(#1757-1)

Purchase of either book helps you qualify for the free shipping option if it is being offered at the time of your order. Videos do not qualify unless sufficient books are ordered which, by themselves, qualify for free shipping and the videos are shipped at the same time as the books.