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“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Matthew 19:6
Welcome to First5 Ministry at St. Monica Catholic Church. The First5 Ministry is a community of couples in their first 5 years of marriage.
Our mission is to help build the foundation for lifelong, life-giving marriages. By focusing on supporting couples in their first 5 years of marriage with the tools they need to build spiritually fulfilling marriages, we hope to strengthen all marriages across the St. Monica community and beyond. Ultimately, our vision is to help couples help each other get to heaven.
Through First5, you and your spouse will be able to build on the lessons you learned during marriage preparation and share in the celebrations of your marriage. The first 5 years of marriage are full of new adventures and joyful times, but they can also be challenging in many ways we do not expect. We want to serve you and your spouse in this ministry to build community, share experiences, and celebrate God’s love for all of us.
To strengthen the foundation of your marriage, the First5 Ministry has three core areas of focus: building fellowship with other couples, offering marriage formation, and facilitating spiritual growth. We offer this through a variety of activities including social events, speaker presentations, spiritual activities, and community service.
Please email us at with any questions.
Click here to sign up for emails!
Email us at [email protected] with any questions!October 2025: Intimacy in Marriage
Sunday, Oct. 12 at 7–8:30 p.m.
Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
St. Monica Grand Pavilion
Sex consistently ranks as one of the top two reason why couples fight. It's an intimiate and important part of a marriage, but it's often considered taboo and rarely discussed. In this session, we'll talk openly and honestly about sexuality and other forms of intimacy from a Catholic perspective and how they can enrich your marriage.
Refreshments and drinks will be served.
Childcare is available for $10/child— RSVP required by Thursday, October 9th, to reserve your spot.
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About Us
St. Monica is a community blessed to prepare 150-200 couples for marriage every year. Our goal isn’t just to get couples married but to help them have great marriages. To that end, we saw the importance of continuing to help couples build upon the foundation they’ve created up to their wedding day.
Here are some things to think about as you get connected with First5:
- How could this ministry benefit us in our own marriage?
- What are our needs in our first five years of marriage?
- How can we best serve other couples through this ministry?
FAQs:
- Is there an age restriction to join First 5?
- No, we welcome couples of all ages!
- Do we have to have gotten married at St. Monica Catholic Church?
- No, we welcome any couples in their first 5 years of marriage to join the ministry.
- Who can we contact with questions?
- Please email us at with any questions.
- Can I bring my children to the First 5 events?
- Yes! We will have babysitting available for you during many of our events. If you will need childcare, advanced registration is required. Please plan to bring $10 per child.
- Will we always meet at the same time/ place?
- We have an event once a month, but the time and date are likely to be different for each month. However, we are open to feedback and would love to hear what times/dates work best for you.
- Do you offer virtual or hybrid meetings?
- At this time, we are focused on creating an in-person community and would encourage you all to attend for the content and fellowship at each event.
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Past Events:
June 2025: Couples Retreat - You Are the Light!
Through inspiring talks, quiet prayer, guided reflection, and open-hearted dialogue, we were guided to notice God’s presence in your shared journey—especially in the spaces where it’s hardest to see. Whether you're celebrating a joyful season or weathering a difficult one, we invited you to come as you are.
May 2025: Discerning Children- Panel
This panel featured couples from our community who have walked a variety of paths: some who welcomed children early, others who waited; some who experienced infertility or loss; and some who prayerfully discerned a life without children. Come to listen, reflect, and find encouragement as you navigate your own journey.
discerning children thank you
April 2025: Don't Let Finances Tax Your Marriage
Together, we looked at some of the emotional factors at play when discussing finances as a couple and welcomed a financial professional from the parish who shared some practical strategies for how to get on the same page.
March 2025: Marriage Madness Panel
Our annual "Marriage Madness" panel—a slam dunk for your relationship! We will gather in the Grand Pavilion to hear seasoned veteran married couples give their hot takes on some of marriage’s toughest topics—including communication, finances, in-laws, and more! Join us for refreshment, drinks, fellowship, and interactive Q&A.
February 2025: Salsa & Salsa
We welcomed several couples at different experience levels for a lesson from salsa instructor, Tony Maesto.
Chips, salsa, and other dancing food and refreshments provided.
February 2025: World Marriage Day
At the weekend masses, we will celebrate World Marriage Day by welcoming all married couples to renew their vows and share a blessing for members of the St. Monica community.
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