Home » Featured » India: marriage preparation courses for young couples from the ethnic minorities

India: marriage preparation courses for young couples from the ethnic minorities

The diocese of Daltonganj is is still comparatively young, having been founded only 50 years ago. It is situated in the state of Jharkhand in eastern India, one of the poorest federal states in the country. The Catholic population of the diocese is just over 67,000, distributed among 23 different parishes. Thus they represent only a tiny minority of the total population of 3.2 million souls.

Some 45% of the population live below the poverty threshold and only around a quarter of them can even read and write. Most people live a frugal hand-to-mouth existence, while most of the Catholic faithful belong to the ethnic minorities and live in the villages of the dense jungle, with little or no access to any kind of modern infrastructure. The Church is the only institution that cares for them.

Each year some 750 couples take part in the marriage preparation course
Each year some 750 couples take part in the marriage preparation course

Marriage preparation course for young couples 

An important part of the Church‘s work along the faithful is her marriage preparation guidance, since a sound and healthy marriage is the foundation of solid, healthy Christian families, where there is mutual respect between the married couple and among all the family members, and where both parents are able to listen to one another, live their Catholic faith together and so enable the children to grow up in an atmosphere of loving care and support. Stable, happy families are vital for the future – for a better human future and for the future life of the Church. And at the same time they provide the best possible soil for religious vocations to grow and flourish in.

Couples can deepen their life of faith

In order to help young couples receive the best possible preparation for marriage and family life, the diocese of Daltonganj has organised a series of 10-day courses, which run three times a year. These are held in the diocesan centre, since almost all the participants live some distance away in the remote and relatively inaccessible jungle villages. Each year some 750 couples take part in these sessions, which are held separately, in the various different local languages spoken in the region. The last three days of each course are devoted to a form of spiritual retreat, so that the couples can deepen their life of faith, according to the old adage, „Couples who pray together, stay together.“ In fact strong emphasis is placed on this aspect throughout the entire course. And the young couples are also given help and guidance in regard to child rearing and the many other aspects of married and family life.

ACN’s support

ACN has committed to supporting these important courses over a period of three years, for a total sum of 45,000 Euros

Don't miss the latest updates!

Gaza: First Sunday of Peace after the Ceasefire

The parish priest of Gaza called on his flock to…

Pope thanks children who prayed for peace in ACN campaign

This was the 20th edition of ACN’s One Million Children…

Gaza: First step towards peace after 733 days of war

While indirect talks are taking place in Egypt between Israeli…

Rome to host official launch of Religious Freedom Report 2025

Religious and public leaders will be gathering on October 21…

Papal envoy carries solidarity to the Christians of war-torn Sudan

Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, has…

In the east of Burkina Faso, still many problems as term starts

While the security situation in Burkina Faso has improved slightly,…

From Angola to Vietnam, enthusiasm with “One million children praying the Rosary” campaign

ACN’s yearly campaign, added to the Holy Father’s appeal to…

List of News

Gaza: First Sunday of Peace after the Ceasefire

The parish priest of Gaza called on his flock to “forgive all those who have failed and to ask forgiveness” for their own shortcomings, as preparation for what he hopes...

The Holy Father calls for renewed commitment to defend religious freedom and stand with persecuted Christians worldwide

Pope Leo XIV receives Aid to the Church in Need in private audience This morning, 10 October 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received pontifical foundation Aid to the Church...

Pope thanks children who prayed for peace in ACN campaign

This was the 20th edition of ACN’s One Million Children Praying the Rosary campaign. Pope Leo XIV kept up the tradition of his predecessor, Pope Francis, by promoting the One...