That ringing noise you’re hearing? It’s not wedding bells. Over the past 50 years, the number of sacramental marriages has plummeted among U.S. Catholics. While the average diocese celebrated 2,873 marriages in 1970, by 2020 that number had fallen to 511 (the total number of marriages divided by diocese), according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.

The consequences of this trend for the U.S. Catholic Church are huge: A dearth of marriages means fewer baptisms and dwindling parishes and Catholic schools.

However, amid the challenges are signs of hope. And this special report in this issue of the Register, which coincides with National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14), is aimed at telling some of the stories of how Catholics and the Catholic Church are responding.

To start, we provide a frank assessment of the distinct challenges that marriage-minded Catholics face in today’s dating landscape, from a limited pool of similarly faithful singles to the “mirage of options” provided by online dating platforms.

Seeking a spouse has also become harder at a place that has historically been fertile ground for meeting one’s match: the Catholic college campus. Notre Dame theologian Timothy O’Malley reports that fear of commitment among his students can be a barrier to pursuing a relationship, while Benedictine College student Jack Figge suggests that the pressure to date intentionally can cause its own set of challenges among Catholic coeds.

In response to the broader crisis, Catholics are turning to outside-the-box ideas to bring people together, from viral “matchmaking” social-media posts to parish-sponsored dances for singles. One formerly single Catholic woman even accepted the challenge of being open to 100 dates if that’s what it took to find her husband. Of course, getting married as a Catholic means entering into a lifelong covenant, and Pope Francis has provided compelling catechesis on the sacrament throughout his reign. Under his leadership, the Church is also taking steps to make its marriage-preparation efforts even more responsive to the needs of engaged couples. Laying a good foundation is important for any Catholic couple to do, whether they get married at their local parish or, as some couples surprisingly do, inside the Vatican.

The decline of sacramental marriages in our country has been steady, and the reasons for it are deep-seated. However, the beauty and importance of marriage remain unshaken. And with enough prayer, dedication and creativity, the Church can continue to help more Catholics get to “I do.”