Chris and Linda Padgett have dedicated their lives to marriage and family ministry for decades, bringing joy, authenticity, and deep faith to every event they lead. From Pre-Cana preparation to marriage retreats and parish missions, the Padgetts share a contagious passion for helping couples build strong, lasting relationships rooted in love and grace.
Chris and Linda Padgett have spent more than 30 years in full-time ministry, traveling the globe with one unshakable conviction: marriage can be richer, deeper, and more joy-filled than you ever imagined. Blending theology and psychology, Chris holds a Pontifical degree in Systematic Theology, while Linda is a licensed mental health counselor. Together, they deliver life-changing content wrapped in authentic, relatable stories and sprinkled with humor that makes their message both accessible and memorable.
From Pre-Cana preparation to parish missions and marriage retreats, the Padgetts bring joy, authenticity, and deep faith to every event. For over a decade, they have led Pre-Cana retreats for the Diocese of Syracuse, offering couples practical tools, spiritual guidance, and honest insight into both the beauty and the challenges of married life. Since 2020, they’ve also presented engaging marriage preparation sessions for the Diocese of Newark, NJ—delivering the same warmth and wisdom through Zoom as they do in person.
Their ministry has reached an international stage. Chris was invited to Australia to present their marriage preparation program to the Diocese of Sydney and surrounding dioceses, helping shape marriage ministry far beyond the U.S. From developing content to training facilitators, Chris and Linda equip parishes to prepare couples not only for their wedding day, but for a lifetime of love and faithfulness.
Beyond marriage prep, they travel extensively, lead retreats, speak at conferences, write books, and host a podcast for couples seeking to strengthen their relationship and grow closer to God. Chris brings his background as a former theology professor at Franciscan University—now teaching at Catholic International University—while Linda adds the insight of a licensed mental health therapist pursuing her doctorate in trauma therapy. Their combined skills allow them to address the spiritual, emotional, and practical dimensions of married life.
Though their ministry takes them far and wide, they credit the love and stability of their own family as the heart of their work. Now that their children are grown, Chris and Linda have more freedom to walk closely with couples, guiding them toward stronger marriages and deeper family life. Through every chapter of their journey, they’ve stayed committed to one mission: inspiring, equipping, and encouraging couples to live out the sacrament of marriage with joy, purpose, and unwavering faith.
Marriage Retreats - These events can range from a couple hours to a weekend.
Parish Missions - Three nights of presentations for the entire family.
Pre-Cana - In person or virtual events. Leadership training for a new program.
Marriage Enrichment Keynote events
Marriage & Ministry
