The Transition: A Practical Guide to Engagement for the Catholic Man is a clear and encouraging roadmap for men entering one of life’s most significant seasons: engagement. Written with honesty, practicality, and a deep respect for the Catholic faith, the book offers men a way to navigate the shift from single life to married life with confidence and integrity.
Too often, engagement is treated as a season of wedding planning alone. This guide re-centers the focus on what truly matters: preparing to give yourself fully to your future spouse and to live out the vocation of marriage. From financial stewardship to communication, from spiritual leadership to family relationships, each chapter highlights the habits, disciplines, and attitudes that help men step into marriage well-prepared.
Rather than offering lofty theory or vague advice, The Transition is grounded in the lived reality of Catholic husbands. It addresses the practical questions that arise in engagement—how to merge finances, set boundaries with extended family, build a household of faith, and form a vision for married life. At the same time, it calls men higher, challenging them to embrace the sacrificial love at the heart of the vocation.
For men of faith who want more than a checklist, this book provides clarity, encouragement, and concrete tools. It's not only a guide to a strong wedding day but to a strong marriage foundation. Whether read alone or together with a fiancée, The Transition helps Catholic men embrace their role as husband-to-be with courage, generosity, and joy.
Deciding whether to propose to Alison was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever faced—and rightly so. Choosing to spend your life in love and service to another is one of the most serious commitments anyone can make, especially when you’re young.
Once I proposed, the process that unfolded quickly became overwhelming. Brides-to-be often have a wealth of magazines, articles, planners, and websites to guide them. Many have dreamed about their wedding since childhood. You, on the other hand, likely have spent precious little time thinking about your wedding day—and aside from this book, as far are resources go, you’re largely on your own.
Marriage is the most important transition you will ever make. It’s a relationship that will demand your full attention, commitment, and engagement. While your vows on the wedding day formally begin your marriage, the foundation is laid during your engagement.
That’s why I wrote The Transition. In these pages, I share personal experience, practical tips, and honest insights to guide you through each stage of engagement. You’ll learn how to support your fiancée, what conversations you need to have together, and how to prepare for the realities of married life. I even preview the changes that most couples face in their first six months of marriage—insights that might help you avoid more than a few arguments.
Too many couples invest more effort into planning their wedding than preparing for their marriage. You have only one chance to build your marriage well from the very beginning. This book is designed to help you do just that—equipping you to be the best fiancé you can be and to build a foundation for a joyful, lasting marriage.
Chet Collins is an author and essayist who writes at the intersection of faith, family, and vocation. A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville with a degree in Philosophy, Chet draws on both the wisdom of the Catholic tradition and his own experiences as a husband and father to bring clarity and encouragement to his readers. Uniting reflection with practical application, his writing equips readers to live their vocations with integrity, joy, and purpose.
He lives in Michigan with his wife and four children.
© 2025 ChetComm, LLC
