The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant which God establishes between a man and a woman for a partnership of their whole lives.
Through their marriage, they provide what is good for their relationship and open themselves to the procreation and education of children. This marriage bond is to help one another to attain holiness in their married life and forming their children in the Christian life.
Based on the key areas of marriage preparation, outlined by the United States Bishops in the National Directory for Catechesis, the Office of Pro-Life and Family Life suggests three guiding principles for formation and catechesis of engaged couples prior to their wedding ceremony:
- Catholic Vision of Love and Marriage: Sacramental marriage as permanent, covenantal, and exclusive.
- Catholic Understanding of Sexuality: Marriage as life-giving, unitive and procreative.
- Skills of Love and Marriage: Skills component which addresses communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving, personality and self-awareness, finances, stewardship, career issues, family of origin, and extended family issues.
The marriage preparation process should be initiated when a couple presents themselves to their pastor and requests to be married in the Church.
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Steps: |
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1. The Initial Interview with Priest. |
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2. Completion of Inventory, meet with Dcn. Jim Kitchens to review inventory, 5 sponsor couple meetings for marriage prep, plus catechetical night with Dcn. Jim and sponsor couple. |
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3. Preparatory Marriage Formation program (Pre-Cana Retreat, One In Christ Retreat, or Tobit Retreat). |
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4. Catholic Sexuality Course (Course in Theology of the Body or NFP) |
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5. Additional meetings and/or final meeting with the priest |
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6. Sacrament of Penance. (At least once during marriage prep) |
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7. Ongoing Marriage Enrichment program (Within the 1st year of marriage). |