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STEPS TO A REWARDING MARRIAGE PREPARATION EXPERIENCEMarriage is the center of Catholic family life. The preparation for Catholic marriage is a special work of formation and catechesis. It strives to help couples become more aware of the seriousness of their choice and to freely and fruitfully assume the lifelong obligations and privileges of marriage (Familiaris Consortio, n. 66 g-h). -
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After you become engaged, you should contact your parish as soon as possible and set up a meeting with the priest or deacon to assist you with your marriage prep. It is ideal to contact the priest 9 to 12 months before you would like to marry just in case other things need to be taken care of (e.g., annulment, confirmation, etc.). This will allow you and the priest to determine the right course of action and may allow for the original wedding date.
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Once you have met with your parish priest, most will ask you to do a marriage preparation inventory, which is a series of questions designated to assess individual habits, expectations, interests, and values (FOCCUS is the preferred inventory of the diocese). This inventory will provide you, the couple, with a personalized profile of your relationship strengths and growth. There are no right or wrong answers on a marriage preparation inventory, they are designed to facilitate conversation to help you grow as a couple.
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Because Marriage is a vocation which requires sacrifice and making a "gift of self," discovering what it means to live a Catholic lifestyle is essential for a Catholic marriage to thrive. For this reason the priest or deacon that you contacted will meet with you personally or by another parish based opportunity.
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Natural Family Planning (NFP) respect the love and life giving natures of marriage. It enriches the bond between husband and wife. The Catholic Church promotes NFP as a moral way to plan for children in accordance with God's will for your family. Not only is it a healthy & natural choice, it also strengthens a marriage and a couple's spirituality by welcoming God into the most intimate spousal cats and decisions.
It is the policy of the Diocese of Grand Island that any couple whose marriage preparation is taking place within the diocese must complete an introductory course to NFP
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This is the time to ensure that everything is in order. All necessary paperwork has been completed, collected, and that the priest or deacon has everything needed for the wedding to take place. This is also the time to make sure all the liturgical plans for concerning the wedding day are finalized with the priest or deacon. The priest or deacon , may at this time, offer you an opportunity to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
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Speak with your priest or deacon to see if your parish has Mentor Couples. This is a great opportunity to learn first hand from an established couple about marriage.
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