| "The very preparation for Christian marriage is itself a journey of faith. It is a special opportunity for the engaged to rediscover and deepen the faith received in baptism and nourished by their Christian upbringing. In this way they come to recognize and freely accept their vocation to follow Christ and to serve the kingdom of God in the married state." Familiaris Consortio #51 |
Getting Started:
Congratulations on your engagement! In order for you to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Marriage, the Church requires some form of formal marriage preparation, either at your parish or through the Family Life Office. Talk to the priest who will be witnessing your marriage about the options for marriage preparation. He will inform you of whether your parish has a pre-Cana (marriage preparation) program, or direct you to a program offered by the Family Life Office.
You should inform your priest of your plans for marriage as soon as possible after you become engaged. Since marriage preparation programs fill up quickly, it is recommended that you register for one as soon as possible. It is better to do your marriage preparation months in advance. The closer you are to your wedding date, the more taken up you will be with details and planning. Participating in marriage prep well ahead of your wedding day will help you to make the most of the experience, and to truly be ready to make your vows to each other before the Lord.
Things to do:
Your parish priest will address all of the requirements for getting married in the Church with you, so it is important to set up a meeting with him as soon as possible after you become engaged. Briefly, here are some things you will need to do in order to marry in the Catholic Church:
- Obtain your baptismal certificate
- Schedule your marriage preparation (2010 schedule)
- Take the FOCCUS Inventory, or other Pre-Marriage Inventory (recommended)
- Complete the Pre-Nuptial Investigation with your priest/deacon
- Meet with the assisting priest, or his designate, at least three times
- If you are marrying a non-Catholic, your priest will work to obtain the necessary dispensation
- If one or both of you had a previous marriage annulled, you must obtain a Declaration of Nullity before marrying in the Catholic Church
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