Diocesan Marriage Preparation
Components Goals
Initial Meeting
- Develop a relationship with the couple. Orient the couple towards discernment and preparation.
- Explain the timeline and components of formation. Begin the prenuptial investigation.
Human Formation: Personal Inventory
- Objective: Identify the couple’s strengths, areas of conflict, areas of personal growth.
- Tools: Prepare/Enrich Inventory or FOCCUS Inventory
- Duration: Expect three to six meetings to administer the inventory and work through the findings.
- Note: This formation can identify if counseling or even postponement of marriage is appropriate. Human formation can be led by clergy, lay ministers, or lay mentor couples.
Theological Formation: Marriage Retreat
- Objective: Form the couple’s understanding of marriage as a covenant and sacrament and connect the theology of marriage to the daily lived experience.
- Retreats:
-
- Unveiled
- Engaged Encounter
- Catolica Matrimonial Preparacion (en linea)
Note:
- A Pastor may exercise discretion as to the appropriate theological formation program for the couple. If you have a means of formation that better suits the couple, you are permitted to use it.
- An online version of Unveiled is available to couples who are unable to make an in-person formation but requires the Pastor’ approval through an email or telephone request to the Office for Evangelization.
Prenuptial Investigation
- This should be completed only after the couple has been through the Human and Theological formation and thoroughly discerned what the sacrament of marriage entails and if it is what they are prepared to enter into.
Liturgical Planning
- Liturgical planning begins at the discretion of the Pastor.