Marriage

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her”

- Ephesians 5:25           

Two become OneThe Gospel of John gives us an account of how Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana. It was at the celebration of marriage that Jesus performed His first miracle. This is no coincidence, but a deliberate honoring of marriage as a union of love between a man and a woman as a symbol of Christ’s own love for His church.

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Marriage Preparation Steps

Initial Meeting with Fr. Charlie

• Determine Freedom to Marry
• Discuss Marriage Preparation Process
• Schedule Wedding Date
• Discuss Preparation Fee
• Receive books used in preparation

Step 1:

• Complete the Pre-Marriage Inventory
• You will receive the inventory link via email by after initial meeting is complete.
• Learn to read and understand inventory results in a group setting 
• One on one review of your individual results with Father
  
  

Step 2:

• Attend the Alpha Course

Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith that typically runs over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. We believe that Alpha is an essential ingredient in preparing engaged couples to enter more deeply into the entire marriage preparation process.  The Alpha Course is scheduled on a regular basis at different times of the year.

Step 3:

• Attend the Theology of the Body Seminar

All couples attend a Theology of the Body seminar. The Theology of the Body seminar is a half-day presentation on the essential meaning and understanding of how man and woman are created for love and for each other within the context of marriage.

Step 4:

• Contact the Priest who will preside at your Celebration of Marriage

There is typically a series of meetings with the presider who will witness your wedding.  First meeting occurs near the end of the Alpha course and after the review of  the pre-marriage inventory.  Additional meetings are determined on a case-by-case basis.  The planning of the liturgy will be completed within the last two months of marriage preparation.

Step 5:

• Attend a Natural Family Planning Course

Every engaged couple in this Diocese is required to attend a course on Natural Family Planning (NFP). The course is conducted by certified NFP instructors.
Couples will be instructed on the Creighton Model of Natural Family Planning.

Step 6:

• Attend A Financial Health Course

Financial health is a critical element of a healthy and happy marriage, and so it is an important component of marriage preparation.  Financial health helps couples to realize the tremendous impact money has on their relationship and walks you through the steps to financial health.

Step 7:

• Meet with a Married Mentor Couple

All engaged couples will have a married mentor couple assigned to them. Mentor couples walk with the engaged couple to be a source of support and guidance through the whole preparation process.  Each engaged couple will meet with their mentors over a period of seven sessions to explore the many aspects of “Prepare.”
The mentoring couple will try to arrange meeting times that are mutually convenient

Step 8:

• Sacrament of Reconciliation

As the marriage date approaches, couples are highly encouraged to prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available on Saturdays at St. Gerard on Saturdays at 4 p.m. or by appointment.  It is recommended the couples individually receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation from the priest who will preside at the wedding.


Final Meeting:

• Rehearsal

​Couples will be contacted within 6 months of their wedding to schedule a date to meet at the church to prepare and rehearse for the wedding.