Marriage Preparation

Step One: Contact the Parish

The marriage preparation process begins with your first call to the parish inquiring about being married in the Church. Call as soon as you get engaged!

A member of the parish staff will facilitate arrangements for you to meet with the pastoral minister (usually a priest or deacon of the parish) as soon as possible.

A date for your wedding may not be entered into the parish calendar until such a meeting takes place.

Step Two: Initial Meeting with Priest or Deacon

At the time of your first meeting, the pastoral minister will explain the marriage preparation process and provide information about the available marriage preparation programs you are required to attend. You have the option of selecting the program best suited to your needs.

The pastoral minister will begin to fill out the necessary canonical forms and advise you as to what Church and civil documents are needed.

Step Three: Complete a F.O.C.C.U.S Pre-marital Inventory
(Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study)

F.O.C.C.U.S. is a premarital inventory that provides a personalized profile of your relationship. The individualized couple feedback covers topic areas important to marriage: life-style expectations, friends, and interests, personality match, personal issues, problem solving, communication, dual careers, religion and values, etc.

It is advised that F.O.C.C.U.S. be taken prior to attending the marriage preparation sessions.

Group session for the F.O.C.C.U.S. Inventory are located in various sites throughout the diocese. Select a convenient location and date.

Pre-registration is required. The registration fee of $15.00 per couple must accompany the registration form.

Click here >> for F.O.C.C.U.S. dates and to register.

Step Four: Register and Attend

You are required to attend both a and b or select c only:

A) "God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage" Session

AND

B) Marriage Preparation Sessions (Pre-Cana)

OR
C) Engaged Encounter Weekend
A) God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage
"God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage" is designed to help engaged couples understand and embrace a Catholic vision of married love. The God's Plan session provides a full catechesis of the Church's teaching, in an uplifting manner that resonates within the human heart. Based on Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body", this session is intended to enhance a key component of marriage preparation: catechesis in the theology of marriage and the gift of human sexuality.

The registration fee of $125 per couple includes Continental brunch & lunch.
Click here >> for dates and to register.
B) Marriage Preparation Sessions (Pre-Cana)

The Marriage Preparation Sessions (i.e. Pre-Cana) offer practical insights and assistance in building a successful marriage. Topics covered include: Communication, Conflict Resolution, Family of Origin, Finances and more. The registration fee is $100 per couple.

Click here >> for dates and to register.
C) Engaged Encounter Weekend
Engaged Encounter Weekends are held at Stella Maris Retreat Center in
Elberon, NJ. The Retreat Center has a magnificent new chapel building and the enclosed promenade overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the beautiful Jersey shore! The facility is open all year to accommodate the ever-increasing need for a contemplative setting in which to conduct programs and events.

All weekends begin promptly at 7:00 PM Friday evening with registration and close by 4:00 PM Sunday afternoon. Mass is celebrated on Saturday (optional) and Sunday.

The cost of the entire weekend is $375 per couple, including meals and individual overnight accommodations.

Reservations for the Engaged Encounter Weekend are accepted by mail only!

Engaged Encounter Weekends 2009
January 9 - 11
February 27 - March 1
April 3 - 5
June 5 - 7
October 30 - November 1

Questions? E-mail us at familylife@diometuchen.org/familylife/engaged.html

Engaged Encounter Weekends fill up quickly, often several months in advance. Reservations are not confirmed unless the registration form is accompanied by the $375 fee.

Click here >> for dates and to register.

Step Five: Attend a Natural Family Planning Course

This is an optional course. Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella term for the natural, healthy, morally acceptable methods of family planning recommended by the Catholic Church to help couples space, achieve, or avoid pregnancy. These methods, also called Fertility Awareness methods, are based on the observation of the naturally occurring signs of the fertile and infertile phase of a woman's menstrual cycle.

The women's body provides certain signs and symptoms which tell her when she can conceive or not conceive a child. The main signs are: changes in the cervix, cervical mucus and resting body temperature. Couples can learn to observe, record and interpret these signs with a high degree of accuracy.

The program is presented by a trained, experienced married couple in a series of four meetings held once every five weeks for four months. Sessions are offered in a number of locations throughout the diocese. Call the Family Life Office (732) 562-1990 ext. 1623 prior to mailing the registration form. Please do not attend a class without registering in advance. The fee is $75 per couple.

Click here >> for dates and to register.