ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK

  Marriage and Family Programs

Marriage Preparation Process

 

Congratulations on your prospective marriage!

 

You are engaged to be married and, desiring the blessing of God on your union, have approached the Church to witness and seal your vows to each other. The Church stands ready to assist you as you embark upon what is perhaps the most important decision and commitment of your life.

 

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 Pre-marital Inventory (Archdiocesan Marriage Survey or F.O.C.C.U.S)
(Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study)

A premarital inventory 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 the inventory be taken prior to attending the marriage preparation sessions, and can be arranged through your Priest or Deacon.

 

Step Four: Register and Attend Pre-Marital Instruction Courses

    
A) Sacramental Preparation: 

 

     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 book, workbooks, Continental Breakfast & Lunch. Certificate of Completion is issued.

Click here  >> for dates and to register.

 

B) Life Skills Preparation (choose one):

 

    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 $90 per couple. Certificate of Completion is issued.

Click here  >> for dates and to register.

 

 OR

 

     Engaged Encounter Weekend

Engaged Encounter Weekends are held at CYO Retreat Center in Kearny, NJ. This is a weekend away with other couples with time alone to dialogue honestly and intensively about your prospective lives together, your role in the Church and society, your strengths and weaknesses, your desires, ambitions, goals, and your attitudes about money, children, and family in a face-to-face manner.

Engaged Encounter is Catholic in origin and orientation and specifically designed for verbal sharing between the couple. Spiritual and personal reflection, along with dialoguing, are the main highlights of the weekend. All couples will gather together for meals and the celebration of Sunday Mass.

The cost of the entire weekend is $325 per couple, including meals and individual overnight accommodations. Reservations for the Engaged Encounter Weekend are accepted by mail only, and a non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $125.00 is due at the time of reservation. Certificate of Attendance is issued.

Engaged Encounter Weekends
November 5-7, 2010
May 13-15, 2011
September 9-11, 2011
November 4-6, 2011


Engaged Encounter Weekends fill up quickly, often several months in advance. To ensure the availability of the weekend you choose, registration should take place at least six (6) months prior to your wedding. Certificate of Completion is issued.

Call (973) 497-4323 for dates and to register.

 

C) Natural Family Planning Seminar

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 certified instructors. Sessions are offered in a number of locations throughout the diocese. Visit www.njnfp.org or call the NFP Office (973) 497-4325 prior to register for the seminar. Please do not attend a class without registering in advance. The fee is $195 per couple, but a $50 discount is available when combined with your God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage registration. Course fee includes all seminar books, materials, and lifetime personal consultation. Certificate of Completion is issued.

Click here >> for dates and to register.

 

Step Five: Continue Meeting with Priest or Deacon

Continue formation meetings with Pastoral Minister to present necessary forms (Certificates of Completion, Sacramental forms, etc.), review Marriage Inventory results, and choose liturgical options.

 

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Family Life Ministries

 

 

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