Marriage Preparation

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. This is a time of great joy. We know that you must be nervous so we would like to help you be very well prepared. We hope to be able to answer any questions as you begin your preparation.

As you know, marriage is a sacrament and is, therefore, a great concern of the church. The sacrament of marriage provides the necessary grace to couples to make their marriage last a life time. You will find that your married life goes through many stages. We hope to prepare you for each of these stages.

In our culture where more than fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, it is essential that the Church improve its efforts to have a more thorough, extensive and comprehensive marriage preparation.

In the Diocese of Gaylord the regulations stipulate that a couple is to arrange an appointment with their pastor/parish life coordinator at least six months in advance.The pastor/parish life coordinator will have brochures for registration to the diocesan PreCana Sessions. At this meeting, the pastor will consult forms provided by the diocesan tribunal which indicate whether or not dispensations are required. If dispensations are needed, more time may be required. Marriage preparation should begin as soon as the couple have met with the pastor/parish life coordinator.

The Diocese provides marriage preparation through Pre Cana sessions which consist of two full days. The next sessions in the fall of 2008 are:

September 6th and October 4th at Holy Family Church in East Tawas.

September 13th and October 11th at Holy Rosary Church in Cedar.

September 20th and October 18th at St Mary of the Woods Church in Kalkaska.

Check with your parish or your pastor to register for these sessions.

The program that is used is called Today and All the Days of Your Life and was designed by the Archdiocese of St. Louis. It is published by Liguori Publications. The topics presented are: Sacrament of Marriage; Family of Origin; Romance, Disillusionment, & Joy; Sex and Sexuality; Communication with God and Each Other; Stewardship and Your Finances; Planning & Parenting of Children; and I Promise to Love and Honor You All the Days of My Life.

Although there are no "Engaged Encounter Weekends" in the Diocese of Gaylord, the Secretariat for Marriage Enrichment does promote "Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekends" held in the Diocese of Saginaw. For more information about these weekends, contact Sandy Buza at 989-797-6652.

If either one of you has been in a previous marriage, please consult the Tribunal:

Marriage Preparation throughout the diocese

These marriage preparation classes offered at St Francis Parish in Traverse City in 2009, includes three Saturday sessions. You must attend all three sessions. Contact Beth Hicks to register.

The dates and times are as follows:

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm

Saturday, February 7th, 2009 from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm

Saturday, March 7th, 2009 from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Contact: Beth Hicks
Phone: 231-947-4620 x 247

Catholic Engaged Encounter

(Offered through the Diocese of Saginaw)

A weekend of Beginnings: Marriage is one of the most life-changing and serious commitments you will ever make. It can also be one of the richest and most rewarding. With the national divorce rate moving beyond 50 percent, it's more important than ever for couples to equip themselves with the tools and skills necessary for a successful marriage. Catholic Engaged Encounter is an intense working weekend that will help prepare you for your life as husband and wife. Through a series of writings and shared exercises, the two of you will be challenged to explore many aspects of your relationship, your spiritual life and your expectations of marriage in a deeper, more profound way than ever before.

What Topics are Covered?: The weekend is divided into three main discussions: Communication, Marriage and Sacrament.

Communication: Love is a Decision: Being open, vulnerable and trusting are the building blocks of true love and intimacy. God loves each of us as we are but challenges us to become more. In this portion of the weekend, we'll discuss how accepting ourselves and your partner is necessary for lasting love, and how love is a conscious decision we make - not one based on feelings or emotions. You'll learn how to communicate effectively with each other and how to resolve your differences peacefully.

Marriage: God's call for unity, for you and your partner to become one. We'll explore how to fulfill the needs of your spouse with life-giving behavior. We?ll also discuss effective processes for making decisions and solving problems in your marriage, as well as God's gift of married sexual intimacy and becoming a family.

Sacrament: Your Marriage in the Catholic Faith: Your wedding is the beginning of your marriage sacrament; your marriage is how you show God's love to one another, and to world around you. We'll talk about planning a life-giving marriage, forgiveness, and reconciliation. We'll end the weekend with a prayer service celebrating your relationship, your love, and your faith.

Who Leads the Discussions?: The presenting teams usually consist of two married couples and a priest who gives a series of carefully prepared presentations. After the presentations, you'll be given a series of questions to complete individually. You'll then have time to share your thoughts and written answers quietly with your partner.

Scheduled dates include: April 25-27, 2008; and September 26-28, 2008. To register, call Sandy at 1-989-797-6652. For information or to register, contact Sandy Buza at (989) 797-6652 at the Diocese of Saginaw.