Contact: Kay Vance

Ministry Mission Statement: Marriage Preparation helps engaged couples prepare spiritually for their marriage and their wedding day.

Current Ministry Activities: Marriage preparation must start six months before the wedding date. The Wedding Team is available to help engaged couples prepare spiritually for their marriage and their wedding day.

The first step in the process is contacting the Parish Office for information regarding the requirements for scheduling a wedding at St. Francis. Once the requirements have been verified, a wedding date can be scheduled. Next, an interview will be scheduled with the couples who will be given comprehensive wedding and music guidelines, as well as a booklet, "Together for Life," for information about the wedding liturgy and choices of scripture readings.  The couple will be given checklists and planning guides to plan the details that will make their wedding unique - such as, readings, the music, and the guests who will participate in their ceremony.

Couples will be asked to participate in two marriage preparation programs. The first one is an on-line program that is an introduction to Natural Family Planning. This program introduces the couple to the beauty and science of NFP.

For the second program, the couple will meet with a sponsor couple to participate in the PREPARE and ENRICH marriage preparation process. This program was developed to reflect the value and ideals of marriage as sacred and deals with topics of permanency, fidelity, unconditional love, openness to children, and shared faith in God. It is also a process to help couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship.

Each couple is invited into the facilitator's homes at dates and times that are convenient for them. There are a total of four to six meetings. This one-on-one creates an informal, comfortable environment allowing an opportunity for open and honest communication with direct feedback. Through comprehensive survey, areas of strengths, and those needing growth are identified.

The facilitators offer the benefit of their marriage experience to give insight to the realities of married life, and strategies for successful communication and conflict resolution. The development of a mutual prayer life is encouraged as a powerful force in marriage. The engaged couple is reminded of the seriousness of the covenant they are making and the graces that will flow from the sacrament they will receive.

A member of the Wedding Team will work with the couple to plan the details of their wedding ceremony. The couple will also meet with the Director of Music Ministries to select the music for their wedding. The wedding team will assist the celebrant with the rehearsal. They will also be there the day of the wedding to set up the Church and direct the flow of the wedding.