Marriage Preparation
The Catholic Church puts a high value on marriage and wants people to have fruitful marriages that bring them happiness and joy. Therefore, it believes that marriage should be entered following considerable preparation, reflection, and prayer. When you choose to get married in the Catholic Church, you are asking for more than a ceremony, a church building, and a musician. You are asking to celebrate a sacrament. You will make a vow before God, family, friends, and your future spouse to stay married for the rest of your life. This is a momentous promise and commitment.
In an effort to help you prepare for that commitment and for the sacrament, the Catholic Church invites you to participate in a marriage preparation process. The process will provide an opportunity for you to talk about personal values, such as faith, money, work, sex, children, marriage, and your spouse. By talking about these things in advance, you can come to a greater understanding of areas that will require special sensitivity and openness in your marriage.
For many couples, this process is a wonderful time of affirmation. It reminds them of all the good things they have working in their favor. The process also offers an opportunity for couples to discuss issues that should be addressed before they make a lifetime commitment.
The wedding ceremony and celebration last for one day. Your marriage will last for the rest of your life. It is our hope that this first phase of assessment and instruction will help you succeed in your commitment to each other, to God and to the Christian community.
Printable Wedding Checklist
Click the button below to view a printable checklist to assist you in your planning.
FOCCUS Inventory
The FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study) inventory will involve a series of meetings: one to take the survey and two or more meetings to discuss the results. The survey is not a test, but rather an opportunity to see how well couples are communicating about important marriage issues.
A married couple from our parish, trained for this ministry, will work with you to schedule time to take and discuss the FOCCUS inventory.
Archdiocesan Joy-Filled Marriage Program
https://www.archmil.org/marriagepreparation
This online or weekend retreat experience will give you the opportunity to encounter dynamic married couples who will share about the meaning of marriage, praying as a couple, and the powerful gift of sexuality and offer tips for a healthy marriage. Regardless of your faith or background, you are welcome at any of these preparation experiences. You will choose one program that best suits your needs as a couple. Certificates received from the conference are to be given to the Pastoral Associate for your wedding file.
Paperwork
Submitted by you:
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Baptismal Certificates: Catholics should provide a newly issued, annotated baptismal certificate to the Pastoral Associate for your wedding file. You obtain this certificate by contacting the parish where your baptism took place and requesting that they send it to you or to the Pastoral Associate at Holy Apostles. Those baptized by a Christian church other than the Roman Catholic Church can submit a photocopy of the original certificate to the Pastoral Associate.
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Joy-Filled Marriage Certificate of Completion: Please submit the certificate of completion from your Joy-Filled Marriage program to the Pastoral Associate.
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Marriage License: For marriages taking place at Holy Apostles, your marriage license is obtained from the Waukesha County Clerk and should be brought to your wedding rehearsal. Please see the following link for information about Wisconsin’s laws regarding marriage and the timeline and fees associated with obtaining your marriage license: www.waukeshacounty.gov/marriagelicense. Remember to bring your marriage license to the rehearsal – the wedding cannot take place without it!
Submitted on your behalf:
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Completion of the FOCCUS Program: Submitted by your FOCCUS couple.
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Preparation Paperwork: Submitted by the Celebrant preparing you for your marriage.
Before the Wedding
All Catholics being married in the church are strongly encouraged to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation before their wedding celebration. You can discuss this with your Celebrant.