Outline of meetings and requirements for marriage

1. The first meeting will be held to meet with the priest or deacon so as to set up dates in the parish calendar and to get to know each other better. At this meeting, you will have to fill out necessary legal paperwork with the priest or deacon. The Preliminary Interrogatory establishes the fact that you are free to marry in the Catholic Church. If you are Catholic, you will be asked to call the church of your baptism and ask the parish to send a recent copy of your baptismal record to the priest or deacon who is assisting you in your marriage preparations. If you are baptized in another tradition, you will give the priest or deacon a copy of your baptismal record.

The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program for those who are interested in learning and experiencing more about the Catholic faith. People who come from other faith denominations are invited to join our gatherings. Catholics who were baptized but who did not receive other sacraments are welcome to come and to receive other sacraments. Simply inquire with the priest or deacon for more details.

2. Meet with priest or deacon to discuss marriage preparation program and the sacrament of marriage.

3. As part of your marriage preparation schedule, Blessed Sacrament requires that each engaged couple participate in a pre-marriage inventory called FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding, and Study) .   This is a kind of standardized test that enables the couple to answer a series of questions about important issues for a couple, i.e. communication skills, faith, sexuality, children, finances, etc.  You will take the test online, then the priest or deacon will go over the results with you and talk with you about the areas in which you agree and the areas in which you disagree and why. It is a very helpful and sometimes eye opening process! There is a $15 fee to cover scoring/administrative charges. To register for Foccus, click here.

4. Meet with priest or deacon to discuss the results of the survey.

5. In addition to meeting with the priest or deacon, you will be asked to attend a Marriage Preparation Program (Pre-Cana); these are designed to help you prepare for marriage with the assistance of other married couples. Our parish program is conducted in the fall and spring.  Click here to see our flyer for this year's dates.  To register for the parish program, use the form in your folder; give it, with the fee, to your presider. More information is available about other Pre-Cana programs in the area. You can also go online to the Archdiocesan website to get information about programs throughout the diocese. We expect that you complete the program at least 6 months prior to your wedding.

Registration Form for Pre-Cana Program

6. Meet with priest or deacon officiating at your wedding to discuss the ceremony itself. We have literature to help you in making choices.