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09/08/08 |
           
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ST. Mary Parish - Navilleton Marriage Preparation Process / Policies
Introduction: Preparation for marriage is not just for the wedding day when family and friends gather to witness and celebrate the commitment the bride and groom make to each other; it is preparation for the day-to-day relationship you will live throughout your married life whereby your lives, through the Sacrament you receive, will become a witness to others of Christ’s love for His Church. The Parish community of St. Mary – Navilleton has made a commitment to support you in living out your Sacrament during your journey through married life by providing an on going enrichment process to aid you in the journey toward realizing your relationships potential. Responsible participation in this process is an indication of the serious understanding of the commitment underlying your relationship.
Catholic Understanding of Marriage: A wedding in the Catholic Church is a religious event, requiring a public act of faith by the couple who are asking the Church to witness their marriage. The Sacrament of Matrimony is a matter which concerns the whole church and is not a private or family affair. The priest, with the assembled community, witnesses the couple’s exchange of vows and prays that this new covenant of mutual life and love will continue to be an enduring sign to others of Jesus’ intimate and faithful covenant with the People of God.
Marriage Preparation in the Catholic Church: The Catholic Church believes firmly in the importance of thoughtful and responsible preparation for the lifetime commitment of marriage. Research demonstrates the effectiveness of careful marriage preparation. In order to be married in any Catholic church in the U.S.., a couple must first complete all steps of the marriage preparation process.
Expectations of the Catholic Church and Catholic Parishioners for a Catholic desiring to celebrate Marriage in the Church:
1. Living the Precepts of the Catholic Church a. To keep holy the day of the Lord’s resurrection: to worship God by participating in Mass every Sunday b. To lead a Sacramental life: to receive Holy Communion frequently and the sacrament of penance (reconciliation) regularly. c. To Study Catholic teaching: in preparation for the sacrament of confirmation, to be confirmed, and then to continue to study and advance the cause of Christ. d. To observe the marriage laws of the Church: to give religious training (by example and word) to one’s children; to use parish schools and religious e. To strengthen and support the Church: one’s own parish community and parish priests; the worldwide Church and the Holy Father. f. To do penance: including abstaining from meat and fasting from food on the appointed days g. To join in the missionary spirit and apostolate of the Church
2. Fully initiated Catholic: celebrate all the Sacraments of initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, Communion.
3. Catholics - Participating and Celebrate Every Sunday Mass (Eucharist)
4. Registered member of a Catholic Parish.
Couples 1st contact: (6-9 months before marriage) – usually with secretary
Phase 1 – Initial Contact with Parish Priest:
At this first meeting the presiding clergy will discuss general plans for the wedding, including any special circumstances that might affect the couple’s marriage. The priest or deacon will also obtain the personal information and documentation necessary to begin the preparation process.
IF EITHER OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE, whether married in the Church or by any other civil or religious authority, discussion with a priest will be required before beginning the preparation process.
- Catholic view of marriage - Arch diocese application- Prenuptial Marriage Form - Overview of preparation process - Necessary documents a. Baptism certificates – Catholics must furnish a current Baptismal Certificate, issued within 6 months of the wedding date. Baptized non-Catholics should furnish a cop of their Baptism Certificate b. Confirmation Certificate – Furnished by Catholics c. Dispensations – for interfaith couples, a signed declaration of promise by the Catholic party concerning intent to remain Catholic and to share that faith with children born of the marriage (this normally means baptizing and raising children Catholic). d. Dispensation/Annulment from previous marriage
a. “Together for Life (with Mass or Without Mass version) b. Marital Love & the Gift of Life - USCCB c. Between Man & Woman – USCCB d. For Better & For Ever – (a resource for couples Preparing of Christian Marriage) e. Formal Marriage Preparation Materials
Formal Marriage Preparation
This is an instructional phase where the essential human and Christian aspects of marriage are explored through activities such as group instruction, written exercises, and private dialogue.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION: The Church encourages each couple to address the spiritual dimensions of their lives and relationship through the devotion of time and effort for spiritual activities that will enhance them and their relationship with God. This Focus, for Catholics and non-Catholics, could embrace participation in Scripture reading, workshops, liturgies, and activities to explore a deepening of your understanding of faith. Such a joint undertaking would show responsible attention to spiritual preparation for you marriage.
Formal Preparation Programs:
a. Introduction to NFP (Natural Family Planning) b. Stewardship, a way o life
Engaged couple participates in one Archdiocese of Louisville marriage preparation experiences or New Albany Deanery marriage preparation experience (choose one)
1. Foundation for Marriage, 1200 So. Shelby Street, Louisville, KY4020 - 502-471-2133 An 8 hour program which addresses the topics of Marriage as a Sacrament, communication, Budgeting as a Couple, Morality and Christian Sexuality, and Family of Origin
OR
2. Louisville Catholic Engaged Encounter, P.O. Box 20244, Louisville, Ky. 40250 – 502-635-9211 This is a weekend experience during which the engaged couple is offered the time and opportunity to question, examine, and deepen their relationship with each other and with God. Topics covered during the weekend include self-awareness, communication, decision-making, vocation, sacrament, unity and more.
The presenting team usually consists of two married couples and a priest who give a series of Presentations. After each presentation, the engaged couple is encouraged to dialogue privately with each other on aspects of married life – from the viewpoint of their own relationship.
OR
3. Tobit Weekend (Sponsored by New Albany Deanery at Mt. St. Francis) Fatima Retreat House – 5353 East 56th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46226 – 317-545-7681 The Tobit weekend was designed and started in 1976 by a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis as a Christian marriage preparation program.
“It is hard to find such quality time to work on just us…seems like all we do is worry about the details of the wedding.”
The week end is an investment in your relationship that takes you away from the tensions and Demands of daily life to relax in an atmosphere of simplicity and peacefulness. Time in this Environment give you a unique opportunity to grow in your knowledge and love for one another. The program enables you to enter into a deeper personal relationship with Christ and to realize the importance of having him at the center of your relationship.
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4. Pre- Cana Program (Archdiocese of Indianapolis) Fatima Retreat House, 5353 East 56th St. Indianapolis, Indiana -46206 – 317-236-1596, 1-800-382-9836 - As an engaged couple, you are requested to attend one afternoon session prior to your wedding with a date selected by you based on the schedule for that year. The program is offered on Sunday afternoon at the Fatima Retreat House, 5353 East 56th Street, Indianapolis, which is located 56th St. between Fall Creek Blvd. and I-465 North (Exit #40, just east of Cathedral High School.
5. Introduction to NFP – is the natural method of avoiding or achieving pregnancy according to the informed awareness of a woman’s own fertility. NFP is highly effective and morally acceptable, free from medical hazards and side effects, helpful in building better marriage relationships and virtually cost free. Sessions to be scheduled with NFP Facilitators – contact for information – Dr William or Lynn Hesse (812) 945-1854
6. Stewardship, a way of life – Spiritual training or simple living and our call from God to live a life of sharing our gifts, talents and treasures. (This formation content is still being developed).
Phase 2 – Assessment Process: Sponsor Couple meetings
1st Meeting with Sponsor Couple -Pre-Marital Inventory (FOCCUS) - Introduce sponsor couple process and take the FOCCUS - Establish date to come back and receive feedback from the inventory - Inform them to review Chapters 1, 6, 13, 20 and Appendix D for discussion at next meeting
2nd Meeting (within few weeks of taking the Inventory) - Discuss the Chapters and Appendix any other questions or issues - Give feed back from the Inventory - ESTABLISH MASS FOR A BLESSING AND RECEIVING OF THE ENGAGED COUPLE – bless them and their sponsors (Chapter 20)
3rd thru 7th meeting with Sponsor Couple - Schedule to be arrange by couple and sponsor for all the meetings - Communication - Chapter 3, 9,16 - Commitment - Chapter 4 - Conflict Resolution - Chapter 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 17 - Children – Chapter 7,15,18 - Church – Chapter 11, 12, 14,19
After the wedding a couple of sessions with Sponsor Couple is recommended if Married Couple live in the area and attend the same parish.
Phase 3 – Completion of the Marriage Preparation Process Make an appointment with Father. At this meeting the engaged couple will decide to continue with the preparation for the marriage ceremony or to terminate the preparation process.
9th meeting with pastor –
ONE MONTH BEFORE WEDDING:
Obtain a marriage license and give to pastor
a. planning is complete b. send or bring to the parish office a check with appropriate offering c. preparation and use of Church
Music Planning – Couple should contact Music Director: · As soon as Wedding date is confirmed for availability · after liturgical planning session with Fr. to plan liturgy, while memory of readings and parts of the liturgy are fresh
All wedding music during the ceremony should be liturgical / sacred. Secular / Classical selections can be used for processions if appropriate. All music selected fro / by a third party (non-parish musician) should be cleared with parish music minister and or Fr.
Wedding Liturgy Couples may choose to have Mass at their wedding or choose not to have Mass. For pastoral reasons and hospitality, couples who have non-Catholic families may want to forego having Mass as a part of their ceremony.
Weddings should be scheduled for Saturdays. Start time range form 11:00AM – 2:00Pm. Confessions begin at 4:00PM, and Sunday Mass begins at 5:00PM, so all trace of wedding should be removed from the Church before 4:00PM. It is the policy of the New Albany Deanery that weddings are not to take place on Saturday evenings.
Wedding liturgies are designed to celebrate the solemnity of a couples commitment and a sacrament of the Church. Therefore, excessive decoration and additional ritual are to be avoided. Unity candles are permitted for cultural reasons, but their use is disgorged because they are not part of the Catholic Marriage Rite.
The couple to be married is responsible for all clean-up of the church. It is strongly recommended that a responsible friend or relative be assigned the task. Flowers may be donated to the church, if the couple chooses to leave them.
No aisle runners and no rice, bird seed or any other solid objects that are traditionally showered on the newly married couple are strictly forbidden.
Alcohol –Alcoholic beverages should not be consumed before the rehearsal or wedding celebration. We ask that members of the wedding party refrain from excessive drinking on the day of or on the day before wedding, including Rehearsal Dinner. Alcohol is not permitted on parish grounds.
Use of the Parish Center The Parish Center (two-story white house adjacent to church) may be used on the day of the wedding for wedding party preparation only if the prior permission is attained. Wedding parties are asked to leave the Parish Center as clean as they found it. Again, a responsible friend or relative should be assigned to clean anything brought into the Parish Center before 4:00PM. Wedding parties are not to wait until after the reception to gather their belongings.
Rehearsal: Rehearsal should be scheduled as early as the first meeting with the pastor. Rehearsal should be planned for about 2 hours before the planned “Rehearsal Dinner” in case rehearsal takes longer than expected. Rehearsal should ordinarily not take more than an hour
St. Mary’s Navilleton Fees and Rental procedures
$100 total = $50 for priest, $50 for Church (includes Foccus, “Better & For Ever”, “Together for Life” books) musicians are contacted separately, including Director of Music Ministry at the Parish.
The Rental of the Parish Hall or Activity Center is a separate process to be arranged through the Parish Administrator during normal business hours, Monday – Thursday, 8:00AM-3:00PM or Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00PM.
St Mary’s Navilleton Catholic Church Contact Information:
Gary Taylor – Administrator of Religious Education Rev. John Elmer – Pastor Pat Akers – Parish Administrative Assistant Susie Naville – Music Minister 7500 Navilleton Rd. Floyd Knobs, In 47119 Phone: (812) 923-5419 Fax: (812) 923-3430 Office: Mon-Thurs 8:00AM – 3:00PM & Fri 8:00AM -12:00noon Email: stmarynavilleton@insightbb.com
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This site was last updated 07/08/08