Following are the steps you follow to meet the requirements of Catholic marriage preparation for the Archdiocese of Chicago. With the collaboration of parish staff, program facilitators, and yourselves, you will have every opportunity to build a marriage that echoes the love that God has for us; a marriage that is truly a marriage in the Lord.
1. Introductory meeting with priest or pastoral minister.
Meet at the rectory or parish with a pastoral minister, priest or deacon. Get the information about the parish's guidelines for marriage at that location. Ask for a copy of the "Rite of Marriage" which is your handbook for selecting readings and other relevant information for the liturgy on your wedding day. Ask about music and how to arrange for appropriate music for the ceremony. You will also begin to fill in some of the required papers.
2. Premarital evaluation and discussion.
There are a few well-designed preparation inventories. Many parishes use FOCCUS or a similar instrument.
FOCCUS, which stands for “Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study,” is a well-accepted marriage preparation inventory. It is designed to help couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship. It is not a test. There are no right or wrong answers. An inventory is filled out separately by each of you, with the responses: “Yes,” “No,” or “Unsure” to statements about areas important to marriage. When the inventory is scored, the percentages of agreement are graphed and shared with you by a trained coach.
FOCCUS is recommended as part of marriage preparation in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Some parishes have staff and volunteers who are trained to facilitate FOCCUS. You may be able to take it at your parish or you can take it through Family Ministries. Check with the person who is preparing you for marriage to see how to take your premarital inventory.
3. Follow-up discussion.
Engaged couples meet with a coach within two weeks to discuss the areas of your relationship that need more attention, while affirming your strengths. This is not Catholic marriage preparation counseling, it is coaching. Some parishes may offer a different format.
4. Participation in marriage preparation class.
There is education and preparation for receiving all the sacraments of the faith. The same is true for the Sacrament of Matrimony. Check with your parish to see what is required for marriage preparation, and then sign up for the marriage preparation class that is most appropriate for you to fulfill the Catholic marriage preparation requirements for the Archdiocese of Chicago. After you take the class you will receive a monthly enewsletter with articles and information for couples in their first year of marriage.
5. Christian Sexuality or Introductory Natural Family Planning Class.
Recommended for all Catholic marriages as part of the Catholic marriage preparation. Natural Family Planning (NFP) consists of scientific natural methods to achieve, space, or avoid a pregnancy, strengthening the marriage, the couple, and the family. NFP allows the couple to read and interpret the most practical and reliable signs of fertility and infertility to share the responsibility and joys of planning the number of children they want to have. The Christian Sexuality class is based on the Theology of the Body written by Pope John Paul II and consists of lectures, discussion, and workbook exercises.
6. Consultation with pastoral minister.
Discuss any issues or concerns raised in your marriage preparation program and review the details of the ceremony  with the pastoral minister, priest, or deacon. Complete all papers. Review the decisions you have made for the readings and music.
7. Wedding rehearsal and marriage license.
The wedding rehearsal takes place with those with an active role in the ceremony: bride, groom, maid of honor, best man, and the readers of the Word. Include others as determined with your pastoral minister, priest, or deacon. Be sure you buy your marriage license at least one but no more than 60 days before the ceremony. For information on purchasing a license in Cook County, click here. For Lake County, here.
8. Wedding day.
Congratulations! Your big day is finally here. Enjoy this day with family and friends as you begin your lifetime commitment to one another.
9 and 10. Newly married continuing education workshops in the first year of marriage.
Now that you're married, keep enriching your marriage. You are encouraged to attend two continuing education workshops in your first years of marriage. These two-hour workshops cover topics of interest to newlyweds, concentrating on the main problems of the first five years of marriage, time, sex, and money. Workshop A covers expectations, adjustments, time, and building strengths. Workshop B covers finances, sexuality, and faith. These classes are free as part of the fee you paid for PreCana or Discovery Weekend. Sign up here. These are not Catholic marriage counseling classes, they are marriage education classes that will help keep your marriage on the right course. |
