Marriage Preparation

1. Have an Initial Conversation with a Priest or Deacon: Your parish is always the best choice for your marriage preparation. This is your spiritual community where your Sunday worship takes place and you will soon get support and resources. Schedule an appointment with a priest or a deacon in your parish to begin the marriage preparation process. He will help guide you through the process. This should begin as soon as you are engaged (generally between 8-12 months).
2. Choose your mentor couple: You have a choice to pick a sacramentally married couple you admire to become your mentors, following the required criteria:

   • Practicing Catholics who are active in their Catholic faith

   • Have been married in the church for more than 5 years

   • Preferably go to the same parish as you

   • Not your immediate relative

3. Take a Pre-marital Assessment: After meeting with your priest or deacon, you take one of the relationship assessments available to you: Fully Engaged, Prepare-Enrich or FOCCUS. Learn more here. 
4. Attend a Marriage Discernment Class or Retreat: Check with your priest or deacon on the availability of this in your home parish. You may attend a similar retreat offered by the diocese only with the approval of your priest/deacon. The pre-marital assessment must be completed before the retreat.
5. Online Classes: In case you are not able to attend an in-person class, or the diocesan retreat, with the approval of your pastor you can take online discernment classes. The approved Online Marriage Prep Class is found at catholicmarriageprep.com and The Marriage Group. Please make sure when selecting the class of your preference also to select the NFP class provided by them or look for the other providers in the following number.
6. Take a Natural Family Planning (NFP) Course: An introduction to the NFP course is required, but a full method is preferred. Your parish may have either or both available to you. Click here to learn more about NFP. 
7. Stay connected to your local parish: It is very important to have support in married life, so it is particularly essential to stay in touch with your mentors and your local community. Your mentors serve as resources for many of your needs in the future. As you nurture your marriage and bond with each other, don't forget to strengthen your relationship with your parish community through your mentors. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Click here to download a copy of the steps toward sacramental marriage.