St. Clare Parish

714 Myrth Avenue      Essex, Maryland 21221

 

Pre-Cana 2002

Sacrament of Marriage

 

 

 

 

PRE-CANA MARRIAGE PREPARATION:

WHY MUST WE ATTEND THESE SESSIONS? ARE THEY MANDATORY?

In view of the many stresses which affect marriage in today's society, the Catholic Church wants to help engaged couples think and communicate more fully about areas of married life which may or may not have been discusses before. As you may be aware, Matrimony is a sacrament and, in the Catholic Church, all sacraments (with the exception of the Anointing of the Sick) require some form of preparation on the part of the adult, parent, or child. Attendance in a marriage preparation process/program prior to the reception of the Sacrament of Matrimony is the policy of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THESE SESSIONS?

All marriage preparation programs are 9-12 hours in length; group size is strictly limited according to group-dynamic needs and/or site restrictions. Married volunteer leader couples, trained by the Archdiocese, facilitate the sessions, drawing from and sharing with you experiences from their own marriage in the areas of communication, decision-making, finances, human sexuality, and marital spirituality. You'll be asked to listen to presentations on these topics, to do written exercises from a workbook, to participate in small-group discussions (if group size allows), and to engage in personal sharing with your future spouse.

WHEN SHOULD WE REGISTER?

The Archdiocesan policy "Marriage in the Lord" requests that you both, as an engaged couple, contact the priest or deacon to witness your wedding at least six months before your proposed wedding day. The priest or deacon will act as principal advisor in your formal marriage preparation process. Since each Marriage Preparation series fills quickly, please register for the marriage preparation program immediately after that first interview with your clergy advisor. In some cases, couples have their first interview with their priest or deacon as far as a year before their wedding. You are entitled and encouraged to register that far in advance; but as a minimum, at least six months before your wedding date. Many classes are filled 7 - 9 months before classes begin.

If none of your choices are open when you register, you may have other alternatives. Consult with your priest or deacon who is the principal advisor in your formal marriage preparation process to make other arrangements.

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REGISTRATION FORM

(Information for Office of Marriage Preparation / Leader Couple use only)

SERIES DESIRED: (Sessions are strictly limited please register promptly)                                                                        

WEDDING DATE:                                                                                        

1st Choice/Dates/Place                                                                                                               

2nd Choice/Dates/Place                                                                                                               

3rd Choice/Dates/Place                                                                                                                 

Groom's Name:                                                                                                                               

Address:                                                                                                                                         

City                                                    State                               Zip                            

Telephone: Home (       )                                       Work (        )                                  

Religion:                                 Education:                              Age:                              

Parish:                        Previously Married: (Yes or No)          # of Children & ages           

Bride's Name:                                                                                                          

Address:                                                                                                                 

City                                        State                                       Zip                            

Telephone: Home (      )                                   Work (        )                                    

Religion:                                      Education:                                   Age:                   

Parish:                   Previously Married: (Yes or No):              # of Children & ages      

Parish of Wedding:                                      Priest/Minister:                                      

A letter of confirmation will be mailed to the woman's address. Please make $65.00 check payable and mail to:

MARRIAGE PREPARATION & ENRICHMENT,  Archdiocese of Baltimore,   320 Cathedral Street,  Baltimore, MD 21201

 

(This information on this page was taken from the Pre-Cana 2002 pamphlet and the Baltimore Archdiocese web site)