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Congratulations on your decision to get married! As you move forward through the next few months or years, many things will demand your attention a reception plans, in-law requests, fiance requests, financial questions and how your relationship will change with your future spouse as you move through engagement and into marriage. One person asked me this as I was going through this process:
The wedding and reception last one day, the marriage lasts a lifetime. Which should you focus most of your energy on?
With that in mind, your first call should be to the pastor of the parish you want to get married at. Most pastors are used to working long distance with couples. Most will require at least one face to face meeting. Most will ask you to go through a marriage preparation program, either at their parish, or in the parish/diocese you are currently living in. Once you find out what type of program the pastor (at the church you will be married at) wants you to attend, talk to the pastor at the church you are attending here. Find out what programs are offered. If the church you are attending here does not offer what is required, look to neighboring parishes, or call the diocese for information. In the Diocese of Tucson, nearly all marriage prep is handled by individual parishes, who will welcome all seeking marriage preparation into their programs. The one exception is Engaged Encounter, which is a movement within the diocese.
Catholic Engaged Encounter: www.engagedencounter.org
The mission of Tucson Catholic Engaged Encounter is to promote and encourage preparation for a lifetime commitment to sacramental marriage and family life. Tucson Catholic Engaged Encounter offers a unique and personal experience for each couple that enables them to reflect on their individual lives and couples lives. Through writing and dialogue, each couple discovers for themselves God’s vision of sacramental marriage and family life.For Information & To Register:
Juan and Gina De La Ossa,
Local Diocesan Coordinators
Tucson, Arizona (520)-904-5147,
tucsonengagedencounter@gmail.com
http://arizonacee.org/tucson/
Here are a few options that are used at various parishes in our Diocese:
FOCCUS: www.foccusinc.com
Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding, & Study. This is a Marriage Preparation program used by some parishes. Each partner takes a 156-189 question survey and then marriage preparation is customized to the needs of the couple.
For Better & For Ever:
www.marriageretornocpr.org
A marriage preparation program which continues through the first year(s) of marriage covering: Family of Origin, Finances & Career Planning, Marital Communication, Interfaith Marriage, Parenting, Couples who are living together, Blended Families, Prayer, Marital Spirituality,…