The Sacrament of Matrimony
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Holy Matrimony is a sacrament that establishes a covenant between husband and wife. It is a union whereby the two become one in a lifelong partnership together, with Christ at its center. Unlike the other sacraments, Holy Matrimony is a shared journey that allows a couple to experience their faith together.
Arrangements must be made at least one year in advance. The "one year in advance" guideline in the Catholic Church isn't an arbitrary delay. It reflects how seriously the Church treats marriage as a sacrament, not just an event.
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To assist couples in their preparation, our parish provides them with both clerical and lay support. Your experience will include guidance and support from one of our parish priests and a mentor couple who will help prepare couples prepare for their sacramental celebration and equip them with the skills needed to be successful as a couple as well as a family.
Our Marriage Ministry and our community will be praying for you and will be ready to offer support in your many years of marriage to come!
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Preparation Steps:
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Contacting the parish office at 973-538-1358, ext. 100 is the first step to make arrangements to meet with one of our priests. Following that gathering, a mentor couple will provide guidance and accompany you as you complete the journey (below) that will bring you to the celebration of your special day.
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1. The FOCCUS Inventory
After the engaged couple meets with the priest to complete the Pre-Nuptial Inventory, they will complete this online assessment which is used widely throughout the Catholic Church. It is helpful in determining the positive skills and connection that exists between a couple, and any areas for possible improvement.
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2. Witness to Love
This is a six 90-minute session program that aids couples in developing skills for a virtues-based marriage, including a better understanding of human sexuality as it relates to marriage and God's desires for you. It also fosters community involvement during the process. During the journey, couples will have the benefit of being guided in marriage preparation and introduced to the parish as well as its various ministries. WTL prepares couples for marriage and provides them with a community for your future.
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While most couples will complete their marriage preparation at the parish, we recognize that some will be “returning home” from other locations for their wedding nuptials only. In these situations, your priest will discuss alternate plans for preparation.
Know that the entire Notre Dame family is here to support you before AND after your wedding!
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