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Marriage is an intimate relationship of life and love. In order to assist you effectively and fulfill our pastoral responsibility
towards you, time must be made to consider certain convictions. Values need to be clarified before couples may enter into
marriage within the Catholic Church. As a faith community we have strong uncompromising commitment to permanence in
marriage, total giving of self to the other, exclusive fidelity, and openness to life.
There is surely an obvious need for Church involvement in marriage preparation with engaged couples to provide both
spiritual and human enrichment. Out of this need Bishops of the Catholic Church have established policies for Pastoral
Marriage Preparation. Engaged couples are required to receive a sacramental preparation comprising both formational and
instructional sessions.
Ideally, programs of pastoral preparation should begin at least one year before the marriage date. Formational meetings
are held with a priest or deacon. These sessions should help build the couple relationship, establish a relationship with the
priest or deacon, and ensure that the couple intends what the Catholic church intends by the Sacrament of Marriage, so
that the grace of the sacrament may bear fruit in the new life which begins on your wedding day.
For the instructional sessions there are a variety of approaches. You may choose to make a Pre-Cana Conference, or you
may prefer an Engaged Encounter Weekend. Some parishes provide a couple to couple approach. | 
