Marriage Preparation
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Getting Married in the Diocese of Worcester?
Contact your parish priest at least ONE YEAR prior to the anticipated wedding date to make arrangements for your preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage. The priest or deacon officiating at your wedding will assist you in fulfilling the necessary canonical and formational requirements and guide you through this enriching and special time of preparation for a life-long Christ-centered marriage.
Download our engaged couples’ brochure, “Getting Married in the Diocese of Worcester”, for an overview of the various components and requirements of the marriage preparation process. The brochure includes a handy checklist to keep track of the meetings you schedule with your priest or deacon and programs you will attend throughout the year.
After your initial meeting with your priest or deacon, REGISTER for BOTH of the following marriage formation programs:
I. God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage Seminar
This is a one-day program for engaged couples that uniquely presents the “why’s behind the what’s” of Catholic teaching, helping couples understand God’s plan for marriage and the joy of living it.
Couples should attend the God’s Plan seminar within the first three months of your year of preparation as it forms a foundation that greatly enriches the other parts of the marriage preparation process.
Seminars are held at various locations approximately eight times a year. Be sure to register early for preferred availability.
HOW TO REGISTER:
Download the BROCHURE that describes the program.
Download the 2012 CALENDAR to select a first and second choice of available dates/locations.
Download, print, and mail the 2012 REGISTRATION FORM.
Your registration will be confirmed by email after it has been processed.
Contact the diocesan Office of Marriage and Family with any questions:
E-mail: aledoux@worcesterdiocese.org
Phone: (508) 929-4311
II. Engaged Encounter Weekend
This special retreat weekend is designed to give couples planning marriage an opportunity to dialogue honestly about their prospective lives together. Through a series of talks couples discuss many aspects of their daily lives and their role as a couple living the vocation of Christian marriage in the Church and in society.
HOW TO REGISTER:
Download the CALENDAR and REGISTRATION FORM and mail to the address indicated on the form.
To learn more, visit the local EE website at http://worcestercee.org
Contact area coordinators, Joe & Barbara O’Connor, with any questions:
E-mail: engaged_encounter@yahoo.com
Phone: (978) 422-6612
Looking for additional dates for New England area Engaged Encounter weekends?
Visit the national Engaged Encounter website at: www.engagedencounter.org
Be sure to register early for best selection of dates.
Learn more about marriage preparation in the Diocese of Worcester:
“Preparing for Marriage Takes on New Look” – The Catholic Free Press – August 2009
“Spend Time for a Lifetime” – The Catholic Free Press – August 2009
Two excellent videos about marriage produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops can be viewed by clicking the links below:
watch: "Made for Each Other"
http://www.usccb.org/marriageuniqueforareason/video-1-made-for-each-other.shtml
watch: "Made for Life"
http://www.usccb.org/marriageuniqueforareason/