Matrimony

The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a suitable partner for him.” Gen. 2:18

The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. By its very nature it is ordered to the good of the couple, as well as to the generation and education of children. Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to the dignity of a sacrament. (CCC 1660)

Marriage Preparation

Congratulations on your engagement! We are excited that you wish to promise lifelong love to each other as husband and wife in the Lord. Marriage is a covenantal union modeled after and symbolizing God’s ever-faithful love that He has for His people. Your decision to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage is an important one. We understand the importance of this decision and are here to assist you in preparing for marriage. We are committed to supporting you spiritually and providing you with tools necessary to enter into marriage. It is our hope and prayer that through your journey of preparation that you will come to a deeper understanding of what God’s plan is for your marriage and that you will learn truths and skills to help you live out your vocation of love. Preparation for the Sacrament of Matrimony is more than planning your Mass or liturgy. It is a learning process aimed at helping you succeed in your marriage!

Your love and life together will serve those around you as a sign that Jesus Christ is alive and present to the world. Preparation for marriage is a tremendous opportunity for spiritual growth together with God, and we’re glad to be a part of another milestone in your lives!

The following is provided as a guide. You will receive clarification and further details after your first contact with the priest.

What Does Preparation Include?

Initial contact

As soon as you become engaged, contact the Church office to schedule an initial meeting with Fr. Paffel. Father is willing to walk with you as you prepare for the vocation of married life. He would like for you to contact him at least 6 months in advance to explain the steps to make your marriage the best possible, and to set a date for the ceremony in one of our parishes. This is our Diocesan policy.

Documents

Certain documents will need to be completed including a Prenuptial interview, the Fully Engaged assessment tool, and recent copies of baptismal certificates.

Marriage Preparation Course

Couples are required to attend a Diocesan approved Marriage Preparation Course.

Please call the North office at 320-352-2196 or the South office at 320-254-8218 for the time of the next preparation course.

Sponsor Couples

In this ministry, a married couple meets with an engaged couple to mentor them to help prepare them for marriage. These couples are trained by the Diocese, collaborate with the priests, and usually work with two couples each year.

Natural Family Planning

All couples preparing for marriage will receive at least a one-hour introduction to Natural Family Planning through their Marriage Preparation weekend. At which time you will have the opportunity to sign up for the full course of instruction in a method of NFP.

Planning Tools

Couple Checklist
Wedding Planner
First Reading Choices
Responsorial Psalm Choices
Second Reading Choices
Gospel Choices
Petition Instructions & Examples

Registered members

One of the engaged needs to be a registered, active member of one of the cluster parishes. For marriage of non-parishioners, please contact the office for more information at 320-352-3502.

Expenses

The Church is happy to spend time and resources to help prepare couples for marriage. While there is no fee for marriages of active and registered members of the parish, donations are very welcome. Giving to the Church is an act of worship reminding us that all we have and all we receive are gifts from God and are to be used for His praise and glory. With that thought in mind and because so many wonder what is an appropriate donation, we suggest a donation of $200 to the parish to help defray some of the expenses.

Weddings may be any day of the work week
On a Saturday NO LATER than 1:00PM
or during Ordinary Time Sunday Mass

For more information contact: Whitney Rutten, 320-352-2196
whitney.rutten@arvig.net

** A great resource for marriage Q&A and issues: go to foryourmarriage.org.

Marriage Enrichment

The Sacrament of Marriage is a visible sign of God’s love for the Church. When a man and a woman enter into this Sacrament, they are given the grace needed for a lifelong bond of unity.

The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved His Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life. (CCC 1661)

The Catholic Church believes and teaches that marriage is a sacrament, a symbol of the love that Jesus Christ has for His people, the church. As a sacrament, marriage is also a covenant by which a man and woman establish a partnership of love in Christ for the whole of their lives. Marriage is ordered towards the good of the spouse and the procreation and education of children. It is meant to be a life-long commitment . . . “till death do you part”. By giving of themselves and serving one another, their family and community, married couples help one another live out Christ’s call to discipleship, love, and service. Marriage provides a foundation for a family committed to community, solidarity, and Jesus’ mission in the world.

You put a lot of hard work into preparing for your marriage and even more hard work into living out your marriage vows every day. Taking the time to invest in your marriage is very important. Whether things are going well and you are looking for ways to enrich your relationship, or you are having problems and looking for help, we hope you find something within the below resources that may be of assistance to you.

National Marriage Encounter

The mission of National Marriage Encounter is to nurture and support the marriage of a man and woman and their family life. This is done by offering an opportunity to experience a deep and loving communication between a husband, wife, & God.

For more information contact:
National Marriage Encounter
320-252-3220
stcloudme.org

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

The emphasis of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend is on communication between husband and wife, who spend a weekend together away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, to concentrate on each other.
Contact: 888-455-3496
www.WWME.org

Marriage: United in Love, Strengthened in Service

USCCB pamphlet on marriage

Natural Family Planning

Modern Natural Family Planning is a scientific and natural means of postponing, avoiding, or achieving pregnancy. It requires no drugs, devices or surgical procedures of any kind. Couples have found that NFP has enriched their marriages. It has made them more aware of their combined fertility and opened new avenues of communication.

Contact: Office of Marriage & Family
305 7th Ave N, Suite 100
Saint Cloud, MN 56303-3631
320-252-4721
800-624-9019
www.stcdio.org/omf/nfp

Retrouvaille

The word Retrouvaille (retro-vi) simply means ‘rediscovery’. Retrouvaille is a lifeline for troubled marriages and offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse, and a loving relationship in your marriage. This program provides a weekend experience for couples who hope to re-establish communication and rebuild loving relationships.

Visit www.helpourmarriage-cmr.org or contact 1-888-255-5314 for more information.