“Authentic married love is caught up into divine love. . . .Thus this love can lead spouses to God . . .and in God they find the strength to carry on their roles and responsibilities."
Gaudium Et Spes

Marriage is more than a wedding day - it is a lifelong vocation that requires careful discernment and preparation.  The Diocese has particular guidelines for couples preparing for marriage to assist couples in building happy, life-long relationships.

1. Initial Meeting with Priest/Deacon: Dating/engaged/civilly married couples should contact their local parish first. Priest/Deacon welcomes the couples and provides guidance. (Note: Wedding date is NOT scheduled until the pre-marital assessment is completed and the first meeting with mentors is done).
2. Pre-marital Assessment: At least 6 months prior to the wedding date, couples take a premarital inventory, either the PREPARE or FOCCUS.
3. Meeting with Mentors: Couples choose their mentor couples following the required criteria. Several meetings are scheduled before and after the wedding.
4. Natural Family Planning (NFP): Couples must minimally participate in an introduction to NFP (full course preferred), approved by the Diocese.
5. Marriage Discernment Retreat: Couples are highly encouraged to participate in a marriage discernment retreat at their parish. They may attend a similar retreat offered by the Diocese only if their parish does not offer one, or with an approval from their priest/deacon. (Note: Couples should attend such retreat several months prior to their wedding date and have already completed the premarital assessment).
6. Wedding Mass: Couples should learn to understand the sacrament not as a single moment, but rather as a reality that continues throughout their married life.
7. Follow up: Mentor couples remain in contact with the newly married couples after the wedding.