The Marriage Preparation Ministries at St. Andrew the Apostle endeavor to provide the best possible program for engaged couples who come to our parish to enter into a sacramental marriage. By working within the guidelines of the Diocese of Phoenix, our ministers assist and guide the engaged on their sacramental journey in anticipation of a lifelong marriage.
UNITAS...a process for engaged preparation
In cooperation with the parish Marriage Preparation Coordinator, the Unitas coordinator is responsible for presenter couple assignments, and the recruiting and assigning of mentor couples, host couples and bakers. The coordinator also serves as its representative on the Pastoral Advisory Council. Basic and advanced ministry formation is required.
Married couples, who are members of St. Andrew's, share their married life experiences in a series of seven presentations on The Theology of Marriage, Communications Skills, Individual and Family of Origin, Values in Marriage, Intimacy and Sexuality, Balancing Practical issues in a Relationship and Spirituality in Marriage.
Presenter couples are given resource material and receive training and are responsible for one presentation and followup in each series. Presenter couples are asked for a one year commitment, which would include three Unitas sessions in that year. Presenter couples should be married at least 5 years and are required to take advanced ministry formation.
Mentor Couples serve as sponsors for engaged couples during their preparation process. This one-on-one relationship allows close personal support for the engaged couple during the process. Additionally, the mentor couple keeps in touch with the engaged/married couple for six months after preparation concludes to better enable the newly married to integrate into our faith community.
Mentor couples meet with the engaged couple prior to the beginning of Unitas in order to establish a relationship. The mentors then introduce the engaged to the parish at the opening liturgy and attend the presentations with them. At the closing liturgy, the mentors again present the engaged couple to the community as being prepared and ready to receive the sacrament of marriage. Mentors commit to sponsoring one couple per year.
Mentor couples should be married at least three years.
Host couples provide hospitality at the preparation sessions. They insure that the meeting room is set up and that all is ready. They hand out name tags and course material as needed, and welcome the engaged to each session. Additionally, they serve the continental breakfast. As each session ends, they make sure that all materials are put away and the room is cleaned.
Parishoners are asked to volunteer to provide baked breakfast rolls or breads and fruit platters for the sessions' continental breakfasts. This hospitality gesture enables the sessions to take place immediately after a Sunday morning liturgy and in a timely manner.
Parishoners who are unable to participate in another way are asked to pray for particular engaged couples as they journey to their wedding day. Those who pray are also asked to send a card to the engaged couple on the date of their wedding.
Specially trained coordinators work with engaged couples in preparation of their wedding ceremony. A coordinator contacts the engaged couple eight weeks prior to the wedding to assist in setting up a rehearsal time and answer any questions. The coordinator also conducts the wedding rehearsal and is present to assist at the wedding.
Coordinators are required to take basic ministry formation, and be especially knowledgeable in the flow of the liturgical celebration. They also make sure that florists and photographers adhere to all parish guidelines for celebrations.