A unique marriage preparation process for engaged couples
The preparation program for engaged couples at St. Andrew the Apostle is the Unitas program. All couples choosing to prepare to marry at St. Andrew?s are required to participate in the Unitas program.
It is a sacramental formation program for marriage that uses OCIA as a model. Unitas emphasizes elements that are similar to those found in OCIA:
In the Unitas program, engaged couples experience marriage through the witness of marriage formation leaders and other members of the community. Married couples serve as leaders and mentors for the engaged, and the entire faith community supports the engaged at liturgies and through prayers.
The Unitas program is held three times per year at St. Andrew's:
Couples planning on marrying in March, April, May or June should attend sessions in January/February. Those marrying in July, August, September or October should attend the sessions in May/June. Finally, the September/October sessions are for the November, December, January and February couples.
Sessions take place on Sunday mornings, immediately after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, and last approximately two hours. A continental breakfast is provided.
The cost of this program is included in the parish preparation fee.
No. Unitas will be the primary program for newly engaged couples. Couples validating a civil marriage are encouraged to participate in a Marriage Encounter or attend sessions designed for them. Unitas is also not for couples entering a second marriage. The Diocese of Phoenix offers a Remarrying Seminar for those couples.
Sponsor (or Mentor) Couples are asked to be partners with an engaged couple as they journey through the preparation process and then to help them to become integrated into our faith community.
Initially, the sponsor couple contacts the engaged couple prior to the start of the Unitas classes to meet them and learn something about them. To facilitate this, we are introducing a potluck supper on the Friday evening prior to the start of classes so that all participants can become acquainted.
Sponsor couples are asked to attend the 3-week Unitas program on consecutive Sunday mornings, following the conclusion of the 8:30 Mass.
The classes generally last until ll:30 a.m. During the classes the sponsor and engaged couples will listen to short presentations and then interact in small sharing groups. It is in this sharing that sponsors help the engaged to understand what it takes to make a marriage work, by revealing both the good and the testing times of their own relationships. (No one is forced to share more than they are comfortable with revealing. However, previous sponsors have found that in this process their own marriage is strengthened.
Following the conclusion of classes, sponsors are asked to remain in contact with their engaged couples, hopefully attending their wedding ceremony and remaining in touch to encourage the newly marrieds to participate in our faith community.
Previous sponsor couples have been married as short as 5-years, and as long as 45 years. Their life experiences have been an integral part of our preparation process and have given real credence to the concept of Christian marriage. If you are willing to participate, contact David Runyan via email or at the parish office, 899-1990, Ext. 111.