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Marriage Preparation Process

Congratulations on your engagement. We look forward to celebrating your marriage with you.

The process involves several steps, some of which have costs associated with them. Please note that the process will have major changes after January 1, 2010 due to a new Marriage Preparation policy adopted by the Diocese of Phoenix. For a preview of that policy, go to www.ourcovenantoflovephx.org.

Marriage Preparation Process for 2009

The steps in the process through the end of 2009 are:

1. Interview with the Pastor - No Fee
   1. Basic Information that is needed
   2. Overview of the Preparation Process
   3. If time, complete the FOCCUS Inventory
   4. Discuss setting a date
2. Complete the FOCCUS Inventory - No Fee
3. Review the FOCCUS results
   Lynn Ekstrom at the parish will contact you to set an appointment. There is a fee of $50 per review session, and most times there will be two sessions.
4. Complete the Contract for the Church - Fee of $300 to schedule the Church
5. Gather documents:
   1. For all Catholics: Baptism Certificate issued within 9 months of the wedding date. Request the Church of Baptism to forward a baptism certificate "with notations". We can help locate churches of Baptism if you do not know how to contact them.
   2. If possible, Catholics are also requested to submit Xerox copies of their 1st Communion and Confirmation certificates.
   3. For non-Catholics: If the non-Catholic is a baptized Christian, we will need a certificate or letter from the Church of Baptism verifying the date. If the non-Catholic is not a baptized Christian, no documents are required.
6. Marriage Preparation Courses - Charges vary by course.
   • On-line course - ($150 per couple) www.catholicmarriagepreponline.com
   • LOVE FOR LIVE WEEKEND - a Diocesan engaged weekend (a Friday night and all day Saturday) ($135 per couple)
   • Franciscan Renewal Center (in Scottsdale) - Two consecutive Sundays. ($100 per couple)
   • Marriage Seminar - offered at Church of the Resurrection in Tempe on Saturdays 8:30am - 5:00pm. ($100 per couple)
   • UNITAS - is a marriage life skills course that is sometimes offered in the parish. At the moment none are scheduled, but if one gets scheduled we will let you know. ($100 per couple)
7. Natural Family Planning - $40 per couple
   The Diocese requires that a couple attend an introductory session to Natural Family Planning so that there is knowledge of Church-approved means of planning families. You may, if you wish, choose to register for the full course to learn the NFP method of family planning.
8. Wedding Planning - No Fee
   Once you have your documents together, and have completed the marriage preparation course and Natural Family Planning, call the parish to schedule a planning meeting with the Pastor. You will be given a planning book that contains choices for prayers, vows, and readings. Music for the wedding will be planned separately with our Music and Liturgy staff. You may also be given "Affidavits of Free Status" which are to be completed and signed in the presence of a priest or Church employee by people who have known you for all or most of your life (i.e., parents, siblings, aunts or uncles).
9. Wedding Planning Part Two (Music) - $50 charge if not using parish musicians
   After meeting with the pastor and beginning to plan other areas of your wedding, call our parish to schedule a meeting with one of our Music and Liturgy persons. They will help choose appropriate wedding music and assist in the hiring of musicians for your wedding. You may choose to bring in musicians of your own rather than use our musicians, but your music plan needs to be approved.
10. Wedding Planning Part Three (Wedding Coordinator) - $100 per couple
    1. Schedule an appointment with your wedding coordinator to review your planning.
    2. The Wedding Coordinator will conduct the rehearsal.
    3. The Wedding Coordinator will open the Church for you one hour before your wedding, and be present before, during and after the wedding to make sure everything goes smoothly.
11. The Wedding!!!!!