Marriage Preparation
Preparing for Marriage at Mary Our Queen
The Sacrament of Matrimony is a vocation – a public and covenantal commitment between a man and a woman to spend a lifetime together. The sacrament is a visible sign of God’s unconditional love for us and brings grace and joy to the new couple.
The Sacrament of Marriage is a very special celebration in the life of the Church and Parish Community. We hope and pray that you will find Mary Our Queen a place of welcome and support as you begin to prepare for the Sacred Rites of Marriage.
Please note that all weddings must be scheduled at least 6 months in advance. To be married at Mary Our Queen, we require that at least one member of the engaged couple (or their parents) be a registered parishioner for one year or longer before preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony may begin.
Marriage Preparation Steps
To begin the process of preparation and scheduling your wedding, please contact Renee Spicka at the Parish Office. She will assist in scheduling the wedding as well as setting up your initial marriage preparation meeting with the Pastor.
The Archdiocese of Omaha requires a minimum of 6 months of preparation time before the scheduled wedding date. Most couples benefit by beginning their marriage preparation at least nine months before the wedding.
If the bride or groom will be less than 19 years old on the date you plan to marry, a wedding date will not be set until the preparation process is complete.
If either the bride or groom or both have previously celebrated any type of wedding whatsoever, a written decree of nullity (annulment) is required prior to registering for marriage preparation.
Contact
At your initial meeting with the priest, you will receive instructions on taking your FOCCUS pre-marriage inventory. The link is provided below.
Allow 45 – 60 minutes for completion. As soon as both of you have completed the inventory, a personalized Couple Report will be delivered to your facilitator.
You can expect to meet with your trained FOCCUS facilitator weekly for 4-6 one-hour sessions. These sessions are intended to facilitate discussion between the two of you on areas of strength and opportunities for growth identified by the FOCCUS™ Pre-Marriage Inventory. Your results and your facilitated discussion are kept confidential.
There is a $30 fee for your FOCCUS facilitation inventory. Please use the button below to register for FOCCUS.
SIGN UP FOR FOCCUS NOW
While you are not required to attend a program, we highly encourage all couples to participate in Catholic Engaged Encounter. This should be completed 3-6 months before your wedding. These programs provide formation in the theology and practical life skills of marriage, with many options available online and in person. Costs range between $100-$200.
Catholic Engaged Encounter in Omaha
After completing your FOCCUS sessions and formation retreat, additional wedding planning will be provided by the priest or deacon at Mary Our Queen who is celebrating your wedding. This will include planning the Rite of Matrimony and finalizing any pastoral formation specific to the couple.