You have decided to marry and commit yourselves to a lifetime of mutual love, learning and discovery. May God bless you and your life together.

BEFORE YOU SET THE DATE...as soon as you decide to marry, contact the parish to begin the Marriage Preparation Process. this should occur before any other permanent arrangements are made for the wedding date and reception; minimally 6 to 9 months before the anticipated wedding date. At Our Lady of the Visitation, wedding dates can only be confirmed by a priest. Please call the Parish Office at 922-2056.   

Archdiocesan Guidelines require that engaged couples participate in a marriage preparation process best suited to their needs. The following are the stages or steps that are recommended for all engaged couples:

  1. Initially, the engaged couple meets with the parish priest, deacon or marriage minister to gather information; participate in assessment process/administer premarital inventory; set a wedding date.
  2. The priest, deacon or marriage minister will schedule subsequent meeting to discuss the forms and results of pre-marital inventory.
  3. At least 3 months prior to your wedding date, you should attend one or more diocesan sponsored or recognized marriage preparation programs. Some of the options are PreCana, Engaged Encounter, or a parish based program.
  4. You will meet with the parish minister to review the entire preparation process and plan the wedding liturgy.
  5. In the early years of marriage it is recommended that you participate in some form of marriage enrichment. Your local parish and the Archdiocesan Family Life Office may assist you in this endeavor.

Special Circumstances

Though the majority of couples will find their preparations proceeding normally, there will be some couples who find themselves in special circumstances which may require additional guidance, such as:

  • cohabiting before marriage
  • couples of differing faiths or traditions
  • one or both are nineteen years or younger
  • one or both has been married before
  • pregnancy

Convalidation

Some couples are already civilly married but have not entered into the Sacrament of Matrimony. As with other couples preparing for this commitment, a period of assessment and completion of some pre-marriage program may still be required before celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony. Together with the priest, the couple will work to assure that the dignity of the sacrament is maintained and the faith commitment of bothe husband and wife is enhanced and strengthened. from Marriage Preparation Guidelines, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Family Life Office.

 

 

We are called to be a welcoming sign of God’s presence & love.