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Preparing for Marriage

Congratulations on your engagement!

Here you will find what you need to begin your preparation.  Your first step after you are engaged is to contact your local parish priest or deacon, who will work with you on preparing for your marriage and setting a date. Please allow yourselves at least six months to prepare.
If you are an engaged couple who live out of Vermont, you will need to speak to your priest or deacon where you live.  If you have questions please contact Terri McCormack, Marriage and Family Life Coordinator at tmccormack@vermontcatholic.org or (802) 658-6110, ext 1451  

Marriage Preparation  –  Pre Cana Checklist:

 1. Initial meeting with pastor
2.  Life Skills Marriage  Preparation (choose  A, B, or C)   
    A. Witness to Love – Parish Mentor Couple Ministry   (where  available) – The Pastor or Marriage Prep Coordinator will assist in how to choose your parish Mentor Couple who will walk with you through your Marriage Preparation
 
    B. Witness to Love – Virtual Mentor 
      The Pastor or Marriage Coordinator will assist in the use of life skills lessons using the Be More virutal retreat and information from the Fully Engaged Survey  
 
    C.  Agape Catholic Marriage Preparation – Online Mentor Couple
 
3. Natural Family Planning Instruction (choose  A or B)
 
     A.  Vermont Certified NFP Providers

 

     B.   Online
                                   
4. Diocesan Sacramental Marriage Preparation Retreat 

 

6. Final meeting with pastor to prepare for wedding ceremony

 

7. Post-Cana Marriage Enrichment            Newlyweds and Mentor Couple from Parish
 
Marriage Preparation Checklist– download
 
Wedding Feast at Cana

Jesus transforms water into wine – his first miracle.

 
Diocesan Marriage Preparation Retreat Day
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In-Person Retreats for 2022 
Saturday, February 26
Christ the King,   Rutland    
 
Saturday, April 30
St. John Vianney, So. Burlington   
Both retreats are from 10am – 2pm

Please contact Terri McCormack at tmccormack@vermontcatholic.org to register and videos to watch prior to attending.

Couples attending are asked to have:
  • completed survey with Priest/Deacon preparing them
  • completed or are half completed the Marriage Preparation (Online or with Mentor Couple)
  • completed or are half completed the NFP
  • viewed and discussed together recommended videos prior to the Retreat Day. 
 
 
For future retreats please contact:

Terri McCormack, Marriage and Family Life Coordinator, tmccormack@vermontcatholic.org      

 

 

Marriage Preparation Resources

 

“How to live a good marriage? United in the Lord, who always renews our love and strengthens it to overcome every difficulty.” —Pope Francis

VT Catholic Magazine

Contacts