Marriage

"So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes
and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.
'For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,and the two shall become one flesh.'"
Ephesians 5:28-31

"The matrimonial covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament."
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1601

This checklist is to assist you in remembering the many details associated with the liturgy itself. While there are many more tasks and things that require your attention, we hope that you will place preparing for the liturgy (the ceremony itself) as a high priority.

6 MONTHS BEFORE THE CEREMONY (or as soon as you have a date)

1. Call the Pastoral Center to make an appointment with the pastor. He will tell you what papers you need to have and what preparations you need.
2. Meet with a marriage preparation couple to set dates for marriage preparation programs and obtain necessary paperwork.
3. Make an appointment with Marta Mata, Liturgy Coordinator. She will explain the process for a wedding at Notre Dame and begin the planning process.
4. Music: Few things can impact the beauty of a wedding ceremony the way music can. The church says, “The quality of joy and enthusiasm which music adds to community worship cannot be gained in any other way.” MCW #23. This far in advance of the wedding, you and your fiancé should be thinking about what kind of music you are hoping for the ceremony. The Director of Music will assist you in finding personnel. Please do not contact the services of any musician without prior consent of this office.

God's vision for marriage is that couples be united in flesh and spirit and that this union be "fruitful."  The Church recognizes that there are times when a couple might be called to postpone pregnancy and other times when a couple might have difficulty achieving pregnancy.  Natural Family Planning (NFP) uses the natural signs of a couples' fertility to help them achieve or postpone pregnancy in accordance with the teachings of the Church.  NFP is not contraception.  Rather, it respects the God-given cycle of fertility of every married couple and celebrates the gifts of love and life embodied in the marital embrace.

For more information on NFP classes, please contact Kevin and Lisa McCormick at 830-370-9095.