Congratulations being called to the Sacrament of Matrimony! We hope these next few months will be a time of growth for you as a couple as you prepare to ask our Lord to join you together as husband and wife.

Our Wedding Ministry contact is Deacon Rusty Brandt. He can be reached at 830- 625-4531, ext. 220 or at rustybrandt@sppnb.org. __

Marriage Preparation Process
 

• Have a preliminary meeting with Deacon Brandt to book your wedding date, pick up a wedding planning guide and discuss any questions or issues you may have.
• Meet with Marianna Underwood, Director of Music and Liturgy, to discuss the details of your wedding ceremony. She can be reached at 830-625-4531, ext. 282 or at mariannaunderwood@sppnb.org. If desired, the bride and groom can make arrangements with one of our pianists, organists or vocal soloists. These musicians and soloists charge a fee for their services. If you choose not to use on of our musicians or vocal soloists, you must contact Marianna Underwood two weeks before the wedding date and provide the music to be used. We will need to verify that the music selections chosen are appropriate for the liturgy.
• Pay the non-refundable church fee of $200 for parishioners or $350 for non-parishioners. This may be dropped off or mailed to the church.
• Confirm your wedding date and time by calling Deacon Brandt.
• Decide if you would like to rent St. Mary’s Hall. Please call Deacon Brandt or Dora Morris at 830-625-4531, ext. 238 to reserve the hall.



Marriage Preparation Programs Available
Agape Catholic Marriage Prep

This program is a division of Agape Catholic Ministries. They have been dedicated to the building of strong Christ-centered marriages since 2004. It is an online, interactive, and mentor-led Pre-Cana program that can also be given in person by trained instructors. It is available anytime from anywhere. Based on Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and the teachings of the Catholic Church, it’s available in English, Spanish and French. For more information, visit http://catholicmarriageprep.com/. To register, call 800-208-1364 or email info@catholicmarriageprep.com.
 
A Marriage in the Lord (parish-based)

This is a one day, 7 ½ hour retreat held in our parish. This retreat explores the broader aspects of the Sacrament of Marriage and takes a comprehensive view regarding the vocation of a Christian marriage. Rather than focus only on the marriage preparation during the engagement, this day will address the lifelong influences that shape attitudes and experiences that affect Christian marriage. Topics discussed will include communication, money matters, natural family planning, keeping Christ in the marriage, and more. For dates and times, please call Deacon Brandt.

Marriage Sponsor Program (parish-based)

In this program, a married couple from our parish is paired with the engaged couple. They meet for four sessions and look at various aspects of married life including expectations about marriage, values and conflicts within the relationship, sexuality and intimacy, and marriage as a celebration of life and love. Each session begins with a prayer. The engaged couple is given time to respond individually to a questionnaire and is encouraged to dialogue about their responses. Finally, the sponsor couple joins the discussion to share their perspective. Register by calling Deacon Brandt.