Dear Engaged Couple,
It is with great joy that I welcome you to the marriage preparation program at Holy Rosary. The mystery of God’s love, manifest in humanity, is always an occasion for celebration. You have discerned that God has called you to marriage, into a holy bond with one another. It is our goal to assist you in this, to build a firm and strong foundation, to help you discover ever more that which you are seeking to enter into, to better understand and commit to the promises that you will be making. The following months will be filled with lots of planning of wedding details. Hopefully you will spend even more time and energy, however, preparing for your marriage.
Be assured of my prayers for you as your individual paths begin to merge, as you prepare to become one.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr. Matthew Oakland
As you begin the marriage preparation program through the Church, it is more important than anything else that you prepare to enter into marriage spiritually. Live your faith. If Christ is to be the true center of your union, He must be the center of your life right now. You should love Him, even more than your intended spouse; place Him above all things, even your intended spouse. Only then will your marriage flourish. So practice and live your faith and the grace that God so freely bestows upon us: go to Mass every week (and say hello to Father afterward!), go to Confession regularly, spend time in individual prayer as well as prayer as a couple, make a Holy Hour weekly in the adoration chapel for the intention of your marriage, read the Scripture individually as well as a couple, taking time to share your reflections on the Word of God. Most importantly—receive the Sacrament of Marriage in a state of grace by going to Confession in the hours or days beforehand. This would also be a good period to spend extra time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in prayer—even perhaps on the eve of your wedding.
This is the necessary foundation and cornerstone for entering into a marriage. And with all of this in mind, we begin the marriage preparation program!