St. Gabriel Catholic Community and the Catholic Diocese of Dallas cooperate in providing programs and services to help you prepare for marriage. Ideally, these programs should be completed as early as possible to give you optimum benefit (minimus six months notice). To get married at St. Gabriel you will be required to participate in the following program:

FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study)

FOCCUS is a self-diagnostic inventory tool designed to help couples learn more about themselves and their relationship. It is not a test nor meant to predict success or failure in marriage.  FOCCUS reflects the values and ideals of marriage as sacred. It is required that all engaged couples planning a wedding at St. Gabriel complete the process.  Please contact Pam Criss in the Parish Office to begin the process.

 

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP) ORIENTATION

NFP is a way of following God’s plan for achieving and/or avoiding pregnancy.  It consists of ways to achieve or to avoid pregnancy using the physical means that God has built into human nature. Please contact Pam Criss in the Parish Office for more information.

. 

SPONSOR COUPLES

Parish volunteers are trained as Sponsor Couples and are engaged couples are paired up with a Sponsor Couple.  The Sponsor Couples facilitate the FOCCUS tool for all couples planning to get married at St. Gabriel.  If you and your spouse are interested in this volunteer opportunity please email Pam Criss, pcriss@stgabriel.org. 
 
For those Civilly Married:  Convalidation Session, Sunday, May 5 from 12:30 to 4:30pm
 
Are you civilly married with no impediments but want your marriage to be approved or “blessed” by the Catholic church?  St. Gabriel will host a Convalidation Session on Sunday, September 8th from 12:30pm to 4:30pm in the St. Mary’s Room.   The ceremony that constitutes the marriage as a true sacramental union is called a Convalidation.  Because of the number of variables involved in Convalidation situations each Convalidation case is unique.  If you have questions, or to register, please e-mail pcriss@stgabriel.org.
 

More Questions? Check out these FAQ's