Marriage

We recognize that all of your life has been preparing you for this new journey in faith.  The seriousness of the marriage commitment requires an equally serious time of immediate preparation set aside before the sacramental celebration.

St. Gabriel Catholic Community and the Catholic Diocese of Dallas cooperate in providing programs and services to help you formulate the most helpful preparation program for yourselves. Ideally, these programs should be completed as early as possible to give you optimum benefit. To get married at St. Gabriel you will be required to participate in one or a combination of the following programs:

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, preferably prior to attending Engaged Encounter.  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. Classes are scheduled at St. Gabriel several times a year. Please contact Pam Criss in the Parish Office for dates.

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER

Engaged Encounter is not a spiritual retreat or marriage counseling.  It is a workshop for couples planning or discerning marriage. It is designed to give couples an opportunity to dialogue honestly and intensively about their future life together. It is facilitated by a team consisting of married couples.

Engaged Encounters are scheduled & facilitated by the Diocese of Dallas(see www.cathdal.org for schedule)  Attending an Engaged Encounter is recommended but is not required of all couples planning to marry at St. Gabriel

SPONSOR COUPLES

Parish volunteers are trained as Sponsor Couples.  These couples facilitate the FOCCUS tool for all couples planning to get married at St. Gabriel.  Currenty, St. Gabriel is in need of new facilitators. If you and your spouse are interested in this volunteer opportunity please email Pam Criss