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congratulations!
Congratulations on your engagement! Since the Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant (which is more than a contractual agreement) the community of St. Gabriel is here to help you prepare for this special permanent union. Additionally, since the celebration of marriage in the Catholic church is a liturgical act and held publically in a church, we are also here to help you plan and prepare for the liturgical ceremony. By getting married at St. Gabriel and in the Catholic Church, you are looking to enter into a sacramental marriage and we look forward to journeying with you through the preparation process. In order to accomplish this in an orderly fashion and with adequate reflection, notice must be given to the parish six to twelve months prior to the desired date for the wedding.
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marriage preparation process
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1: Getting Started
Contact the Marriage Preparation Coordinator to get all necessary information and instructions for preparing for marriage and planning a wedding at St Gabriel. This must be done at least six to twelve months prior to the intended date of your marriage.
Call: (972) 542-7170 x232
Email Coordinator
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2. Marriage preparation Program
Couples are required to go through a Marriage Preparation program prior to being married in the Catholic Church. Our preferred program is the Sponsor Couple Program using FOCCUS and In Faithful Love. (See FAQs below for details.) The Marriage Preparation Coordinator will connect you with a Sponsor Couple.
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3. plan wedding liturgy
If your wedding is to take place at St. Gabriel, you will also be contacted by the parish wedding liturgical coordinator. The coordinator will meet with you to discuss the details of the ceremony and the physical arrangement of the space for your wedding. This person will assist you with the planning of your celebration and will be present at both the rehearsal and the wedding to oversee all details of the celebration. (See Wedding Liturgical Planning Overview Below for details.)
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4. Complete necessary paperworkThe marriage preparation coordinator will provide a list of all the necessary paperwork when the engaged couple starts the process, here are examples of items needed:
- Documents provided by the engaged couple: Affidavit of free status: This form needs to be filled out and returned by a parent or sibling. It verifies the person’s freedom to marry.
- Baptismal Certificate of Catholic person(s): This is obtained from the church of baptism and must have an issue date within six months of the marriage.
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5. meet with celebrant
When all paperwork is gathered, schedule an appointment with the priest/deacon who will be witnessing your wedding. He will work with you to plan the actual ritual as well as complete the necessary documentation. Email Marriage Preparation Coordinator to schedule an appointment.
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other links for marriage preparation
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Contact Us
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Marriage Prep Coordinatorpcrissstgabriel.orgPam Criss -
Wedding Liturgical Coordinatorbacahomeprodigy.netAndree Baca
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wedding liturgical planning Overview
A wedding liturgy is a beautiful and momentous occasion. At St. Gabriel, we have guidelines for the use of the church and the planning of the celebration that respect the whole community’s need to use the church facilities in harmony. Attention to these requirements from the beginning will facilitate your planning and make your celebration a blessed and enjoyable experience.
The wedding liturgical coordinator's duties are to ensure that your actual wedding events fall within the guidelines established by St. Gabriel's and the Diocese of Dallas and will be able to answer any specific questions regarding your wedding celebration and the use of the facilities of our parish. The coordinator is trained to assist you with all of the decisions for the actual wedding ceremony including flowers, ceremony timing, and other particulars for the actual event. The coordinator can direct you to the contact for liturgical assistance and music.
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marriage preparation: Frequently asked questions
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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.
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Parish volunteers are trained as Sponsor Couples and paired with engaged couples. The Sponsor Couples facilitate the FOCCUS tool for all couples planning to get married at St. Gabriel.
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Natural Family Planning or 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 the Marriage Preparation Coordinator for more information about NFP orientations.
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additional marriage preparation resources
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August 19A listing of questions asked about Catholic Marriages from the website www.foryourmarriage.org. See questions like "Why does the church teach that marriage is a sacrament?" and "If a Catholic wants to marry a non-Catholic, how can they assure that the marriage is recognized by the Church?"Read More
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August 19Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why a Christian marriage has to be in a church. With the marriage vows we aren’t just committing ourselves to our spouse. We are also saying in a very specific way that we will follow Christ. Marriage is inherently connected to Christianity, and it’s not just about us. It’s also about the church community to which we belong.Read More
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August 19A great video answering the question "Why Get Married in the Church?" - Fr. John Riccardo - Campfire Catechism.Read More
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August 19A Catholic deacon gave an extraordinary wedding homily to a young couple outlining where a married man and woman can find the “golden keys” to unlock the secrets to true peace, joy, and happiness in their marriage.Read More
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