Marriage Ministries
MARRIAGE PREPARATION FACILITATORS
Our engaged couples complete the FOCCUS premarital inventory and are given the option of attending a series of five Marriage Preparation sessions in the home of a married couple of St. Raphael or a Diocesan Marriage Preparation Weekend. If they choose St. Raphael’s Sponsor Couple program, they meet with a Sponsor Couple five times.
Sponsor Couples
- Must be willing and able to share their experience of marriage and love with the engaged in an honest and loving manner.
- Must appreciate the importance of working with adults at a critical stage of their faith life
- Discuss the FOCCUS results with the couple
- Work with the couple using the “For Better and Forever “ workbook
- Are trained in the theology of Christian Marriage and covenant love.
- Initial training – one four hour session
- Ongoing formation – one or two additional sessions a year
- Couples are asked to sponsor one or two couples a year and conduct marriage preparation sessions in their home at the convenience of the engaged couple and the sponsor couple.
Contact: Pat Chuchla
- Must desire to serve others in a joyous ministry
- Must understand the Catholic marriage ritual
- Must appreciate the importance of working with adults and their families at a critical stage of their faith life
- Conduct the wedding rehearsal with another hostess (usually the evening before the wedding
- Arrive about an hour before the wedding to make sure that all is ready for the celebration and to greet the couple, the family and guests.
- Ensure that the liturgy or ceremony runs smoothly
- Stay afterwards to make sure that everything is put away before the regular weekend liturgies.
- Initial training – Hands on training with an experienced wedding hostess
- Wedding hostesses serve once or twice a month (most busy time of the year is May through the end of October)
Contact: Gayle Swanson
Our Liturgy staff can be contacted through the Parish Office 355-4545
Pat Chuchla, Director of Liturgy, x 125 pchuchla@st-raphael.com
Jennifer Susina, Liturgy & Music Assistant, x 141 jsusina@st-raphael.com