St. Michael has trained and certified couples to prepare those who would like to be married in the Church. The engaged couple takes an online Facilitating Open Couple Communication Understanding and Study (FOCCUS) pre-inventory marriage preparation survey. Upon completion, the Director of Marriage and Family Life receives notification that the survey has been completed, and the report is ready to be printed. An engaged couple sponsor is then assigned to the engaged couple. There are five sessions in which they will meet at the home of the sponsor couple at the convenience of both couples. These are very personal and have received positive compliments from the engaged couples who evaluate their sessions.
Contact Diane Salazar in the Marriage and Family Life office six months in advance for marriage preparation.
Getting Married This Year?
If you have had your appointment with the Director of Marriage and Family Life, be sure your paperwork is turned in as soon as possible.
Convalidation
Are you married by the Catholic Church? No?
Did you know you can have a Convalidation?
* Convalidation is the process by which Catholics who are
married but not through the Church, enter into a Valid
Catholic Marriage.
* Having a Convalidation places you in good standing with the Catholic Church.
* Being in good standing means that you may go to
Confession and receive Holy Communion
(barring other issues).
* For those who have fully initiated Catholics, you may also be eligible to be God-parents.
* At least one of the couple needs to be a baptized
Catholic. You do not need to have received all sacraments to be married, except baptism.
* Non-Catholics are not required to become Catholic.
If you have questions or would like to have a Convalidation, please contact Diane Salazar, Director of Marriage & Family Life, at (972) 279-6581, ext.107, or DianeS@stmichaelgarland.org