Catholic Diocese of Arlington
Encourage and teach with patience

procedure

1. You and/or your spouse must be registered in a parish of the Arlington diocese.

2. The Diocese of Arlington prescribes a six month marriage preparation period.

3. Your first step in marriage preparation is to notify your parish priest no later than SIX MONTHS prior to your proposed date of marriage, and set up a meeting with him for an initial interview. Note: this is necessary even if you plan to be married outside the diocese. This meeting should take place before any social arrangements for the wedding are finalized.

4. During the FIRST MONTH you must register by mail for one of the following pre-marriage programs:

a. Conferences For The Engaged

b. Engaged Encounter

Registration is necessary during the FIRST MONTH to enable scheduling your attendance at a program during the first three months of your preparation period. Brochures explaining these two programs, listing dates, and containing the registration form will be provided by the priest or deacon preparing you for your marriage. Registrations by phone are not accepted.

5. Your priest or deacon may require you to attend a series of classes on Natural Family Planning. All couples are urged to attend these important classes even if the clergyman doesn’t require it. Your priest or deacon will provide you with a schedule of the upcoming classes.

6. You will be required to meet with your priest or deacon as a couple at least four times during the six month period, excluding the wedding rehearsal.

7. At one of the meetings (usually the first one) you will be asked to take the FOCCUS survey, a series of statements to which you each will respond with your perception of the statement as it pertains to your own situation. The scoring of this survey will provide the preparing clergyman an indication of the strengths and weaknesses of your situation so that he might help to improve your readiness in areas where needed.