Holy Matrimony
PRECANA REGISTRATION 2025
Attention Engaged Couples : PreCana Event
St. Helen and St. Mary’s are offering a one day PreCana event for engaged couples who are planning to marry in the coming year. The event will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025 at St. Mary in Chardon. This is an excellent way to begin preparing for your life together, beyond the sometimes-overwhelming details of wedding planning.
Pre-Cana is a day-long experience where you as a couple can concentrate on each other, free of the tensions, pressures and interruptions of the world. It is a quiet day specifically designed to give you an opportunity to dialogue honestly and intensively about your future lives together…your strengths and weaknesses, your desires, ambitions, goals, your attitudes about money, sex, children, family, and your role in the Church and society.
WHAT HAPPENS?
Through a series of topics discussed by a team of married couples, you are invited to dialogue privately with each other on all aspects of married life - always from the viewpoint of your own relationship – that remain between just you two. Personal reflection and couple dialogue are an important part of the day, with common meals and Saturday Mass.
TO REGISTER : Please fill in the information on the link to the online registration form is below.
Space is limited, so if you are interested, please sign up soon. Registration deadline is March 18, 2025.
An all day event sounds long, but this unique opportunity will allow you to hear from married couples and discuss with your fiancé your future lives together. We promise you will enjoy the day and wonder where the time went.
Attention Engaged Couples : PreCana Event
St. Helen and St. Mary’s are offering a one day PreCana event for engaged couples who are planning to marry in the coming year. The event will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025 at St. Mary in Chardon. This is an excellent way to begin preparing for your life together, beyond the sometimes-overwhelming details of wedding planning.
Pre-Cana is a day-long experience where you as a couple can concentrate on each other, free of the tensions, pressures and interruptions of the world. It is a quiet day specifically designed to give you an opportunity to dialogue honestly and intensively about your future lives together…your strengths and weaknesses, your desires, ambitions, goals, your attitudes about money, sex, children, family, and your role in the Church and society.
WHAT HAPPENS?
Through a series of topics discussed by a team of married couples, you are invited to dialogue privately with each other on all aspects of married life - always from the viewpoint of your own relationship – that remain between just you two. Personal reflection and couple dialogue are an important part of the day, with common meals and Saturday Mass.
TO REGISTER : Please fill in the information on the link to the online registration form is below.
Space is limited, so if you are interested, please sign up soon. Registration deadline is March 18, 2025.
An all day event sounds long, but this unique opportunity will allow you to hear from married couples and discuss with your fiancé your future lives together. We promise you will enjoy the day and wonder where the time went.
A covenant or partnership of life between a man and woman, which is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children. When validly contracted between two Baptized people, Marriage is a Sacrament (Matrimony).
The initial interview with the priest or deacon should be more than six months before the planned wedding in accord with the policy of the Diocese of Cleveland. This allows us adequate time for dialogue and evaluation of your readiness for marriage. It is actually best to set this appointment as soon as you are engaged. The process of marriage will be explained to you and you will be asked for basic information.
CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT
A. SPIRITUAL
At St. Helen's we require that at least one party is a registered parishioner in good standing. This means that they attend church weekly. This also includes the acceptance of the religious and sacramental nature of marriage. When one party is not Catholic it is usually preferred that the wedding take place outside of Mass, since the non-Catholic cannot receive Communion at the Mass. (This is an option).
B. PERSONAL
Maturity needs to be evident in several areas. These include the following: self-sufficiency, reality awareness, responsibility, selfless relationships and self-acceptance.
C. CANONICAL
Through dialogue, it must be determined that a couple is free to marry within the church and that there are no impediments of the law. In the case of a remarriage or validation of an existing union, we will be happy to assist you in taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the Diocesan Tribunal
NOTE: All of the items described above will be evaluated during your meetings with us and through a pre-nuptial evaluation called Prepare Enrich which is required and will be administered by our staff.
PRE-CANA PROGRAM
We require that all couples participate in a Pre-Cana program. At St. Helen's we offer several methods of pre-nuptial preparation. These are as follows:
A. Pre-Cana Day - is offered by St. Helen's and St. Edward's once each year - once in the spring. Or you may attend Pre-Cana Day at another parish.
B. Engaged Encounter Weekend - The Diocese also sponsors Engaged Encounter Weekend as an option for Marriage preparation. This is an intensive three- day retreat for engaged couples. It is typically held at a retreat facility or a hotel.
C. Cana II - (for those previously married). For couples who have been previously married, the Diocese offers a Cana II program to meet their special needs. This program is recommended if you are planning remarriage (or the validation of an existing union).
NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP) - We at St. Helen's offer an NFP information session. We also have classes twice a year to teach natural family planning. We strongly encourage couples to take these classes.
An NFP Information Day explaining Church teaching is held the second Sunday after Pre-Cana day and is required for couples planning to be married at St. Helen Church. Classes for NFP are taught by 2 couples from the parish. Classes are once a month for 4-6 months and usually held in spring following Pre-Cana Day.
Contact: Sue & Hank Milnark 440-543-9502 E-Mail Hank & Sue
Training: As needed.
Time Commitment: As needed.
NOTE: Our office can provide you with information on some of the programs being offered locally. For details on what is available throughout the Diocese, please call the Marriage and Family Office at 216-334-2978
DOCUMENTATION
In order to prepare for marriage, the following documents will be required:
A. A new record of Baptism—obtained by phoning the Church of your Baptism. This record should be issued no more than six months before the marriage.
B. Communion/Confirmation Certificates -if not indicated on the Baptismal record should be obtained from the Church where each Sacrament was received.
C. Marriage forms - will be completed by the staff member who helps plan your wedding.
D. Prepare Enrich will be administered by our staff. There are charges to process this evaluation, the expense is covered in the offering to the Church.
E. Dispensation - if required, as in a case of a mixed marriage, will be submitted to the bishop's office.
Civil License - a marriage license must be obtained no more than 60 days prior to the wedding in the Ohio county of residence of either party. The license should be given to the priest/deacon no later than the rehearsal. The ceremony cannot be started until this document is presented to the priest/celebrant.
Marriage unique for a reason
The initial interview with the priest or deacon should be more than six months before the planned wedding in accord with the policy of the Diocese of Cleveland. This allows us adequate time for dialogue and evaluation of your readiness for marriage. It is actually best to set this appointment as soon as you are engaged. The process of marriage will be explained to you and you will be asked for basic information.
CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT
A. SPIRITUAL
At St. Helen's we require that at least one party is a registered parishioner in good standing. This means that they attend church weekly. This also includes the acceptance of the religious and sacramental nature of marriage. When one party is not Catholic it is usually preferred that the wedding take place outside of Mass, since the non-Catholic cannot receive Communion at the Mass. (This is an option).
B. PERSONAL
Maturity needs to be evident in several areas. These include the following: self-sufficiency, reality awareness, responsibility, selfless relationships and self-acceptance.
C. CANONICAL
Through dialogue, it must be determined that a couple is free to marry within the church and that there are no impediments of the law. In the case of a remarriage or validation of an existing union, we will be happy to assist you in taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the Diocesan Tribunal
NOTE: All of the items described above will be evaluated during your meetings with us and through a pre-nuptial evaluation called Prepare Enrich which is required and will be administered by our staff.
PRE-CANA PROGRAM
We require that all couples participate in a Pre-Cana program. At St. Helen's we offer several methods of pre-nuptial preparation. These are as follows:
A. Pre-Cana Day - is offered by St. Helen's and St. Edward's once each year - once in the spring. Or you may attend Pre-Cana Day at another parish.
B. Engaged Encounter Weekend - The Diocese also sponsors Engaged Encounter Weekend as an option for Marriage preparation. This is an intensive three- day retreat for engaged couples. It is typically held at a retreat facility or a hotel.
C. Cana II - (for those previously married). For couples who have been previously married, the Diocese offers a Cana II program to meet their special needs. This program is recommended if you are planning remarriage (or the validation of an existing union).
NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP) - We at St. Helen's offer an NFP information session. We also have classes twice a year to teach natural family planning. We strongly encourage couples to take these classes.
An NFP Information Day explaining Church teaching is held the second Sunday after Pre-Cana day and is required for couples planning to be married at St. Helen Church. Classes for NFP are taught by 2 couples from the parish. Classes are once a month for 4-6 months and usually held in spring following Pre-Cana Day.
Contact: Sue & Hank Milnark 440-543-9502 E-Mail Hank & Sue
Training: As needed.
Time Commitment: As needed.
NOTE: Our office can provide you with information on some of the programs being offered locally. For details on what is available throughout the Diocese, please call the Marriage and Family Office at 216-334-2978
DOCUMENTATION
In order to prepare for marriage, the following documents will be required:
A. A new record of Baptism—obtained by phoning the Church of your Baptism. This record should be issued no more than six months before the marriage.
B. Communion/Confirmation Certificates -if not indicated on the Baptismal record should be obtained from the Church where each Sacrament was received.
C. Marriage forms - will be completed by the staff member who helps plan your wedding.
D. Prepare Enrich will be administered by our staff. There are charges to process this evaluation, the expense is covered in the offering to the Church.
E. Dispensation - if required, as in a case of a mixed marriage, will be submitted to the bishop's office.
Civil License - a marriage license must be obtained no more than 60 days prior to the wedding in the Ohio county of residence of either party. The license should be given to the priest/deacon no later than the rehearsal. The ceremony cannot be started until this document is presented to the priest/celebrant.
Marriage unique for a reason
Parish Office Contact Information 12060 Kinsman Rd. Newbury, Ohio 44065 440-564-5805 Bulletin Submissions [email protected] |
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