MARRIAGE
“A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.”
Matthew 28:19-28
In a sacramental marriage, God’s love becomes present to the spouses in their total union and also flows through them to their family and community. The sacrament of Christian marriage involves their entire life as they journey together and become more able to give to and receive from each other. Their life becomes sacramental to the extent that the couple cooperates with God’s action in their life and sees themselves as living “in Christ” and Christ living and acting in their relationship, attitudes, and actions.
Contact the Parish Office at 303.988.6435 or shensley@saintjudelakewood.org to set up an initial meeting to go over the process of Marriage Preparation.
At the meeting with one of our deacons, you will complete the FOCCUS inventory and pay a deposit for holding the church for your wedding. They will also discuss the rest of the process and determine if you are free to marry and understand the Sacrament of Matrimony.
You will attend a Marriage Builder Weekend which is a great opportunity to grow in your deeper relationship with each other and your relationship with God. It is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Denver. Light of the World and Saint Thomas Moore are host sites for the preparation. You can register for these classes on line at Archden.org.
As a couple you are asked to complete a Natural Family Planning course. That can be a three session course with the Couple-to-Couple League or an individual online instruction with the Symtopro Fertility Education. This step helps couples to enrich their relationship and understand the natural cycles of fertility and infertility. The Archdiocese of Denver site to choose your program and register is: archden.org/eflm/nfp.
You will review the FOCUS Inventory with the deacon preparing you for marriage.
You will be meeting with the Wedding Coordinator to plan the details of the wedding and also one of the Directors of Music to select music and musicians.
You will pick your all the readings, prayers and marriage rites with the deacon or priest for your ceremony.
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The spouses, ministers of Christ’s grace, mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church. The priest (or deacon) who assists at the celebration of a marriage receives the consent of the spouses in the name of the Church and gives the blessing of the Church.
Those who wish to be married at St. Jude Church must be registered in the parish for at least one year. Sons and daughters of registered parishioners may also be married here. A 12-month preparation period is required.