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Couple's Guide for Marriage Preparation - Congratulations
Congratulations
You are engaged to be married and, desiring the blessing of God on your union, have approached the Church to witness and seal your vows to each other. Marriage is a divine vocation involving an enduring sacred relationship lived in the community of the Church and the wider human family. For baptized Christians, it is a sacrament of Christ’s love expressed in a couple’s living their marriage vows day to day in the grace of God.
In ministering to engaged couples local parishes and campus ministries are guided by the Pastoral Policies and Guidelines for Marriage Preparation, issued by the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey. These Policies and Guidelines are also an expression of the Church’s wish to be of practical assistance to you as you embark upon what perhaps is the most important decision and commitment of your life.
The marriage covenant is by divine law indissoluble. It is a covenant promising enduring love between the parties and an openness to children who will be born from their loving union. The Church community stands ready to be of continuing support to couples who are preparing for and who are living out their marriage covenant in the Lord.
The pastoral assistance of the Church will involve meeting with the Church’s pastoral minister. The process will help you to discern your readiness for marriage, to be affirmed by your strengths and to deal objectively, honestly and confidently with issues that call for further communication, conversion, and deeper growth. More than ever, this is a time for you to seek God’s assistance, to forge a bonded spirituality, to worship together, and to participate in the sacramental life of the Church.
Contact Us:
Peg Hensler
Coordinator: Marriage and Family Ministries
609-406-7400 ext.5556
phensl@dioceseoftrenton.org
Office of Family Life/Respect Life
Diocesan Pastoral Center
PO Box 5147
701 Lawrenceville Road
Trenton, NJ 08638-0147
609-406-7400 Fax: 609-406-7403
Email: family@dioceseoftrenton.org
Director: Linda Richardson
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