Marriage
“The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church.
It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church” (CCC 1660)
Initial Visit with a Priest or Deacon
The priest will get to know you and your fiancé and begin to gather information about you both - this information will be gathered into a marriage file.
Follow-Up Sessions
The Priest or Deacon preparing you for marriage at your parish will establish these meetings with you as a couple. You will follow-up with them after attending The Genesis Retreat.
Premarital Inventory
Depending on the parish, you may be asked to complete the FOCCUS inventory, or a similar tool. This assessment utilizes a series of questions designed to assess each of your habits, expectations, and values.
Wedding Day: Liturgy Planning
As the date of your wedding approaches, you will meet with a representative of the parish to finalize plans for the ceremony according to the Marriage Rite and address any additional needs that you have.
The Genesis Retreat
The Genesis Retreat is a two-part retreat required to be completed over a weekend or two individual one-day sessions, if needed. All program offerings are hosted by the Office of Mission Support at Sacre-Coeur Retreat Center.
Receive the Sacraments
We invite you to take this opportunity to enter into the sacramental life of the Church by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, regularly attending Sunday Mass, and becoming involved in the parish community prior to your wedding day.
Marriage Preparation in the Diocese of Peoria
The Diocese of Peoria and the Office of Mission Support are ready to assist you during this time of preparation as you prepare for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
The Diocesan Marriage Preparation follows a sequence of meetings and programming. A minimum of six months are required to ensure enough time for preparation. This process begins with calling your parish and establishing communication with them. If you do not have a parish, please contact the Office of Mission Support at the Diocese, and we would be happy to assist you.
Phone: (309) 671-1550 | Fax: (309) 671-1579 | Spalding Pastoral Center | 419 NE Madison Avenue, Peoria, IL. 61603