Can.  1055 §1. The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring, has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament between the baptized.

§2. For this reason, a valid matrimonial contract cannot exist between the baptized without it being by that fact a sacrament.

Roman Catholics are required to be married 1, in church and, 2, by a Priest or Deacon.

Can.  1063 Pastors of souls are obliged to take care that their ecclesiastical community offers the Christian faithful the assistance by which the matrimonial state is preserved in a Christian spirit and advances in perfection. This assistance must be offered especially by:

1. preaching, catechesis adapted to minors, youth, and adults, and even the use of instruments of social communication, by which the Christian faithful are instructed about the meaning of Christian marriage and about the function of Christian spouses and parents;

2. personal preparation to enter marriage, which disposes the spouses to the holiness and duties of their new state;

3. a fruitful liturgical celebration of marriage which is to show that the spouses signify and share in the mystery of the unity and fruitful love between Christ and the Church;

4. help offered to those who are married, so that faithfully preserving and protecting the conjugal covenant, they daily come to lead holier and fuller lives in their family.

It is the policy of the Church of the Resurrection and the surrounding Catholic churches that anyone seeking the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, Confirmation and Matrimony must be a parish member of our church community at least 3 months prior to being able to receive the sacrament.

To insure understanding of all that their gift involves, the Diocese of Orlando requires at least 4 months preparation time. Youths under 19 years require special counseling as part of their preparation. Arrangements must be made 6 months in advance.

1.Preliminary Interview: The first step is meeting with the parish priest call 863-646-3556 to set up an appointment to begin the planning and preparation for married life. This should take place at least 4 MONTHS prior to the wedding, and BEFORE any arrangements are made with regard to invitations, reception hall, etc. This will avoid unnecessary duplication of effort or misunderstanding later. During this interview, you will be provided with an explanation of Pastoral Guidelines for Marriage Preparation.

2.Setting the Date: The final date for the wedding will not be set until the entire assessment process has been completed and the decision to proceed has been made by the priest and the couple.

3.Assessment – Determining Readiness: The parish has a variety of methods to assist in determining the maturity of the couple and their readiness for marriage. A FOCCUS inventory (cost $25/couple an online inventory) will be administered and diocesan forms will be completed. In addition, there may be consultation with parents or other relatives as well as pre marriage counseling and evaluations. These steps may result in a decision to delay the marriage. (See # 6)

4.Instruction: After the readiness for marriage has been determined, the couple will finalize the wedding date and begin their instruction process. We will outline the sacramental preparation required (PreCana Weekend Retreat, Pre Cana, Remarriage, Convalidation, interviews with the priest, etc.).

5.Wedding Liturgy: The couple will plan their wedding liturgy with the priest. They will participate in the decisions regarding the ceremony, scripture, music, vows, etc.

6.Delaying the Marriage: A delay is designed to provide time to overcome the circumstances which made the delay advisable. Some of the reasons for delaying the marriage are: ◦ The non-practice of the faith by the Catholic party, especially when there is no intention of returning to the practice of the faith.

• A substantial lack of appreciation for the spiritual and sacramental aspects of marriage.
  A lack of readiness by reason of immaturity, age or undue social pressure.
  The likelihood of a separation of the couple for an extended period after the marriage (e.g., military service, continued education, etc.).
  The unwillingness of the couple to participate in any of the steps of marriage preparation that apply to them as well as missing forms including but not limited to Baptism information and marriage license.
  Appeal: There is an appeal process for couples who disagree with a decision to delay their marriage. If the couple wishes to appeal, they should submit their petition in writing to the Bishop of Orlando.

These Pastoral Guidelines for Marriage Preparation apply to all Catholics domiciled in the Diocese of Orlando even if their wedding will be celebrated in another diocese.  For more information check out the Diocese of Orlando: Office of Evangelization for more information at http://www.orlandodiocese.org/ministries-offices/marriage-preparation.

Music selected for a wedding should have a religious tone. Check with the Director of Music for assistance.

The bride may use the Bride’s Room, located at the left of the Narthex. Only water is permitted in this room or anywhere in the sanctuary building.

Our church already has a carpet aisle. Adding an additional runner can create a hazard so is not permitted. During the ceremony, the Church will provide the candles that are used for the liturgy.  No objects are to be thrown before or following the ceremony inside or outside the church property.

The fee for the Church is a donation for the upkeep of the facilities. It is also nice to show the altar servers your appreciation, $10.00 – $25.00 each is the usual gift.
-For the musicians’ fee, please contact the Director of Music.
-There is no set gift for the Priest. It is left to the judgment of the couple to make that decision.

This is a weekend program that covers topics such as the Theology of Marriage, Communication, Finance, Parenting and Natural Family Planning. In addition, couples learn a reflection and dialogue process as well as have an opportunity to practice these skills. The weekend provides time to interact with other couples who share the same values. These retreats are held at the San Pedro Spiritual Center in Winter Park, FL. They begin on Fridays at 6:30 PM and end on Sundays at 1:00 PM. To register go to http://www.orlandodiocese.org/ministries-offices/marriage-preparation

In the event that one or both of the parties are not active in the practice of their faith, additional instructional sessions will be provided to help them become active again as practicing Catholics.

When either party requesting a marriage has not yet reached his/her 19th birthday, the Church will show a special concern for the proposed marriage and will require additional steps in the preparation process. Both sets of parents will be interviewed by the priest. The couple will be referred to Catholic Charities for evaluation by a professional counselor. A review of the completed file by the tribunal will be necessary to proceed.

If a pregnancy exists, the Church will express care for both the couple and the expected child. Every effort will be made to ensure that each couple is truly ready for marriage. Pregnancy of itself is not considered reason enough to omit the usual and normal preparation process. As with youthful marriages, the couple will be referred to Catholic Charities for professional evaluation and a review of the completed file by the tribunal is needed to proceed.

If the couple has entered marriage outside the laws of the Church, a validation of the marriage is permitted after the couple has completed the assessment process of these Pastoral Guidelines.