Congratulations! The Church welcomes all Catholic couples to experience the love of God through marriage preparation.

Marriage, as defined by the Code of Canon Law, states that “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 the education of offspring, has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament between the baptized” (CIC, 1055 §1).  It stands to reason, then, since marriage is a gift from God to all of humanity, that it should be treated as such.  The Diocese of Phoenix, in answering this call, offers its help to engaged couples.  Information regarding the Diocese of Phoenix marriage preparation program can be found at http://phxmarriageprep.org/.   The goal of the program is to spark and enlighten couples to live their call to holiness through the Sacrament of Marriage.

At St. Maria Goretti, once you are engaged, the best first step is to have a meeting with our pastor or deacon.  Please call Santa, Marriage Preparation Coordinator, at 480-948-8380 x15.  The ideal time for this meeting is right away after your engagement.  Be aware that the minimum time requirement for marriage preparation is nine months, with completion one to two months before the wedding date.  The actual wedding date is set and placed on the parish calendar after six months of Mass attendance and marriage preparation class attendance.

Many wonderful resources are available to help you learn and enter into the blessing of life-long, successful, holy marriage.  Grow deeper in your faith and please enjoy these websites:

http://phxmarriageprep.org/ (Diocese of Phoenix marriage preparation information)

www.foryourmarriage.org (US Bishops’ website promoting marriage)

www.ruthinstitute.org (Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse’s organization defending and promoting marriage)

https://www.ncregister.com/author/phil-lenahan (Dr. Philip Lenahan’s work to help Catholic families be free financially)

www.5lovelanguages.com (Groundbreaking understanding of how folks give and receive love by Dr. Gary Chapman, Christian counselor)

Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for us.

St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse, pray for us.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us.

St. Monica, pray for us.

St. Rita, pray for us.

St. Thomas More, pray for us.