Marriage Preparation

Congratulations on your engagement! What a blessing that you have chosen to receive the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church.

The following links will assist you in the process of Marriage Preparation at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church:

Letter of Instructions for Engaged Couples
(Checklist of steps in preparing for marriage through Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church)

Scheduling a Wedding at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

Scheduling a date to take the FOCCUS questionnaire with your fiancé
Please contact the Parish Office by emailing olmcparish@olmc1.org to schedule a date. You may not schedule a wedding date until you have completed the FOCCUS questionnaire.

 

The Sacrament of Marriage is to be taken seriously, as it is the sacramental sign of Christ's love for the Church. Couples wishing to initiate this process should call the Parish Office and allow a 
1 year - 8 month preparation period for this sacrament. Wedding dates cannot be scheduled until this process has been initiated.

When you begin the marriage preparation process, guidelines for the celebration of the sacrament may be obtained. You will be assigned a wedding coordinator and music guidelines will be provided from our liturgical music office.

In addition, the couple completes a marriage preparedness assessment, receives counsel from a priest or deacon, participates in a Marriage Preparation Retreat, and the parish Marriage Mentor program.

Registration for the September 23, 2023 Retreat has closed. 
Please call the parish office if you have any questions. 
The next retreat date will be announced soon - expected to
take place in February or March, 2024.

The retreat will be at the St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center in Tipton, IN from 9am - 5pm on Saturday, September 23, 2023.

Please call the Parish Office (317) 846-3475 for questions and to arrange to complete the FOCCUS inventory. To access the outline of preparation for this sacrament as presented at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, download the Instructions for Engaged Couples.

Please click here to read our FAQ on weddings.

Once the engaged couple has attended the Marriage Preparation Workshop their Marriage Mentor Couple will contact them directly to coordinate at least three (3) meetings to discuss the practical aspects of marriage.  Both the marriage mentors and the engaged couple will be asked to complete an evaluation/feedback of their time together at the end of their pre-marriage sessions and submit them to the office.  Marriage Mentors and the newlywed couple are encouraged to meet after the wedding as well to continue support into the marriage.

Click here for the Marriage Mentor's evaluation. Please return to the marriage coordinator at copleym@olmc1.org

Click here for the Engaged Couple's feedback form. Please email the completed feedback form to Thomas Gallagher: gallaghert@olmc1.org

Natural Family Planning

• What is NFP?
• NFP Methods & Classes
• Fertility Awareness Class Completion Certificate
• NFP explained by Jackie and Bobby at Ascension Presents
   

OLMC Parishioner Theresa Bedford is a Creighton Practicioner who would love to assist any of our couple preparing for marriage in learning NFP.  Please email her at theresambedford@gmail.com.

Here are a few other NFP training resources in our area.  This list is courtesy of local physician, Dr. Holly Smith. Learn more about her practice at FiatMD.com.

      Catholic Teaching

• US Conference of Catholic Bishops