Marriage Ministry

Marriage Prep and Scheduling

Marriage preparation is an important process and should be started as soon as possible upon engagement.  Weddings are not normally scheduled during Lent. Weddings held at St. John Church are for registered parishioners only. A bride, groom or their parents need to be a registered parishioner for at least 6 months prior to scheduling a date. St. Francis Xavier, St. Louis and St. Peter in Chains Cathedral are a few places in the Archdiocese that don’t require one to be a registered member of their parish. If you elect to be married elsewhere, we are happy to provide the marriage preparation needed.  Also, if you have a prior marriage and are in need of annulment, please feel free to call us. Contact Jerry Barney in the Parish Office at jbarney@stjohnwc.org or 777-6433 for further information. 

Bishop's National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage

 The Bishop's National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage is a wonderful document that provides us with a vision for Marriage Ministry.  The link for the initiative leads parish members to many resources:  http://foryourmarriage.org/catholic-marriage/national-pastoral-initiative-for-marriage/.  Feel free to return to this site often to use the ever-changing and growing resources!

Troubled Marriage?

There are many troubled marriages and unfortunately the number seems to be growing. Most everybody in this situation wants to improve their relationship, but it seems like such a huge job and they don’t know where to start. There are a number of programs out there, but that doesn’t make it any easier, and perhaps it makes it more difficult; there are several types of marriage encounters and there is the possibility of engaging the services of a professional marriage counselor. These may partially be covered later by your health insurance. It all looks so complicated that you just don’t know where to start.

I am very strongly committed to Retrouvaille because I’ve seen a great number of couples who had been very unhappy (or miserable) in their relationship and had decided to participate in the full program of Retrouvaille and had found that it enabled them to make the big change, so that they are really happily married now.

You are probably asking, “What makes Retrouvaille so effective?” I think the following are among the reasons:

1. Married couples whose relationship had very much fallen apart, (but have come together through Retrouvaille) make the presentations.
2. The couples don’t “preach at you” but they reveal very openly where they were at and what steps they had to take.
3. They are available to answer questions that you may have.
4. There is a priest on each weekend who is available for consultation or help, if you request it.
5. Since a marriage problem can’t be fully cured over a weekend, you are strongly urged to sign up for a follow up program that will take place with your same group every other Saturday afternoon for about 3 ½ hours. This follow up program will cover the next three months.
6. Hopefully by that time you will be comfortable as a couple. Or if you feel you need further help, additional special programs are provided.
7. No couple is kept away because of lack of money.

I’m sure you’re asking, “What is the catch?” Believe me there is no catch.

• No one is going to force you to do anything
• No one is ever kept out because of lack of money
• Your participation is kept secret—we will never reveal your name unless you permit it.
• It is not a fly-by-night-program. It started in Canada and came to the U.S.A. in 1984. Fr. Ray Favret brought it to Cincinnati in 1987 and have worked with it ever since.