Matrimony

Matrimony or marriage is the sacrament in which a man and a woman enter into a lifetime commitment of love. The sacrament of marriage is, by its nature, ordered for the good of the other and for the procreation and education of children. If you are currently engaged and hope to be married in our parish, please see below.

Directions for engaged couples:

Congratulations on your engagement! Preparation in our diocese takes no less than 6 months and you may want to reach out to Fr. Jim earlier if you are seeking a specific date. You can complete the registration at this link and schedule an appointment to meet with Fr. Jim Leeser at 608-453-5735. Your meeting will allow him to complete the prenuptial investigation, which consists of a short interview with the bride-to-be and groom-to-be, and to officially schedule your wedding. This meeting is crucial because it ensures you are both free to marry and that there are no issues to be addressed so that your wedding can take place. 

After you have registered and met with Fr. Jim, we will reach out to share the next steps in the preparation process. The course for our parish program follows the "7 Steps to a Rewarding Marriage Preparation Experience" that our diocese prescribes for all couples preparing to receive the sacrament. This season of preparation will ensure that as a couple you’ve built a foundation for a satisfying and successful lifelong relationship and are well-prepared for any challenges that may accompany marriage and family life. 
Pre-Nuptial Form
Then contact Fr. Jim Leeser at 608-453-5735 at least six months prior first before securing your reception location. We do have other events that take place at the parish. The church may not be available on your first-choice day or on the day you previously booked for your reception. Suggested stole fee for marriages - $100.

• Fill out the Pre-nuptial form linked above
• Register for Marriage Preparation and Meet with Fr. Jim Leeser
  • As soon as possible, following your engagement, reach out to your pastor to set up a meeting. It is essential to meet with him as early as possible, so that you will have enough time to resolve any issues, obtain necessary documents, and benefit fully from the marriage preparation process. (preferably one year in advance, but at least six months before your desired wedding date).
• Take the Foccus Relationship Inventory:
  • The FOCCUS inventory will help you discover topics relevant to the two of you to explore with a mentor couple. Topics range from communication strategies, conflict resolution, and the practice of the faith to finances, careers, and parenting. This tool can help identify your strengths and areas for growth in your relationship, allowing an engaged couple to prioritize important conversations as you approach marriage and life together.

• Witness to Love Marriage preparation program.
  • The centerpiece of Marriage preparation in our diocese invites you to journey with a mentor couple through the Witness to Love program. Using the Witness to Love material over six in-home meetings and the online retreat, the two couples learn about and discuss the virtues on which a healthy and lasting marriage is built. 
• Marriage Prep Diocesan Weekend Retreat 
  • If you live in different cities or simply do not have enough time to participate in Witness to Love, the diocese offers a weekend retreat. Over the course of the weekend, you will learn more about the vocation of marriage, receive tips and tools for how to live a joy-filled marriage, spend time in deep conversation with your beloved, and encounter the love and grace of Jesus Christ through Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and Sunday Mass. The retreat typically begins on Friday evening and ends Sunday afternoon. https://madisondiocese.org/weekendretreat ;
• Online Formation
  • In rare cases, online formation might be the only workable option. For instance, when the couple lives in different parts of the country, making in-person formation through Witness to Love or a Marriage Prep Weekend Retreat difficult or impossible, CatholicMarriagePrep.com can be used.
• Learn about Natural Family Planning. 
  • The Catholic Church supports the methods of Natural Family Planning (NFP) because they respect God's design for married love. NFP represents an authentic approach to family planning available to husbands and wives because these methods can be used to both attempt or avoid pregnancy. Engaged couples will be directed to resources that can help them learn more about NFP options.
• Meet with your priest about planning your ceremony.
  • As the wedding day approaches, you will meet about the details of the big day and the celebration of this sacrament.
• Go to Confession.
  • We strongly encourage every couple to prioritize attending Mass together and to explore frequent confession during their engagement and marriage preparation. These sacraments will help each of you be more properly disposed to the fullness of graces and gifts the Lord wants to pour out in the sacrament of your marriage
• Get Married!

When the big day comes, we will be praying for you and with you as you become one in the Sacrament of Marriage!

 We hope that your engagement and wedding day are just the beginning of a great new chapter of involvement and spiritual growth as part of the Nativity of the Lord Parish. We will be here to support you and form you as a couple on this journey to heaven together. We also look forward to helping you form and raise in the faith any children you are gifted with in your marriage.