Getting Married at

St. John the Baptist Catholic Community

Song of Songs 8:6-7

Set me as a seal on your heart,
as a seal on your arm;

For stern as death is love, relentless as the nether world is devotion; its flames are a blazing fire.

Deep waters cannot quench love,
nor floods sweep it away.

Marriage Preparation at St. John the Baptist

Components:

• Session with Pastor or Associate Pastor
• Meeting with Director of Adult Faith Formation
• PREPARE Inventory
• Pre-Cana Series or Engaged Encounter Weekend

What to do:

• Call the Pastor or Associate Pastor for a meeting at 301-622-1122.
• After this initial meeting:
• Contact the Director of Adult Faith Formation to schedule a meeting at 301-622-1122
• Complete the Marriage Preparation Intake form
• Contact a PREPARE Counselor to start the PREPARE Inventory
• After starting the PREPARE Inventory contact the Director of Adult Faith Formation to register for a Pre-Cana series or to schedule an Engaged Encounter Weekend

I. Session with the Pastor or Associate Pastor
--Contact one of them at 301-622-1122

II. Initial Meeting with the Director of Adult Faith Formation
--To start the Marriage preparation process contact the Director of Adult Faith Formation at 301-622-1122

III. PREPARE Inventory

--Contact a PREPARE counselor immediately after meeting with the Director of Adult Faith Formation to schedule an appointment.
--Couples must take the Inventory and have at least 4-6 feedback sessions. 
--Fee for the Inventory and the sessions is $35 per couple payable to SJB.

What is the PREPARE Program?

The PREPARE Inventory is a program that examines major relationship issues a couple may experience.  It is administered by a trained PREPARE Counselor and includes 4-6 feedback sessions in which the counselor facilitates discussion between the couple based on their results.

IV. Pre-Cana Series or Engaged Encounter Weekend

Engaged couples have the option to attend either a diocesan Engaged Encounter weekend or the Pre-Cana Series offered within the parish.

Couples may register for the SJB Marriage Preparation Series only after starting the PREPARE Inventory.  Couples may register with the Director of Adult Faith Formation at 301-622-1122.

There are 4 meetings per series:

• All sessions take place on Sundays
• 3 at a hosting couples’ home starting at 7:00 p.m.
• If  needed other meeting times can also be negotiated.
• The 4th session is in the large conference room of parish center starting at 4:00 p.m.
• 4th session is preceded by the Natural Family Planning presentation starting at the time specified by a presenting couple.
• Dates for the series are discussed with the Director of Adult Faith Formation after the couple has started the PREPARE Inventory.

To register for an Engaged Encounter weekend contact the Director of Adult Faith Formation after starting the PREPARE Inventory.