Marriage

“ From the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'
'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
Mark 10:6-9

“ Marriage is a sacrament alive with grace and blessings. … For those entering the covenant of marriage, the words of consent join the couple into a community of persons united by love through their will. The minister of this sacrament is the couple. The focus is not on what the minister does but on who the minister is. Everything about the married persons changes and becomes sacramental in nature. The simple actions they perform in their lives become a profound means for sacramental grace to enter into the world. As with all sacraments, Marriage is a living sign of Christ’s presence, not just a symbol of it. It is an ongoing, day by day, way of living.” (Christian Married Life)

· Marriage Preparation Program at SJB:

Marriage Preparation is separate from the preparation for the liturgical celebration for the wedding.
The Marriage Preparation program at SJB has three major components:
1. Sessions with Pastor/Associate Pastor
To start the Marriage preparation process contact the Pastor or the Associate Pastor at 301-622-1122

2. Prepare Inventory
Couples are asked to take the Prepare/Enrich Inventory and have at least three feedback sessions.
Appointments are made on individual basis by calling the coordinator at 301-622-1122.
Fee for the Inventory and the sessions is $65 per couple payable to SJB.

3. Marriage Preparation (Pre-Cana) Series/ Engaged Encounter
Engaged couples have the option to attend either a diocesan Engaged Encounter weekend or to attend the Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation Series offered within the parish.

Marriage Preparation Series Dates for 2008

To register for the SJB Marriage Preparation Series contact the coordinator at 301-622-1122.
The series are run by Marriage Preparation Team couples and consist of four sessions held on Sundays. The first three sessions are held at the hosting couple’s home; the forth session is held in the Parish Center on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
Fee for the series is $30 per couple payable to SJB.

To register for an Engaged Encounter weekend go to their website:
- Archdiocese of Washington: www.dcengagedencounter.org
- Archdiocese of Baltimore: www.mdcee.org
- Diocese of Arlington: www.expage.com/ceearlva
- National Web-Site: http://www.engagedencounter.org