|
SACRAMENTS OF VOCATION
Marriage
The sacrament of Marriage is an important milestone in the lives of people. The Catholic dioceses of Wisconsin have issued the Common Policy for Marriage Preparation providing engaged couples with their preparation.
The Policy is divided into three areas:
1. an Assessment Process-involving the administration of the FOCCUS, a premarital inventory used for assessing a couple’s relationship,
2. an Instructional Process-involving participation at an Archdiocesan Enrichment Program for the Engaged, and
3. a Liturgical Process-involving the planning of the celebration.
It is necessary for a couple to contact the Parish Office as soon as they make the decision to marry and at least 6 to 12 months prior to the anticipated time of their wedding in order to allow for sufficient preparation time. In order to be married at St. Mary’s, the bride or groom must be a registered, active member of the parish community. Weddings also take place in instances where the bride or groom no longer live in the area yet desire to be married in their former parish.
Holy Orders
A diocesan priest works primarily in the parishes of the 10-county area that make up the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. An individual priest might at one time or another also serve as a chaplain in a hospital or prison, teach in a high school, college or university, or work as a missionary overseas or as a military chaplain. Nevertheless, parish life defines the ministry of most diocesan priests.
The ancient charisms of shepherding, sanctifying and teaching unfold in the context of our modern world in a fresh, exciting and deeply fulfilling service to God’s people. Diocesan priesthood is a mixture of collaborative leadership, making the richness of Scripture and Tradition available through preaching and teaching, and compassionate pastoral care. In all these tasks, a priest is someone who bears the imprint of the Gospel in prayer and action in a world of very secular values.
|