Please note:  Either the bride or the groom, OR the parents of the bride or groom, must be registered, participating parishioners of St. Francis Xavier for a minimum of six months.  Following the six-month period and marriage preparation, a firm wedding date can be reserved on the parish calendar.

As Pope Francis has said about love, “Love is a relationship”, and “Build a house together on the Rock of True Love, God!”

Witness to Love is a virtues-based model of marriage renewal and preparation that integrates modern principles of psychology and the virtues to help couples facilitate and talk about their relationship. All built on the rock of True Love, that comes from God.

What makes Witness to Love – unique is that the engaged couple chooses their own mentor couple. This is a couple they both admire and see as a source of faith formation. This mentor couple gives them a connection and integration into the parish. Through the sharing of the mentor couple’s own marriage journey, the engaged couple inherits a “lifeline” of support in their commitment to Jesus and His Church.

Diocese of Venice Marriage Preparation

GuidelinesCouples ages 55 and under: Witness to Love Marriage Preparation Program

Couples over 55: One day Two Become One program

Couples over 75: 4 hours of personal instruction by Priest or Deacon

Military Couples and Geographically Separated Couples: Online Catholic Marriage Prep may be used with Diocesan approval

Marriage Preparation Retreats are required by the Diocese of Venice.  Please visit their website (link)  https://dioceseo)fvenice.org/sacraments/marriage/marriageprep/   for upcoming retreats and more marriage information.