Because you have chosen to celebrate your marriage at St. Margaret Mary, you are professing your belief that…
 …your marriage is a permanent commitment to each other

 …your marriage is of importance, not only to you, but to the Christian community

 …your marriage will be blessed by God

We take seriously your commitment, and we take seriously our obligation to assist you in this time of preparation.

Marriage preparation involves

• necessary paperwork
• planning the wedding ceremony
• preparation for life

“Pre-Cana” refers to the spiritual, liturgical, and nuts and bolts preparation for your wedding.  Each Catholic parish these days has its own particular way of doing “Pre-Cana.” 
At St. Margaret Mary Parish, these are the steps:
Call the parish secretary to request a wedding date.  (This wedding date is TENTATIVE until it is determined that there is no obstacle to marriage and the wedding can take place.)
Speak with one of the deacons or priests to arrange your initial appointment.
Meet with the priest or deacon and fill out the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study) instrument.  The results of this will be reviewed together by the couple and the priest or deacon.
At the completion of the FOCCUS review, the engaged couple will be contacted by a parish sponsor couple.
After the sponsor couple sessions are completed, the engaged couple calls their celebrant to discuss the specifics of their liturgical celebration.
All persons under 19 years of age must have an interview with a Catholic Charities counselor, in addition to the priest or deacon handling the wedding arrangements.  He/she must also have the permission of the bishop before the wedding date is set.