The Department of Marriage Preparation offers several programs for your benefit.
What is a Marriage Prep Pre-Session?
A Marriage Prep Pre-Session is a gathering of engaged couples, a priest, married couples and a counselor. Couples will complete a FOCCUS inventory. (FOCCUS is a tool to guide discussion for the priest or lay minister that will work with the couple in their parish to prepare them for marriage.) The counselor will conduct a Communication Workshop to emphasize skills that build better marriages. Couples who have attended Educational Programs may be present to give first hand testimony as to the value of the program. Also at the Pre-Session couples will view a video about Natural Family Planning.
What is its purpose?
The purpose of the Pre-Session is to help engaged couples as they begin preparing for their wedding and marriage. The Catholic Church wants to rejoice with you in your times of joy and celebration, and support you in your times of challenge and struggle. We believe in your love for one another and we are overjoyed that you have chosen to share your sacrament with us.
Does every couple need to go?
Every engaged couple planning marriage in the Omaha Archdiocese must attend a Pre-Session.
Where does a couple go?
An engaged couple may attend any rural or urban Pre-Session that is convenient for them. No advance reservations are required.
Is there a cost?
There is an $85 fee per couple payable at the site at registration. Checks or vouchers from the parish are the preferred method of payment. This fee will cover the cost of FOCCUS and the mandatory education program. If you choose to attend an Engaged Encounter weekend there will be and extra charge that covers the overnight accommodations and food.
2008 Dates
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SEPTEMBER
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OCTOBER
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NOVEMBER
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DECEMBER
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2009 Dates
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Purpose:This marriage preparation program is for first time marriages and provides engaged couples an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of their attitudes and feelings regarding marriage. The program provides couples with the necessary input and content to stimulate necessary discussion and sharing between the couple and to help the couple assess their own readiness for marriage.
Specific Objectives:
- To help the couple assess their own readiness for marriage.
- To offer the necessary input or content to help them make an informed decision.
- To provide a stimulus for deeper communication.
- To offer them hope through teamwork and commitment, marriage can be happy, fulfilling, growth providing, and sanctifying.
Content: Topics discussed are: the effect of our family of origin on our attitudes toward expectations of marriage, communication and conflict resolution, married sexuality, intimacy, setting priorities, spirituality, etc.
Format: Two formats are available:
WFM 5 Evening Program A series of five 2-hour meetings held in the home or parish of the facilitating couple with 3 to 6 engaged couples.
WFM 1 Day Program The same program as above, but presented in a one-Saturday format. It is held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Schedules for 2008
| Urban 1 Day Program: | Rural 1 Day Program: |
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Schedules for 2009 Urban |
Rural |
January 10 - St. Elizabeth Ann January 17 - St. Patrick Fremont February 21 - St. Leo March 21 - St. Robert March 21 - St Patrick Fremont April 18 - Mary Our Queen May 16 - St. Elizabeth Ann June 20 - St. Leo July 18 - St. Robert August 15 - Mary Our Queen September 19 - St. Leo October 10 - St. Patrick Fremont October 24 - St. Robert November 21 - St. Leo December 12 - St. Robert |
January 10 - Norfolk January 17 - Schuyler January 31 - Schuyler Feruary 7 - Schuyler February 21 - Norfolk March 28 - Schuyler July 25 - Norfolk August 22 - Schuyler September 12 - Norfolk November 7 - Schuyler November 21 - Schuyler |
Engaged Encounter
Purpose: The Engaged Encounter weekend is an investment in your future. This weekend of marriage preparation is designed to give couples the opportunity to talk honestly and privately about their attitudes on a variety of subjects such as goals, money, sex, children, family, and their role in church and society. Many couples who attend are interchurch, therefore you will find a sensitivity to other faith traditions.
Format: Weekends begin on Friday evening at 7:30pm and end Sunday afternoon, by 3:00pm. The program includes presentations by a married couple, private times for reflection, couple discussions and group discussions. Through a series of topics presented by 2 married couples and a priest, an atmosphere is created for couples to privately share their thoughts on all aspects of married life in terms of their relationship. Personal reflection and discussion are the main focus of the weekend. On Sunday we conclude with the celebration of Mass.
Omaha Schedule for 2008:
September 13-14
November 22-23
Omaha Schedule for 2009:
January 10-11 (Two Day)
February 7-8 (Two Day)
February 28 & March 1 (Two Day)
May 2-3 (Two Day)
July 11-12 (Two Day)
September 12-13 (Two Day)
November 21-22 (Two Day)
Additional Cost: $115.00 per couple for room and board
Mail registration form and fee:
Dick and Judie Jones
6016 William Street
Omaha, NE 68106-1560
Phone 402-558-6884 email: cee.omaha@juno.com
Norfolk Schedule:
September 28-30, 2007
Schuyler 2008 CEE Weekends:
January 12 & 13 (Two Day)
April 26 & 27 (Two day)
July 25-27 (Three Day)
September 12-14 (Three Day)
Schuyler 2009 CEE Weekends:
January 17-18 (Two Day)
March 7-8 (Two Day)
July 18-19 (Two Day)
September 12-13 (Two Day)
Additional Cost: $50.00 per couple for room and board
Mail registration form and fee:
Paul and Kathy Moser
110 Spruce St.
Norfolk, NE 68701
Phone 402-371-5436
Note: If you know you will be attending a CEE weekend before you attend a pre-session please register and pay for the CEE weekend through www.omahacee.org before you attend the pre-session.
This marriage program, Picture of Love,was created to help you gain a better understanding of the joys and challenges of living the sacrament of Matrimony in your day-to-day lives. It offers you the ability to focus on and share your pictures of marriage. These pictures include your dreams, expectations and ideas about what your marriage should be. The secret is to be able to share these images with each other in order to build a better understanding and support for one another. Each team presentation, informative enrichment and couples exercise is designed to help you gain insights into your relationship, as well as give you practical ideas and tools to help smooth your journey and become the Picture of Love
Format: This program consists of 1 eight hour session.
Schedule for 2008 Urban: |
Rural: |
| September 13 – Bldg C, Room A | |
Schedule for 2009 Urban: |
Rural: |
March 14 - Bldg C, Room A June 13 - Bldg C, Room A September 12 - Bldg C, Room A |
January 10 - Columbus April 18 - Columbus July 18 - Columbus |
Purpose:
This is a specially designed program to help couples who are preparing for a second marriage. It assists couples in recognizing the complexities of a remarriage situation, helps them understand their personality types, helps improve personal communication skills, and encourages discussion of the “nitty gritty” of combining households, parenting/step-parenting and developing a healthy marriage relationship.
Format:
This program consists of two Sundays 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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Schedule for 2008 (SCC- Servite Center of Compassion) Urban: |
Rural: |
February 10 & 24 - (SCC) Servite Center of Compassion April 20 & 27 - (SCC) Servite Center of Compassion October 12 & 26 - (SCC) Servite Center of Compassion
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February 3 & 17 – Columbus August 10-24 – Columbus |
Schedule for 2009 Urban: |
Rural: |
January 11 & 25 - SCC April 5 & 19 - SCC September 13 & 27 - SCC |
February 1 & 15 - Columbus August 9 & 23 - Columbus |
