Marriage is a covenant or partnership of life between a man and woman, which is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children. When validly contracted between two baptized people, marriage is the sacrament of matrimony.

Weddings may take place at Our Lord Christ the King for active parishioners.  An active member of our parish family is one who is registered in the parish and regularly celebrates the Eucharist with us for at least 6 months prior to contacting us for the wedding or who has moved into the parish having been active in another parish.

Since Marriage is a sacrament, it is necessary to meet with a priest concerning your ability and disposition to receive the sacrament before a date can be set.  Evaluation by the priest includes a spiritual assessment, personal assessment, and canonical assessment.  Couples preparing for marriage at Christ the King are asked to:

• provide a recent Baptismal Certificate (issued within the last 6 months),
• attend the Engaged Encounter Weekend or the Archdiocesan Pre-Cana Program, and,
• take the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication Understanding & Study) questionnaire. This document asks the engaged couple to respond to statements or questions concerning their communication and understanding about numerous topics and issues important to establishing a healthy and happy marriage.  A couple from the parish will meet with couples in their home to encourage discussion in the areas where different responses were indicated and to share their own life experiences.

Weddings are normally held on Saturdays.  The starting time for the ceremony should be between 11:00 – 3:00 p.m. or after 6:30 p.m.  Weddings may also be held on Friday evenings.

FOCCUS Marriage Prep

Our own marriage has been enriched by volunteering with engaged couples. We regularly confirm that our own faith is an active part of our marriage, and we’re reminded of our early years as a couple. Our parish is comprised of a variety of members; by sharing time with engaged couples, we feel connected to our whole church, not just our own age group.”
–Kris and Tim Bayer, FOCCUS facilitators

Following an initial consultation with the pastor or resident priest, engaged couples are asked to complete a standardized questionnaire which helps them prepare for marriage. The bride- and groom-to-be are then partnered with a married couple, trained FOCCUS facilitators, who lend loving support and experience during the wedding planning process.

Parish Contacts:  Tina & Joe Finke, chfinkenino@yahoo.com

Wedding Facilitator

A wedding facilitator is assigned to each couple having their wedding at Christ the King. It is the role of the facilitator to assist in making sure that the wedding ceremony runs smoothly. The wedding facilitator usually contacts the couple eight weeks prior to the wedding. They assist at the rehearsal and wedding.

A wedding facilitator works with the wedding party at the rehearsal and on the day of the wedding assisting bridal parties in the planning and implementation of wedding ceremonies. Facilitators help the bridal couple prepare for their special day in answering practical questions regarding flowers, decorations, photographers and other important information. The facilitator is a general handyperson on the day of the wedding, setting up the altar cloths, preparing communion, pinning on flowers, getting the wedding party in line, and any other services that are needed.

Wedding Facilitators:

• Must desire to serve others in a joyous ministry
• Must understand the Catholic marriage ritual
• Must appreciate the importance of working with adults and their families at a critical stage of their faith life
• Must be available at the wedding rehearsal
• Arrive about an hour before the wedding to make sure that all is ready for the celebration and to greet the couple, the family and guests
• Ensure that the liturgy or ceremony runs smoothly
• Stay afterward to make sure that everything is put away before the regular weekend liturgies
• A wedding facilitator usually assists with two to three weddings per year.

Wedding Coordinator (directs Wedding Facilitators): 
Joan Keating, jnktennis@yahoo.com