Marriage Planning/Preparation


Congratulations on your engagement!  As you prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage, may you be filled with God’s grace and blessings!

The Diocese of Fargo has requirements to help you and your fiancée best prepare to live out your vocation of Marriage and be the best spouse you can be.
 
Before scheduling your wedding at a parish, if either party (Catholic or non-Catholic) has a prior attempt at marriage which has not been dissolved through death or received a Document of Freedom to Marry, please contact the Tribunal Office at the Diocese of Fargo at 701-356-7940, before contacting your parish.    

Nine to Twelve Months Prior to Wedding Date:

• Pray together and enjoy quiet moments together as a couple. Ask God to bless your relationship and thank Him for the gift of one another.
• Schedule and have an initial meeting with your priest, to get to know him and learn more about his particular marriage preparation process.
• Complete the Pre-Nuptial Forms with your priest.
• If either of you have had a previous bond, please turn in the Document of Freedom to Marry to your parish.
• Take your FOCCUS Inventory through your parish.
• Obtain baptismal certificates for both parties (issued within 9 months or first contact with (priest).  Have the parish include all notations. If there are no notations, please have the parish write “None” in each area. 
• Schedule your Pre-Marriage Seminar Weekend date
• Schedule your Natural Family Planning Course

 
Two to Four Months Prior to Wedding Date:

• Turn “Certificate of Completion of the Pre-Marriage Seminar” in to your priest.
• Turn “Certificate of Completion of a Natural Family Planning Course” in to your priest.
• Begin meetings to review the results of your FOCCUS Inventory.
• Meet and discuss music and liturgy with your parish.

 
One to Two Months Prior to Wedding Date:

• Finalize your music and liturgy plan with your parish.
• No more than 30 days prior to the wedding date you must apply for a civil marriage license. 
• Continue praying and attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Options for 1^st Reading
 

1. Male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-28, 31)
2. The two of them become one body. (Genesis 2:18-24)
3. In his love for Rebekah, Isaac found solace after the death of his mother. (Genesis 24:48-51, 58-67)
4. May the Lord of heaven prosper you both; May he grant you mercy and peace. (Tobit 7:6-14)
   Allow us to live together to a happy old age. (Tobit 8:4b-8)
5. Allow us to live together to a happy old age. (Tobit 8:5-7)
6. The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31)
7. Stern as death is love. (Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16; 8:6-7)
8. Like the sun rising in the Lord’s heavens,
   the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home. (Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16)
9. I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. (Jeremiah 31:31-32a, 33-

Options for Responsorial Psalm

1. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 33:12, 18, 20-21, 22)
2. I will bless the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9)
3. The Lord is kind and merciful (Psalm 103:1-2, 8, 13, 17-18)
4. Happy are those who do what the Lord commands (Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-7, 7-8, 9)
5. Happy are those who fear the Lord (Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5ac, 6a)
6. The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures (Psalm 145:8-9, 10, 15, 17-18)
7. Let all praise the name of the Lord (Psalm 148:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-13ab, 13c-14a)

Options for 2^nd Reading

1. What will separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:31-35, 37-39).
2. Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. (Romans 12:1-2, 9-18 [long form] or Romans 12:1-2, 9-13 [short form])
3. Welcome one another as Christ welcomed you. (Romans 15:1b-3a, 5-7, 13)
4. Your body is a temple of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20)
5. If I do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 12:31 - 13:8)
6. One Body and one Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-6)
7. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church. (Ephesians 5:2, 21-33 [long form] or Ephesians 5:2, 25-32 [short form])
8. The God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9)
9. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:12-17)
10. Let marriage be held in honor by all. (Hebrews 13:1-4a, 5-6b)
11. Be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another. (1 Peter 3:1-9)
12. Love in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18-24)
13. God is love (1 John 4:7-12)
14. Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:1, 5-9)

Options for Gospel Reading

1. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. (Matthew 5:1-12)
2. You are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)
3. A wise man built his house on rock. (Matthew 7:21, 24-29 [long form] or Matthew 7:21, 24-25 [short form])
4. What God has united, man must not separate. (Matthew 19:3-6)
5. This is the greatest and the first commandment.
   The second is like it. (Matthew 22:35-40)
6. They are no longer two, but one flesh. (Mark 10:6-9)
7. Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee. (John 2:1-11)
8. Remain in my love. (John 15:9-12)
9. This is my commandment: love one another. (John 15:12-16)
10. That they may be brought to perfection as one. (John 17:20-26 [long form] or 17:20-23 [short form])

 

 

Preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism

 

GUIDELINES FOR BAPTISM IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
As you are seeking the baptism of your child in the Roman Catholic Church, the following guidelines are presented to help you embark upon this journey of faith with Christ and his Church.
A. The Sanctifying Role of the Church (Code of Canon Law, c. 842, 849; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213, 1263, 1265, 1267-1270)
Through Baptism, God enables us to participate in his life in Jesus Christ and makes us his children. It is through this sacrament that we receive the Holy Spirit and become members of the People of God, of the Body of Christ, which is the Church. Baptism becomes our commitment to grow in this new life and to strive to acquire spiritual maturity. By baptism, God purifies us from sin.
Baptism is the sacrament of faith which has the Risen Christ as its source, and it is the offer of salvation for all people. Intimately linked to Confirmation and to Eucharist, Baptism is, with these two sacraments, Christian Initiation. The child is baptized in the faith of their parents, godparents, and of the Church.
B. Basic Guidelines and Information for Infant (to include young children) Baptism (Code of Canon Law, cc. 867-868; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1251)
Parents are responsible for bringing their child to the Sacrament of Baptism as soon after birth as possible. Except in case of necessity, the church is the usual place of baptism.
In order that a child be baptized, it is necessary that the parents consent, or at least one of them, or someone legally standing in their place, and that there is reasonable hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic Faith.
GODPARENTS: A person may only have one or two godparents (also called sponsors); if two are chosen, they must be male and female.
In order for someone to be eligible as a godparent, they must be chosen by the parents, have the ability and the intention to fulfill the role, be at least 16 years of age, and be a confirmed Roman Catholic who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist, is leading a life in harmony with the Catholic Faith (including Marriage), will be a good role model for the one being baptized, and be neither the father nor the mother of the child.
A baptized person who belongs to another Christian community may be admitted only as a “Christian witness” (not a godparent) provided there is at least one Roman Catholic godparent who fulfills the above criteria. A non-baptized person cannot be a witness (Code of Canon Law, cc. 872-874; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1255).
C. Baptismal Preparation in your Parish (Code of Canon Law, c. 851; Catechism of the Catholic Church 843)
In order to respect your request for the baptism of your child, you are invited to follow closely the stages of preparation offered below:

• Contact your parish office and express your desire to have your child baptized.
• Introduce yourself to the parish priest if you do not already know him personally.
• Open yourself to the invitation to actively join the faith community of your parish. If you are not registered parishioners, please consider becoming involved in the prayer and celebration of the Sunday Eucharistic community.

While baptismal preparation varies from parish to parish, you will be invited to participate in some manner of faith formation prior to the baptism of your child. This may take the form of a meeting(s) with the pastor, pastoral assistant, or participation in a baptismal preparation session for parents. It is extremely important to take your faith-life seriously because, before God, you have taken on an awesome responsibility for the salvation of another—your own child! Your commitment and openness to baptismal preparation will help develop the faith-life of your child as they mature.

D.  Other Information (Catechism of the Catholic Church 857)
Are you living in a parish other than the one in which you wish to have your child baptized?
You are required to take your Baptismal Preparation in the parish in which you reside and then receive a testimonial letter from your Parish Priest to have your child baptized in another parish. This requirement respects the reality that pastors normally have sacramental jurisdiction only over their own parishioners. Therefore, when one seeks a sacrament outside of one’s parish, the proper pastor’s permission is necessary. Furthermore, the invitation to connect with one’s own proper parish first is founded on the hope that the faith-life of the family and of the one(s) to be baptized will be lived in community and not in isolation.
Marital Status
Your marital status will be clarified during the baptismal preparation process. Baptism is not denied if the parents are unmarried or not married in the Roman Catholic Church. However, there may be reason to postpone Baptism if parents are not practicing the Faith or have no intention of living a Catholic life in harmony with the Gospel. If your status is not in harmony with the Roman Catholic understanding of sacramental marriage, please inquire as to how we may help you enter into proper sacramental marriage or, if need be, seek a declaration of nullity by the Church.                                                   All of the above information applies to Baptism of an infant or young child only. If you have a child to be baptized who has reached catechetical age/the age of reason (Grade 2 or 7 years), you and they will receive different preparation. Having sufficient understanding, the preparation will now be for the full complement of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
Those children already baptized in other Christian communities will be prepared to make a profession of faith into the Catholic Church and will receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation in the rite of Reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church.



St William’s of Norwich
Argusville, ND
Beginning the Journey of Faith

Infant Baptism
A Parish Celebration



There is one Lord,
                                    one faith,
one baptism, 
One God and 
Father of all. 
                              E p h e s i a n s  4 : 5 - 6


Preparing for Infant Baptism  
While baptismal preparation varies from parish to parish, you will be invited to participate in some manner of faith formation prior to the baptism of your child. This may take the form of a meeting(s) with the pastor, pastoral assistant, or participation in a baptismal preparation session for parents.

The purpose of this booklet is to assist you in taking a more active role in your child’s baptism, and in doing so, the sacrament will be a more memorable and meaningful experience for you and your family.
 
In the past, the practice of baptizing infants involved little preparation.  In many parishes there was a set time when parents brought their children to the church and the priest baptized them all.
 
However, in the early church, Baptism was conferred once a year at Easter time.  Those who were baptized were usually adults who had spent the forty days of Lent preparing for Baptism and their entry into the Church.
 
Time and history brought about changes in these practices.  Baptisms were scheduled more frequently and in time the majority of those baptized on any given Sunday were infants.  The Rite of Baptism used for the past 400 years was designed for adults and since the infant is, literally “one who cannot speak”, the rite addressing the questions the child by name is thereby answered by the godparents.
 
The new Rite of Baptism for infants takes the true state of the child into account.  The questions are now addressed to the parents and not to the child.  The Rite emphasizes preparation for the Sacrament, parental responsibility and the welcome by the local Christian community. Your child’s baptism is a family affair that concerns your family and the whole of God’s family, the Church.
 
Through the Sacrament of Baptism, your child enters into the Body of Christ and thus becomes a Christian, a member to the Church, and part of God’s family. In everything you do for your child - feeding, dressing, washing, caring - you will be training and disciplining him/her to do these things for themselves.  The same is true for the Sacrament of Baptism which you now request for your child.  Everything you do must ensure the gift of faith, given in Baptism, becomes their personal possession, so that one day they can assume personal responsibility for living and practicing their faith.
 
Theology of Baptism
 
The theology of Baptism is essential in our understanding of the significance of the sacrament.  Baptism makes us a new creation in Christ.  The child is washed clean of the stain of Original Sin thus being restored to a state of grace and purity.  The child also enters into the Body of Christ, thus becoming a member of the Church.
 
In Baptism, we die with Christ and rise with Christ. “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4).  Hence, we become Christians through Baptism, and as such, we accept the cross of Christ and fruits of his resurrection.  We embrace the cross and the struggles, sacrifices, and ultimate glory that stem from it.
 
Each baptized person is given a tri-fold baptismal role to fulfill: the role of priest, prophet, and king.  Just as Christ was anointed priest, prophet, and king, so too is each baptized individual.  The baptized Christian fulfills the baptismal role of priest by living a life of sacrifice for others while maintaining a well-balanced prayer life focused around giving the greatest praise, worship, and glory to God.  To be a prophet means to speak the word of God to others constantly pointing out the injustices in society.  Finally, through Baptism, we become God’s children and heirs to the Kingdom.  The baptismal role of king requires the Christian to reflect the justice and mercy of God toward all, especially to the poor, the oppressed, and the outcast. 

Symbols
 
There are several symbols used in Baptism.  The most obvious is the water.  Water is what gives us life; it nourishes us and washes us clean.  The waters of Baptism wash away all sins and gives the person new life in Christ.  The sign of the cross, which is traced on the forehead of the child, reminds us of our new life following Christ, who calls us to pick up our cross and follow him.  The white garment is a symbol showing that we are a new creation in Christ since our souls are made pure and clean. The Paschal Candle represents Christ who is the light of the world, and the candle which is lit from it reminds us that each baptized Christian is called to reflect the light of Christ to the world.  Finally, the oil used to anoint represents the Holy Spirit.  In Baptism, the individual receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Just as Christ was anointed priest, prophet, and king, so too is the newly baptized.
 
 
Decision to Baptize
 
The decision to have your child baptized is not one to be taken lightly.  At the beginning of the Rite, you will be asked, “What do you ask of God’s Church for your child”? You should be able to answer with conviction and dedication, “Baptism”. This will come from your awareness of what this sacrament is and your awareness of the responsibilities you assume.
 
As a result of Baptism, your child will become a child of God.  Together with the Christian community, he/she will be able to address God as “Our Father in Heaven.” Baptism introduces your child into the Church.  These are the people who have “one Lord, one faith one Baptism and one God and Father of all.”
 
Baptism and faith lead these people to daily practice of the Gospel commandments: love of God and love of neighbor.  It is within this Church that your child will grow in personal faith.
 
Parental Responsibility
 
The Baptism ceremony begins and ends; however, the baptismal life is a continuous growth which you, the parents, must foster.  We can compare this life of God given in baptism with the human life your child has recently begun.  Your family life should be dedicated to making your child grow into a mature adult.  You will train and discipline your child to do for themselves what you do for them now.  As a result of Baptism, your child becomes a Christian; however it is your responsibility as Christian parents to see that your child becomes a mature Christian.
 
This responsibility begins with you looking at your own faith and how you put it into practice on a daily basis.  Do you honestly intend to share your faith and the faith of the Church with your child through your own example so that your child will come to know, love, and serve God and neighbor as a practicing member of the Church?
 
In presenting your child for Baptism, you are accepting this responsibility.  God gave us the gift of faith through people.  It is a faith which must grow and develop.  If your answer is negative, then you must question why you wish to have your child baptized.  Baptism is not a magical rite nor is it merely an occasion for a family gathering and party.  Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation which must be lived out on a daily basis.

In deciding to have your child baptized, you do not stand alone in this responsibility.  The Church will be a constant source of encouragement and support as your child grows in the faith.  In your task as the primary educator of your child in the ways of faith, you will be helped by the Church.  The religious education programs we provide help prepare your child for the reception of the other sacraments and the living out of a good Christian life.  
 
In Baptism, God is inviting you to a greater awareness of your own faith and to share your faith with your child; however, you are also called to help form this gift of faith in your child through your active cooperation. The words of Christ are also directed to parents. “Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. And remember, I will be with you always”. (Mathew 8:19-20)  How will your parenthood give flesh to this command of Christ?
 
It is within the family that your child will learn the first lessons about the great glory that God has bestowed on them. The child should discover the meaning of God’s love within your love. During the early years of your child’s development, he/she should learn everything through your guidance, love and respect.  As a result, your child will eventually be able to stand on his/her own and proclaim, “I believe in the Faith of the Church in which I was baptized.”

Your child is a child of promise.  Even in the midst of your present joy, you look forward to what this child will be, with the many wishes and dreams which your love will always prompt.  As parents, you wish to do your best to make all your dreams and promises come true.  You will pass on all that is good and true: your best qualities and faith.  The new Rite of Infant Baptism recognizes the importance of your role in the baptism of your child.  There is no attempt to pretend that your child would request Baptism if only they could speak.  Your child is dependent on you for everything, including their faith.
 
When your child is born, he/she is welcomed into a family bound by love and blood.  On the day of Baptism, the Catholic Church and in particular this faith community of St. William’s stands ready to welcome your child.  We are a community bound by love and faith: the Catholic Church of Jesus Christ.
 
Godparents
 
The choice of godparents is very important since they take upon themselves a responsibility similar to that of the parents.  This choice should not be merely the fulfillment of a social obligation, or the mark of honor or respect for a relative or friend. The role of a godparent is “a very ancient custom of the Church.” In infant baptism, the godparent’s relationship is not necessarily with the newly baptized child.  Instead, the relationship clearly is to be with the parents, with the adults on whose faith the child’s initiation depends.  The rite is very explicit about this, for it asks the sponsors about supporting and witnessing to the parents rather than to the child.
 
The godparent, therefore, assists the parents, who lead the child to profess the faith, and the godparent gives living witness to the parents.  The godparent is expected to be godparent to the family and household, rather than only to the individual child.  This is a wonderful image of the Church into which the child is initiated: adults supporting adults in faith, witnessing to and with one another the faith they proclaim, leading their children into this network of relationships by which Christ is revealed and faith is evoked.
 
The person to be godparent must be 16 years of age and is expected to be sufficiently mature for this role.  He or she should also be fully initiated into the Catholic Church by Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  The godparent must also be practicing member of the Catholic Church, whose life reflects the teachings of the Gospels.
 
Non-Catholic Christians may be witnesses; however, one godparent must be a practicing Catholic who meets the above-mentioned criteria.      
  
Summary of Guidelines
 
1. The Celebration of Baptism for children is a family affair that concerns the parents, the immediate family, and the Christian family of St. William’s. Baptism envisions that parents are in relationship with a community of believers.  This network of relationship assures you of the support and help you need before, during, and after the baptism of your child.  This is why it is necessary for you to be registered members of this faith community that welcomes your child.
 
2. Baptism is the ritual celebration of the faith of adult believers, “the faith of the Church.” Your own faith, therefore, is the essential element in the baptism of your child.  As parents, you will engage in a long-term process of formation: a process affecting you as well as your child.  The Celebration of Baptism is built on the premise that you are or plan to be a practicing Catholic.
 
3. Each child to be baptized is to have a least ONE Catholic godparent who is at least sixteen years of age and who is sufficiently mature for this role.  This godparent must be practicing their Catholic faith and also have received all of the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation).  The godparent will need to present a letter from his or her parish certifying that he or she is a member in good standing and qualified to act as a godparent.  If the godparent cannot be present in person at the baptism, that godparent will need to appoint another Catholic person to serve as proxy.  
 
4. When there are two godparents, one must be male and the other female.  If there is only one godparent, gender linkage is not compulsory.  A baby girl does not require a female godparent, nor does a baby boy godparent dictate that a male godparent be used.  Maturity in faith is the more important criterion.
 
5. It has been the custom to present an offering to the Church on the occasion of Baptism.  This is completely voluntary and it is in no way a “payment” for the sacrament.  God gives His gifts freely and the only return expected is that of a life well-lived in the spirit of His Son, Jesus Christ.  If you wish to make an offering, you should do so out of a wish to assist the community of which your child now becomes a part.
 
6. The newly baptized are welcomed into a “community of faith”, yet if the parents do not form part of this community by practicing their faith with loyalty and joy, then that faith will never grow.  The parents must make a personal decision of practicing the faith in which their child will be baptized; otherwise, baptism is a meaningless ceremony.  We hope that these guidelines will create an awareness of the responsibility of the parents in dealing with the spiritual welfare of their children.
 


Required Documentation
 
1. Copy of the child’s birth certificate
 
2. Copy of the parent’s marriage certificate (if applicable[MH1] )
 
3. Godparent/Witness Forms
 
4. Godparent letters from the parish of membership
 
5. Non-Participating Parent Consent Document (required only if one parent is non-Catholic and will not be attending the child’s baptism)
 
**Please note that it is the responsibility of the parents to submit all the required documents to the parish office before the actual date of Baptism can be scheduled.**