RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) - Adult Confirmation
If you are a student or other adult and have not yet been confirmed, Newman’s RCIA Program may be for you. Classes begin October 19th. Call Wendy at Newman (251-3260) for more information.
Have you ever thought about becoming Catholic? - If you're an adult who has never been baptized, or you were baptized in another tradition and are interested in becoming a part of the Catholic Christian community, the RCIA Process might be for you. Classes will begin October 19and meet through Spring. Give Wendy a call for more information at 251-3260.
Marriage Preparation
The Catholic Church considers this so important that we want couples well prepared and ready for this vocation. For a Catholic to get married, even when it occurs with a non-Catholic or at a non-Catholic church, there are three basic requirements:
- Paper work This includes filling out forms and obtaining recent baptismal certificates. Did you know that the Catholic Church always retains the original baptismal certificate and only dispenses copies as needed? The use of these copies expire, hence__ "fresh" copies always need to be obtained for each new sacrament. Additional paperwork may include "dissolving" any previous marriages. When an annulment is needed couples should allow 12-18 months before continuing any wedding plans. Annulments are always required for any church wedding, even when a non-Catholic was married to another non-Catholic.... for Catholics hold that all church weddings are binding and sacramental.
- Workshop/Retreat Attending a pre-marriage retreat (e.g. Engaged Encounter) or a pre-marriage workshop is required before marriage. Both options are offered through the St. Cloud Diocese but couples may attend those offered through other dioceses.The retreat option is always preferred to the workshop option. For more information contact the Office of Marriage & Family.
- Pre-Marital Inventory The bride and groom separately fill out a pre-marital inventory and the results are discussed with church personnel. This aspect is commonly referred to as "the test". It's not a test, it's a compatibility survey. It's an instrument to gauge where couples' strength and weaknesses lie. At Newman we use the FOCCUS inventory and the results are reviewed by married couples from the parish who meet with engaged couples privately for 2-3 evenings.
Baptism Preparation
If you are a SCSU student or a Newman permanent community member and plan to have your baby baptized in the coming months, plan now to attend an upcoming course. These courses are held at 7 pm in the Newman Terrace (located on our second level). Please call the Newman office at (320) 251-3260 to pre-register.
- January 12, 2009
- March 31, 2009
