Pastor’s Letter: July 12, 2026

Pastor’s Letter: July 12, 2026

10 Jul 2026 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

I hope everyone is well this week! A couple of weeks ago now, Bishop Lou celebrated a special Mass for our area celebrating the 150^th anniversary of our Diocese. During his homily, Bishop shared about the many great things he sees going on in our Diocese, highlighting especially the preparations for the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Bishop Lou also talked about his recent trip to the US Bishops’ meeting where other bishops commented on the good things going on here in the Peoria Diocese. In addition to the excitement over soon to be “Blessed Fulton Sheen,” one bishop mentioned to Bishop Lou that he has heard some great things about our new/revamped marriage preparation program here in Peoria and asked if his Diocese could get a copy of what we are doing. Bishop responded that we are very happy to share to good fruits happening here in our Diocese.

As we continue our review of the Sacrament of Marriage, it is fitting to take a look at what we do for preparation with couples, and how that preparation is geared toward helping them live a fruitful married life. Typically, in our Diocese, we begin meeting with couples 8 to 12 months before the proposed date of the ceremony. While each priest might have some variation in the order, a normal marriage prep would likely include: an initial meeting with an overview of the preparation process, an online questionnaire that is used as a conversation starter (no grades or scores are given!), some follow-up conversations, the planning of the liturgy ceremony, and the gathering/completion of needed paperwork (verification of baptism and freedom to marry with the right intention—more on that below), including securing the civil license from the local county. Nestled within this marriage preparation with the priest is our Diocesan Genesis Retreat for couples.

The result of a great team effort between the Office of Mission at the Diocese and many of our Peoria priests, the Genesis Retreat was featured in our Annual Diocesan Appeal video last fall. The two-day getaway at our Diocesan Retreat Center begins by giving couples an overview of God’s vision for marriage, beginning with the Book of Genesis and continuing through to the Sacrament of Marriage which Jesus gave us. The retreat also includes an overview of the Wedding liturgy, the Theology of the Body and moral teaching on sexuality, communication skills, and a financial workshop given as part of the tools of marriage. In addition to all this practical knowledge, the weekend also provides opportunity for Mass together, prayer, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Over and over, the couples I have worked with in preparation have told me the retreat was a great experience for them—no wonder the word has gotten out and Bishops around the country are interested in what we are doing here! =)

All of marriage preparation process is geared toward helping the couple see how God loves us and how we are called to share that love together. As the Genesis Retreat notebook teaches, “God loves us freely, totally, faithfully, and fruitfully. On their wedding day the bride and groom vow to love one another as God loves them and to do so for life. On their wedding day, the priest will question the couple about their freedom of choice, fidelity to each other, and the acceptance and upbringing of children.  The bride and groom will each respond separately. After answering these questions to give of themselves freely, totally, faithfully and fruitfully they will then declare their consent to one another before God…and [to the witness] of those present” (Genesis Retreat Marriage Preparation, 24).

Understanding love and marriage “freely, totally, faithfully, and fruitfully” is something the couple is asked about in the midst of marriage paperwork: “Do you understand the nature and obligations of marriage and do you agree, without any condition or reservation: to enter a marriage that is for life; to be willing to have children; to accept the obligation of being faithful to your spouse; to give your consent freely and without force of any kind?” As the couple each says yes to these questions, as noted above, we see they are a direct preparation for the questions they are asked in the wedding liturgy: “N. and N., have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly? [Each answers “I have.”]  Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live? [Each answers “I am.”] Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?  [Each answers “I am.”].”

In both of these sets of questions, we see the couple being asked if they are ready and willing to live marriage “freely, totally, faithfully, and fruitfully.” No doubt, the whole of our marriage preparation is geared to helping the couple understand these goods of marriage and to be freely ready to commit to living them together. This week we had a look at the Wedding liturgy questions asked the couple before their vows. Next week, we’ll go more into the Order of Marriage and highlights of the Wedding Liturgy itself. We continue to pray for couples in the midst of their preparations and, of course, for all married couples to live well the special love God has shared with them! Know of my prayers and blessing for you all!

In Christ,
Father Luke