Marriage
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Congratulations on your engagement!
The church rejoices with you and eagerly awaits the day you become husband and wife, a new family, in the covenant of marriage.
As Catholics, we believe that marriage comes as a gift from God. The Catholic vision of marriage is rooted in Sacred Scripture and is expressed in the church's teachings and practices. Marriage unites a couple in faithful and mutual love and opens them to giving life. It is a way to respond to God's call to holiness and invites the couple to be a sign of Christ's love in the world.
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Please notify the parish office as soon as you begin planning to be married and at least six months before your desired wedding date.
An initial meeting will also be arranged between the engaged couple and the Parish Priest. A tentative wedding date of up to one year in advance may be reserved at this meeting.
Once it is ascertained that the couple is free to marry in the Catholic Church and the civil and sacramental requirements have been discussed and understood, the wedding date and time can be addressed. Please note that Confirmation is strongly recommended.
You are cautioned against making firm commitments with the reception facilities, caterers, photographers, etc., until your initial meeting with the Parish Priest.
Please read carefully the wedding guidelines that you can find on this web page.
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Requirements
There are specific requirements in order to be married in the Catholic Church. To gain a better understanding please visit:
According to Church Law (Canon Law, Canon 1065):
1. If they can do so without serious inconvenience, Catholics who have not yet received the sacrament of confirmation are to receive it before being admitted to marriage.
2. It is strongly recommended that those to be married approach the sacraments of penance and the Most Holy Eucharist so that they may fruitfully receive the sacrament of marriage.
The National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in accord with the prescriptions of canon 1067 and with due regard for canon 1068, hereby decrees that the following norms shall be observed in the preparation of a couple for marriage:
1. The couple should receive appropriate education and pastoral preparation
through participation in a marriage preparation program approved by the
diocesan bishop;
2. Parties should be questioned as to their freedom to marry;
3. Baptized Catholics should present a recently issued annotated baptismal certificate;
4. Where necessary, additional documentation (such as affidavits of parents) attesting to a Catholic party's freedom to marry should be presented;
5. Baptized non-Catholics should present satisfactory proof of baptism and freedom to marry;
6. Unbaptized persons should present satisfactory proof of freedom to marry;
7. Preparation for marriage should be in conformity with the prescriptions of canon 1063 (regarding what must precede marriage) and canons 1064, 1071, 1072, 1086§2, and 1125, which entrust certain situations to the special care of local ordinaries;
8. Preparation for marriage should be in compliance with appropriate civil laws.For any questions or additional information, please contact the main office
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