Are you getting married?
Preparing for Marriage
If you’re a Catholic and you’re preparing to get married, there are some things you may want to keep in mind. First off, a Catholic marrying another Catholic must be married in a Catholic church. In order to prepare to be married in the Catholic Church, one is required to meet with a priest at least six months prior to the wedding. This is in order to make sure that the couple is free to marry. For it is not the priest who marries the couple, but the couple who marries one another. In order to do that, they must be free.
The Church law is that a Catholic must marry a Catholic. However, a Catholic may marrying a non-Catholic in a Catholic church, with a dispensation from the Bishop. Keep mind that it takes time to obtain a dispensation, that’s why you need to speak with a priest or deacon at least six months prior to your wedding.
The Sacrament of Matrimony
The Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally to this other person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union of husband and wife speaks of family values and also God’s values.
When a Catholic marries a Catholic, they receive the Sacrament of Matrimony, a sacramental union that directs those two people into a deeper relationship with Christ. The purpose of marriage is unitive and procreative: to bring the couple closer together and to bring new life into the world.
Logistics and Booking
Couples must contact the rectory at least six months in advance. Recent Baptismal certificates are required.