The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.( Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1601)
In the act of giving themselves to each other and accepting each other in marriage, the couple are joined by a bond that should never be broken. When both parties have been baptized, the marriage is a sacrament which no power on earth can divide. Because of the profound effects and value of marriage, the church requests that a couple begin their preparation at least six months prior to the date of the wedding.
Marriage preparation begins with an intial meeting with the priest or deacon. After the initial meeing, the couple is asked to attend marriage preparation classes. There are a variery of options to fit your situation.
The Catholic parties will need to aquire a new copy of their baptismal certificate. When you contact the church of your baptism, inform them you are preparing to marry. They will know what to send.
If either party has been previously married (in church or civilly, e.g. by a Justice of the Peace), that marriage must be completely resolved before a date can be set for the wedding.
If the parish Social Hall is used for the reception, the diocese requres $100 insurance to cover liability. Information regarding other fees and donation can be obtained by calling the office.
If you have read all of the above, accept the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage and are interested in setting up an appointment to begin the process, please take a moment to complete and submit an initial questionary Getting Married at St John Catholic Church Please be aware that 2 PM on Saturday is the latest we schedule weddings at St. John’s.
Here is a video from Busted Halo with some common questions answered by Fr. Steven Bell.
If you’re interested in getting married at our Church, please contact the office.
