Marriage

The vocation of marriage is written in the very nature of men and women as they came from the hand of the creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries different cultures, social structures and spiritual attitudes. (CCC 1603) The marriage 0covenant, by which a man and woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. By its very nature it is ordered to the good of the couple, as well as the generation and education of children. Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to the dignity of a sacrament. (CCC 1660)

 

   

GENERAL INFORMATION:

·        Anyone who is planning a wedding in the near future should contact the parish office at least six months prior to their planned wedding date.

·        If either part has been married before then there is a procedure that must be completed before finalizing a specific wedding day/time at the Parish Office.  It is important to realize that this procedure can take a considerable amount of time.

·        Wedding dates are booked at the initial meeting of the couple with the marriage preparation coordinator.

·        Catholics must present a recent issue of their Baptismal certificate.  Baptized non-catholic Christians must also have a copy of their baptism.  Certificates can be obtained by writing to the Church of their Baptism.

·        The Church requires that couples participate in some type of formal marriage preparation experience.  At present there are two options:  Engaged Encounter Weekend which begins on Friday evening at 8:00PM and finishes Sunday afternoon; Evenings for the Engaged consists of eight weekly sessions offered in the fall, winter, and spring.  There is a parish marriage preparation for Spanish speaking couples as well.  The marriage preparation program topics include communication, conflict resolution, family issues, finances, sexuality, and spirituality.

·        A prenuptial investigation is required which involves an individual  interview for  each party as well as one person (usually a family member of each party) needs make an appointment for a brief interview to attest to the party’s freedom to marry in the Catholic Church.

·        The couple must obtain a marriage license from the county courthouse.  The license must be brought to the parish office at least two weeks prior to the wedding.

·        The cost is approximately $425.00.  Based on the availability of the Hallen Hall for the reception there is an additional cost.

MARRIED CIVILY:

If you are a Catholic, but were not married in the Catholic Church, you can receive the sacrament of matrimony.   There are some things that you will need to do:  must be free to marry in the Catholic Church; provide new copies of your certificates of baptism (especially for the Catholic party); provide a copy of civil marriage certificate; complete prenuptial and witness forms; and participate in some form of marriage preparation.

The celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage can be truly enriching and wonderful moment.  If you wish to begin the preparation, or if you have further questions, please contact Rosemarie Ratcliff at the parish office.

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT AND HELP COUPLES:  all of these programs can be found on the internet

·        Engaged Encounter: for those preparing for marriage.  Lisa and Greg Wellman 253-777-0169ttle

·        Creighton Model Fertility Care System:  learn about one of the most cutting edge family planning methods that is accurate, scientific, and follows the Church’s teachings.  Kim & Robert Kondrat 360-352-9592

·        Marriage Encounter:  this is a 44 hour experience for couples who want to enrich their marriage.  206-772-2344

·        Retrouvaille:  for couples experiencing difficult times.  Bill & Gail Dewey @ 206-706-2608