"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
Preparing for Matrimony
Congratulations on your decision to get married in the Catholic Church!
The following information should help you as you begin the process of preparing as a couple for the Sacrament of Matrimony. Like other sacraments of the Catholic Church, Marriage requires spiritual preparation and as such, we request at least nine months preparation time. Due to the great demand of weddings we are accepting members who have been registered more than six months.
The following information should help you as you begin the process of preparing as a couple for the Sacrament of Matrimony. Like other sacraments of the Catholic Church, Marriage requires spiritual preparation and as such, we request at least nine months preparation time. Due to the great demand of weddings we are accepting members who have been registered more than six months.
Times Available
Weddings take place on Saturdays only in:
Rehearsals are scheduled the Friday before the wedding at 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. The only exceptions are if the Friday is a holiday, solemnity or if there is a conflicting parish event.
- St. Francis of Assisi Church at 1:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
- St. Clare Chapel at 12:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m.
Rehearsals are scheduled the Friday before the wedding at 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. The only exceptions are if the Friday is a holiday, solemnity or if there is a conflicting parish event.
Cost
For detailed information about wedding costs please contact Saramental Assistant, Jennifer Alameda at [email protected] or at (972) 712-2645 ext 230.
Initial Interview
The couple must schedule an appointment for their initial interview by Saramental Assistant, Jennifer Alameda at [email protected] or at (972) 712-2645 ext 230.
To reserve a wedding date and time, the couple must:
To reserve a wedding date and time, the couple must:
- provide 50 % of the total cost of the ceremony, which is nonrefundable
- bring baptism certificate(s) as detailed in the 'Documents Needed' section
Documents Needed
For All Couples:
- Original and newly issued baptism certificate with notations for each Catholic (issued no more than six (6) months prior to your initial interview) from the church of your baptism. To obtain an original copy, you must contact the church you were baptized in (via phone/email/mail/in-person) and request a copy of your baptism certificate. We’ve had many couples baptized from all over the world, so it’s possible to obtain. From non-Catholics, if baptized, a certificate of baptism is also required, however no time restriction applies.
- Church law requires that both of you must be free to marry, that is, neither one of you was married before. If either of you were married before (even civilly), and your former spouse is still living, you will need to obtain a declaration of nullity on the marriage from the Tribunal of the Diocese. The Marriage Administrator will assist you with the process. Under no circumstances may a date be set for the ceremony, or even a tentative date set, until the Tribunal process is complete.
- If a widow or widower is marrying, a copy of the former spouse’s death certificate is required.
- A Prenuptial Questionnaire Form which will be completed with a priest, deacon or lay minister and signed by all parties at the initial interview
- Affidavits of free status. The priest or lay minister will need to personally interview a witness for the bride and a witness for the groom. A witness is usually a parent, sibling, cousin, or friend who has known the party since early adolescence. The witness will be asked to swear under oath whether or not the party has ever been married before among other questions. If for valid reasons the witnesses cannot come to the appointment, a contact telephone number and name of the witness must be provided so that we may conduct their declaration by telephone.
- In cases of inter-faith marriages, a Mixed Religion Dispensation or Disparity of Cult Dispensation is needed. This is done by the priest, deacon or lay minister who is handling your paperwork.
- If you are completing your orientation at St. Francis but marrying elsewhere, there are additional documents and information required. The completed prenuptial forms will then be sent to the Tribunal for review and subsequently your church of marriage.
Needed for Engaged Couples:
Also needed for couples that are civilly married who wish to convalidate their marriage in the Catholic Church:
Contact Jennifer Alameda Sacramental Assistant [email protected] 972.712.2645 ext. 230 |