“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, 1601)
Congratulations on your engagement! We look forward to assisting you as you plan for this important celebration of your faith. The Catholic Church puts a high value on marriage. We want couples to have successful marriages that bring them happiness and joy. As with all of the sacraments, adequate preparations are essential if the sacrament is to reach its full potential.
In an effort to help you prepare for the sacrament, the Catholic Church requires that you participate in a comprehensive marriage preparation process. The process will provide you with an opportunity to talk about your personal values, such as how you view money, work, intimacy, children, and extended family. The process will also help you deepen your understanding of what a Christian marriage ought to be.
Marriage preparation includes multiple steps: a course in Natural Family Planning, possible discussions with a mentoring couple, participation in a marriage retreat (Married Love, Two Becoming One), a pre-marital inventory, and more. Because this process takes time, it is necessary that arrangements for marriage be made at least six months before the marriage date. An entire year is preferred. This six-month minimum is normal practice in all dioceses in the state, and in neighboring states.
Your first step should be an appointment with the pastor or a member of the parish staff. No date can be set in the parish calendar until you’ve completed a preliminary meeting. During this meeting, the pastor or staff member will walk you through an overview of the process and answer your questions. He or she will also ensure that there is nothing standing in the way of getting married in the Church (we don’t want any last minute surprises!). At the end of your meeting, your proposed date can be placed into the parish calendar.
During this initial interview, one of the questions is the place and date of your baptism. If you have a copy of your baptismal certificate, please bring it to the meeting. At the very least, determine the church and the year in which the baptism occurred. Eventually, we’ll have to contact them and obtain an up-to-date baptismal certificate. Please note that this requirement applies to non-Catholic Christians as well!
Please contact the parish office at least six months prior to the anticipated date of the wedding (an entire year is preferred).
Anyone wishing to marry at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish:
Congratulations on your engagement! We look forward to assisting you as you plan for this important celebration of your faith. The Catholic Church puts a high value on marriage. We want couples to have successful marriages that bring them happiness and joy. As with all of the sacraments, adequate preparations are essential if the sacrament is to reach its full potential.
In an effort to help you prepare for the sacrament, the Catholic Church requires that you participate in a comprehensive marriage preparation process. The process will provide you with an opportunity to talk about your personal values, such as how you view money, work, intimacy, children, and extended family. The process will also help you deepen your understanding of what a Christian marriage ought to be.
Marriage preparation includes multiple steps: a course in Natural Family Planning, possible discussions with a mentoring couple, participation in a marriage retreat (Married Love, Two Becoming One), a pre-marital inventory, and more. Because this process takes time, it is necessary that arrangements for marriage be made at least six months before the marriage date. An entire year is preferred. This six-month minimum is normal practice in all dioceses in the state, and in neighboring states.
Your first step should be an appointment with the pastor or a member of the parish staff. No date can be set in the parish calendar until you’ve completed a preliminary meeting. During this meeting, the pastor or staff member will walk you through an overview of the process and answer your questions. He or she will also ensure that there is nothing standing in the way of getting married in the Church (we don’t want any last minute surprises!). At the end of your meeting, your proposed date can be placed into the parish calendar.
During this initial interview, one of the questions is the place and date of your baptism. If you have a copy of your baptismal certificate, please bring it to the meeting. At the very least, determine the church and the year in which the baptism occurred. Eventually, we’ll have to contact them and obtain an up-to-date baptismal certificate. Please note that this requirement applies to non-Catholic Christians as well!
Please contact the parish office at least six months prior to the anticipated date of the wedding (an entire year is preferred).
Anyone wishing to marry at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish:
- Must be an registered, active member of the parish.
- Pay a minimal church usage fee within 15 days of reserving the church.
- Contact the parish office to set up a time for a preliminary marriage preparation meeting. Contact us here.
- Must attend the Married Love, Two Becoming One Retreat.
- Must complete the Natural Family Planning course.
For Further Reading...
For more information on the Sacrament of Matrimony, consider reading the following:
- Matrimony by Peter Kreeft (Catholic Information Service) [PDF]
- Preserving the Sanctity of Marriage by Father W. Becket Soule, OP (Catholic Information Service) [PDF]
- A Pastoral Letter on Cohabitation Before Marriage (Kansas Catholic Conference/Catholic Information Service) [PDF]
- Catholic Sexual Ethics by Dr. William E. May (Catholic Information Service) [PDF]
- God’s Plan for Love and Marriage by Dr. Edward Sri (Catholic Information Service) [PDF]
- In the Image of Love by Carl A. Anderson & Michelle K. Borras (Catholic Information Service) [PDF]
- Called to Love by Katrina F. Ten Eyck and Michelle K. Borras (Catholic Information Service) [PDF]
- Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan (USCCB) [PDF]
- Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Casti Connubii [HTML]
- Saint Paul VI, Encyclical Humanae Vitae [HTML]
- Saint John Paul II, Letter to Families, Gratissimam Sane [HTML]
- Saint John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio [HTML]
- Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia [HTML]