Congratulations on your engagement! We are excited to journey with you on your way toward the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony and beyond! As you begin to prepare, please know that we are here to support you before, during, and after the big day. Marriage is a journey that requires love and support from your friends, family, and your faith community. You can count on our unceasing support through this lifelong adventure.
First Steps: A minimum of six (6) to eight (8) months for the sacramental formation and preparation is needed depending on individual circumstances. Please contact Regina Comple at 725-214-7069 to schedule a meeting to begin the preparation process.
Scheduling Your Wedding Day: Your wedding date will be scheduled once you begin the process and meet with our Pastor. Weddings are normally scheduled on Saturdays at 12:00 pm, but if you are looking for a different day and/or time, please inquire about availability. No other outside contracts or reservations should be made until an available date for the Sacrament of Marriage is confirmed with the parish. Once a date is chosen, you will be referred to Lisa Fairweather, our Director of Music. She will assist you in selecting appropriate music for your wedding. She will also assign a cantor for the ceremony and must approve any requests for guest musicians to participate in the wedding liturgy.
Preparation: All couples are required to attend our weekend-long Engagement Experience. Learn more about our Engagement Experience Program. Throughout the year, there will be other Marriage Enrichment opportunities that you are encouraged to attend. For more information about the preparation process, please contact the Regina Comple at 725-214-7069.
Suggested Donation: $850.00, which also covers the costs of the Engagement Experience.
Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with "the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Rev 19:7, 9). Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his Church. Man and woman were created for each other. By their marriage, the couple witnesses Christ's spousal love for the Church. One of the Nuptial Blessings in the liturgical celebration of marriage refers to this in saying, "Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church." The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy.
- United States Catholic Catechism for Adults