Marriage 

Congratulations on your engagement. Couples seeking to have their wedding at Our Lady of Hope parish are asked to contact our office at least six months prior to the desired date of marriage. 

Preparation Process: 

• Meetings with priest/deacon who will witness your marriage.
• Complete our in-house Pre-Cana course hosted by parish couples. 

Documents:

• Updated Sacramental Certificates (from the church where you received the sacraments)
• Letters of Freedom (provided by the parish)
• Pre-Cana Certificate
• Canonical Dispensations (if necessary)
• Marriage License (within sixty (60) days of the marriage)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the church teach that marriage is a sacrament?  The sacraments make Christ present in our midst. Like the other sacraments, marriage is not just for the good of individuals, or the couple, but for the community as a whole. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage between two baptized persons is a sacrament. The Old Testament prophets saw the marriage of a man and woman as a symbol of the covenant relationship between God and his people. The permanent and exclusive union between husband and wife mirrors the mutual commitment between God and his people. The Letter to the Ephesians says that this union is a symbol of the relationship between Christ and the Church.  

Do Catholics ever validly enter into non-sacramental marriages?
 Yes. Marriages between Catholics and non-Christians, while they may still be valid in the eyes of the Church, are non-sacramental. With permission, a priest or deacon may witness such marriages.

What is the difference between a valid and invalid Catholic marriage? Just as the individual states have certain rules for the celebration of marriage, the Catholic church also has has requirements before Catholics can be considered validly married in the eyes of the Church.   A valid Catholic marriage results results from four elements: (1) the spouses are free to marry; (2) they freely exchange their consent; (3) in consenting to marry, they have the intention to marry for life, to be faithful to one another and be open to children; and (4) their consent is given in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church minister.  Exception to the last requirement must be approved by church authority.  
 
If a Catholic wants to marry a non-Catholic, how can they assure that the marriage is recognized by the Church?
 In addition to meeting the criteria for a valid Catholic marriage (see the above question), the Catholic must seek permission from the local bishop to marry a non-Catholic. If the person is a non-Catholic Christian, this permission is called a “permission to enter into a mixed marriage.” If the person is a non-Christian, the permission is called a “dispensation from disparity of cult.” Those helping to prepare the couple for marriage can assist with the permission process.
 
Why does a Catholic wedding have to take place in a church?
 For Catholics, marriage is not just a social or family event, but a church event. For this reason, the Church prefers that marriages between Catholics, or between Catholics and other Christians, be celebrated in the parish church of one of the spouses. Only the local bishop can permit a marriage to be celebrated in another suitable place.
 
If a Catholic wishes to marry in a place outside the Catholic church, how can he or she be sure that the marriage is recognized by the Catholic Church as valid?
 The local bishop can permit a wedding in another church, or in another suitable place, for a sufficient reason. For example, a Catholic seeks to marry a Baptist whose father is the pastor of the local Baptist church. The father wants to officiate at the wedding. In these circumstances, the bishop could permit the couple to marry in the Baptist church. The permission in these instances is called a “dispensation from canonical form.”
 
If two Catholics or a Catholic and non-Catholic are married invalidly, what should they do about it?
 They should approach their pastor to try to resolve the situation.
 
When a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, must the non-Catholic promise to raise the children in the Catholic faith?
 The non-Catholic spouse does not have to promise to have the children raised Catholic. The Catholic spouse must promise to do all that he or she can to have the children baptized and raised in the Catholic faith.
 
Is there a fee to get married in the Catholic Church?
 Parishes ask for a donation to cover the cost of the event which also includes musicians.
 
What is a Nuptial Mass and when can a couple have one?
 A Nuptial Mass is a Mass which includes the celebration of the sacrament of marriage. It has special readings and prayers suitable to the Sacrament of Marriage. The Sacrament of Marriage between two baptized Catholics should normally be celebrated within Mass.
 
Is there an option to have a ceremony without the celebration of Mass?
 Yes. A Marriage ceremony is possible which includes the Liturgy of the Word and the Rite of Marriage. This is particularly appropriate in the event of a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic.
 
What should a couple do when they decide that they want to marry in the Catholic Church?
 They should contact their parish at least six months prior to the proposed date to make an appointment to talk with the priest, deacon or staff person who is responsible for preparing couples for marriage.
 
Why does the church require engaged couples to participate in a marriage preparation (pre-Cana) program?
 Marriage preparation offers couples the opportunity to develop a better understanding of Christian marriage, to evaluate and deepen their readiness to live married life, and to gain insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple. It is especially effective in helping couples to deal with the challenges of the early years of marriage.
 
What is an annulment?
 An annulment is a declaration by a tribunal (Catholic church court) that a marriage thought to be valid actually fell short of at least one of the essential elements required for a binding union. Unlike civil divorce, an annulment does not erase something that was already there. Rather, it is a declaration that a valid marriage was never actually brought about on the wedding day. A declaration of nullity does not deny that a relationship ever existed between the couple, or that the spouses truly loved one another.

(Adapted from "For Your Marriage" of the USCCB)