Congratulations on your decision to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony.

This brochure is provided to you as a guide to assist you in your preparation.

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 of Adults

Documents needed

· Recent copy of your Baptismal Certificate (one issued within the last six months)

· Confirmation Certificate, if you have received it.

· If one of the interested party was previously married by Civil Court and is divorced, the divorce decree and the marriage certificate is needed. If the divorce has not been granted, the marriage preparation cannot proceed.

· If one of the interested party was previously married through the Catholic Church you must have had your marriage annulled before being allowed to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony again in the Catholic Church. The annulment decree must be presented.

· If you are a widow/er, a death certificate must be presented.

· Couples married civilly for less than one year must wait until they have completed one year of marriage before starting any preparation for a church wedding.

· If both or either bride/groom lives outside the parish boundaries they will need a letter of permission from their parish to marry at Corpus Christi.

Preparation

In the first two months couples must complete the following. Failure to complete your paperwork in the first two months will result in a postponement of your preparation and you will need to begin anew.

· Pre-Nuptial Questionnaire

for the Groom and Bride. This questionnaire lets the Priest or Deacon know basic information about yourselves.

· Witness Affidavit

The couple will need to have two witness for the groom and two witness for the bride in which they testify that they know them and know that they have been Baptized.

· Sacramental Certificates

Your Baptismal and Confirmation Certificates must be turned in.

· Any other Paperwork such as:

Marriage License (if already married civilly), Divorce Decree, Annulment Decree, Lack of Form, Permission letter from home parish.

Following Six Months

· FOCCUS Inventory is a series of statements that cover all aspects of married life. The couples choose to Agree, Disagree or Uncertain to each statement. The FOCCUS is then scored and a report is generated. The Parish Couple will use this report to discuss issues on which the couple disagreed or they were uncertain.

· Marriage Preparation

· The couple will be assigned a Pre-Martial Ministry Couple that will journey with them through the preparation. They will also help the couple plan their Church wedding.

· Natural Family Planning

A course where the couple learn how to achieve and post pone pregnancies in accordance with Catholic Church teachings.

· Weekend Retreat

Marriage License

If the couple is not married civilly then they must obtain a Marriage License from the County Clerk’s office at least one month prior to the wedding. You can obtain more information on Marriage Licenses at: epcounty.com/clerk/marriage.htm

Setting the Wedding Date

When you have completed and turned in all your paperwork, (Pre-Nuptial Questionnaire, Witness Affidavits (4), Sacramental Certificates and any other paperwork required), you will then contact the Parish Office to set the wedding date.

The suggested donation for registered parishioners or parishioners who live within the parish boundaries is $400.

The suggested donation for non-parishioners is $500.

When the date is set half of the suggested donation must be made. The remaining balance must be made a month before the wedding date.

Corpus Christi asks that you contact the Parish Office at least eight months prior to your desired date.

It is the couple’s responsibility not the Church’s, to follow through with all the requirements.

Failure to follow through will result in the cancellation of your Wedding.