A. Prelimanary Interview

The first step is a meeting with the parish priest or pastoral minister to begin the wedding planning and preparation for married life. This should take place between six to twelve months prior the anticipated wedding date and before any arrangements are made or a wedding date is set. During this interview, the pastoral minister will provide an explanation of the Pastoral Guidelines for Marriage Preparation. Please discuss if:

• One or both are under the age of nineteen;
• There is pregnancy involved;
• You are presently living together;
• One of the engaged is not Catholic;
• One or both have been married before in any type of ceremony or common law union;
• You are now civilly married and wish to have your marriage convalidated by the Catholic Church.

Schedule a Meeting with the Pastor

B. Assessment for Determining Readiness

The pastoral minister will use a variety of methods to assist in determining the maturity of the couple and their rediness for marriage. A premarital inventory (Fully Engaged) will be administered and diocesan forms will be completed.

The couple will be paired with a mentor couple from our parish. With a mentor couple by your side, you will encounter Christ as a couple, grow in your relationship with Christ, and learn how to better serve each other and your future children! Our mentor couples have committed themselves to joyfully living out the Catholic vocation of marriage and are willing to walk with men and women who are preparing for Holy Matrimony. Once you are paired with a mentor couple, you will meet with them for five sessions (via Zoom or in person, if safe) to deepen your understanding of the Sacrament of Marriage and talk through some of the practical matters of marriage using the premarital inventory Fully Engaged.

Along the way, our mentor couples will also introduce you to other young married couples who are part of our parish community and get you plugged into a men’s or women’s group.

 

C. Better Together

Your dream about your wedding day, your honeymoon and growing old together. What about everything in between? BETTER TOGETHER equips you with the tools you need to build a lasting, happy, and faith-filled marriage.

This is something you can begin doing TOGETHER TODAY!

Watch together the Short, Engaging Videos

Watch Now

Do the Dynamic Catholic, Marriage Prep Inventory

Start Talking

(Upon completion of the inventory and reviewing the results together, share the results with the pastor)
 

D. Setting the Date

The final date for the wedding is not to be set until the entire assessment process (A & B) has been completed and a decision to proceed has been made.

E. Instruction

After the readiness for marriage has been determined, the couple will finalize the wedding date and begin the instruction process with the assistance of the pastor. The pastor will outline the sacramental preparation required (Pre Cana, Pre Cana Weekend Retreat, Remarriage, Convalidation, interviews with the priest, etc.) Taking an extended period of time to focus solely on your relationship and future bond in marriage is incredibly valuable. You will not regret investing this time into your future marriage.

F. Required Documents

Before the wedding ceremony can take place, the prenuptial file must be completed with the following documents:

• Certificate of Baptism for each Catholic party (less than six months old from the date of marriage).
• A Pre-Nuptial Questionnaire (Form A) is to be completed with a priest, deacon or church representative and signed by all parties.
• A Letter of Freedom to Marry (Form B) is to be completed by two witnesses on behalf of each engaged person (i.e. two forms for each engaged). The Freedom to Marry (B Form) can be downloaded and printed by clicking the following button.

• A Certificate of Completion from the Diocesan Marriage Preparation Program.
• A valid Florida Marriage License. Visit your county’s web site for more information. A discount is given for your License when you present them a certificate of completion of your marriage prep program.
• Death Certificate of previous spouse or Annulment Decree if you were previously married.
• Canonical Dispensations and Permissions (if necessary).

G Wedding Liturgy

“Couples already civilly married are not coming to the Catholic Church for a “blessing of their marriage.” They are consenting to become a sacramental couple in the sight of the Catholic community.  A sacramental marriage is an ongoing journey that begins on the day of your Convalidation and lasts a lifetime. It involves the married couples’ relationship with God and the Church community as they strive daily to live their sacramental promise.” _{(Taken from Picture of Love: Convalidation Workbook)}

Convalidation is for couples who have been civilly married for more than 2 years but are looking to validate their marriage in the Roman Catholic Church. 

All Catholics should be married in the Roman Catholic Church. Any person who has been previously married in the Church or civilly married, and whose previous spouse is still alive, regardless of civil divorce or civil annulment, is not free to marry in the Church. These people should seek a church declaration of nullity of marriage. If you are in need of an annulment, contact one of the Priests in the parish who will arrange advocacy. There is no charge to receive an annulment in the church.