Marriage
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and
gave Himself up for her.”
Ephesians 5:25
Congratulations on your engagement to be married! We at St. Mary Catholic Church look forward to helping the two of you prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage and becoming active members of our parish family. It was at a celebration of marriage that Jesus performed His first miracle. This is a deliberate honoring of marriage as a union of love between a man and a woman as a symbol of Christ’s own love for His church.
Having your wedding celebrated in the Catholic Church is more than a location for your ceremony or a legally binding union, it is a covenant between a man and a woman. If both are baptized, the marriage is a sacrament, a symbol of the unity of Christ and the Church, and as such, a means of grace giving strength to the husband and wife to live out their commitment on the path of holiness.
The Catholic Church wants you to have a happy, healthy, and holy marriage. We believe that preparation is essential for a lifelong commitment. St. Mary follows a policy that requires couples desiring to be married in the Catholic Church to prepare for a period of six months to a year from your first meeting with a priest and confirmation of a wedding date.
To receive the Sacrament of Matrimony at St. Mary, one or both of you must be registered and actively participating in the life of the parish before a commitment is made to have your wedding here. An active member attends Mass weekly, wants to continue to grow in their relationship with our Lord, and support the ministries of the parish by sharing the gifts that God has given to them.
If you are not yet registered, please contact the parish office at 248.547.1818 or email mjiovani@st-mary.org and staff will assist you. It is important to have a home parish where you practice your faith and a community that supports you in your relationship with Christ, before and after your marriage.
If you have been a registered and active member of the parish for at least three months, please contact Linda Maccarone, Director of Parish Mission to schedule a meeting to fill out a wedding application form and Pre-Nuptial Interview. You can reach her at 248.547.1818, ext. 237 or email her at lmaccarone@st-mary.org. We advise you not to commit to a wedding date at a venue until you are able to confirm a wedding date with the pastor.
Matrimony 101 and 201 Videos
To learn more about Matrimony in the Catholic Church and marriage preparation, please watch these two short videos.
