Congratulations on your engagement! The church rejoices with you in the love that you have found for each other! It also considers your love to be a symbol of Divine love. By virtue of the sacrament of matrimony, the church holds that married couples signify and share in the mystery of the unity and fruitful love which exists between Christ and his Church. Married couples help each other to attain holiness through their married life and through the rearing and education of their children, and they have their own special place among the people of God. (See Introduction to the Rite of Marriage, paragraph #1)

To begin your preparation for marriage you would need to contact one of our priests and make an appointment at least 6 mos prior to when you would like to be married. At that meeting, Father would likely schedule the date for your wedding. You need to be a parishioner to begin preparations for the sacrament. Father will give you the details of the documents you need to secure (license, baptismal certificates and freedom to marry forms) and the steps you would need to take to complete your preparation for the beginning of your new life together as husband and wife.

You will meet with the priest (or Deacon if he is helping prepare you) a total of three times for pre-marriage counseling

Each couple must attend a Wedding Workshop here at the parish to help in planning your liturgy (these are held bi-monthly on a weekday evening from 7:30 – 8:30.) Father will give you information on how to register. You’ll need to meet with the Director of Music, CJ Capen, between one and two months before your wedding to finalize your plans, turn in all remaining documents and pay fees that are due. A week before your wedding a Wedding Coordinator will contact you to finalize any particulars and answer questions. These volunteers help set up for your wedding, run the rehearsal and facilitate at the wedding ceremony itself.

Please contact the Liturgy Office to find out more! Call 703-860-6151.