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Marriage Preparation Guidelines
The Catholic Church has established a number of basic requirements for
the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage. In order to fulfill these
requirements, to assure sacred celebration of the Sacrament and to facilitate
preparation for marriage, the Diocese of Sacramento has adopted the following
policies:
Initial Contact
Engaged couples desiring to be married in the Catholic Church must contact
their parish priest, deacon or pastoral minister
at least six months prior to the anticipated wedding date. It is recommended
that couples make contact with the parish at the very beginning of their
engagement.
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Assessment Process
Every couple is asked to participate in an assessment process with the priest, deacon or pastoral minister. This process is designed to assist both the couple and the priest/deacon or pastoral minister in assessing the engaged couple’s readiness for marriage. The process begins with an initial interview with the priest, deacon or pastoral minister. As part of the process, each engaged person is to complete a questionnaire or inventory tool.
The inventory tools which are approved in the Diocese of Sacramento are FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study), PREPARE/ENRICH and PMI (Pre-Marital Inventory). A decision to proceed with, or delay, the wedding is made by the facilitator and the couple following the assessment process. The wedding date will be finalized only at this time.
Special Circumstances
The bridegroom and bride are to share with the priest, deacon or pastoral
minister any of the following circumstances:
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If one or both are under the age of twenty (20);
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If there is a pregnancy involved;
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If they are presently cohabiting (living together);
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If one of the engaged is not Catholic;
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If one or both have been married before in any type of
ceremony or common law union; -
If they are now civilly married and wish to have their marriage convalidated in the Catholic Church.
It is a canonical requirement (“canonical form”) that a Catholic be married before a properly delegated priest or deacon and two witnesses. A Catholic who marries outside the church without a dispensation from the canonical form does so invalidly, i.e., the Church does not recognize the marriage. Some circumstances require special steps to assist the couple in preparing for marriage in the Church. If any of these special circumstances exist, it does not necessarily mean that one cannot be married in the Church. However, it does mean that an honest discussion of these circumstances should take place between the couple and the marriage preparation facilitator.
Place of the Wedding
Two parties who reside outside the diocese and are requesting to be married
within the diocese should normally do their marriage preparation in their
home parish/diocese. Since the parish church is the spiritual home of
the family of God and the heart of sacramental life and ministry, when
two Catholics marry, they are expected to marry in the parish church
of either the bride or the groom. For any exceptions, please refer to
the diocesan policy.
Required Documents
The priest, deacon or pastoral minister who is preparing the engaged persons
for marriage will assist them in obtaining the following documents:
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Baptismal Certificate(s): The baptismal certificate of the Catholic(s) should be issued within the last six months and include any notations (regarding other sacraments received). A certificate of baptism is also required of a non-Catholic Christian.
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A Letter of Freedom (Form B) is to be completed by two witnesses on behalf of each engaged person (i.e. two forms for each of the engaged). Forms are available at the parish.
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A Pre-Nuptial Inquiry (Form A) is to be completed by each of the engaged. This inquiry includes questions regarding one’s freedom to marry and one’s views on Christian marriage.
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State of California Marriage License: Unless the license is present, no wedding can occur.
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Confirmation Certificate(s): If it can be celebrated without serious inconveniences, Catholics who have not yet received the sacrament of confirmation are to receive it before being admitted to marriage.
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Permission for a Mixed Marriage (for a Catholic to marry a person baptized in a non-Catholic Christian denomination).
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Petition for Dispensation for Disparity of Worship (for a Catholic to marry a non-baptized person).
All documents are to be kept on file at the parish where the wedding takes place.
Required Marriage Preparation Programs
Marriage Preparation Programs
The engaged couple is to attend one of the diocesan approved marriage preparation programs. Participation is to be completed no later than two months before the wedding date. All programs cover such topics as: Sacrament of Marriage, family of origin, communication skills, finances, married intimacy, sexuality, family and their role in the Church and society. The following programs are available in the Diocese of Sacramento:
Evenings for the Engaged: Six sessions spread out over six weeks in the home of a married couple who serves as the group facilitator.
Pre-Cana: A one-day (8 hours), two-day or four-evening program held on a Saturday or Sunday at the Diocesan Pastoral Center or parish church.
Engaged Encounter Weekend: A weekend away, beginning Friday evening and concluding Sunday afternoon, held at a retreat center.
Commuter Weekend Experience: A commuter weekend experience, beginning Friday evening or Saturday morning and concluding Sunday afternoon or evening. This program is held at a designated parish site where engaged couples from nearby parishes are invited.
Natural Family Planning Course: The couple must also participate in an overview session on Natural Family Planning and be encouraged to pursue further training later. One will not be turned away from a program because of the inability to pay.
Celebration of Ceremony by Visiting Priest or Deacon
If a priest or deacon other than the one assigned to the parish where
the wedding is held is to witness the exchange of vows, he must receive
specific delegation from a priest of that parish in order to officiate
at the ceremony. To make these arrangements, the engaged couple must inform
the parish immediately of their desire to have a visiting priest or deacon
officiate the ceremony.
If the priest or deacon is from out of town, or is not able to handle
the couple’s preparation, it remains the responsibility of the
local parish priest, deacon or pastoral minister.
Celebrating of the Sacraments
Catholic engaged persons are expected to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance (regularly) and the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist (at least once a week on Sunday) as part of their preparation process. The celebration of the sacraments will prepare the couple for a more meaningful experience of the wedding liturgy and deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ who is the source of fruitful married life.
Preparation for the Marriage Liturgy
It is the responsibility of the engaged couple to take seriously the planning of the wedding liturgy. To assist the couple, suggested readings, music guidelines and a wedding planning sheet are available from the parish.
Additional Parish Requirements
In addition to the above requirements, there may be additional requirements of the particular parish.
The comprehensive Marriage Preparation Policy is an extensive and thorough document, which offers significant background, detail, direction and resource material for all inquiries and circumstances. Pastoral forms, interview and testimony guides are included.