Because the Catholic Church wants couples to form strong, lasting marriages, couples who wish to marry in the Catholic Church are asked to:
- Contact and meet with your parish priest as soon as you are engaged. This should be done by you personally, since at that time the process will be explained in greater detail. This should be done at least 9 to 12 months before the wedding.
- Within six months of the wedding, the paperwork should be completed by the pastor of the parish in which you are living now. Please make sure that you’ve registered in the local parish well in excess of this time. You will need a new copy of your baptismal certificate from your place of Baptism. This must include the record of your Confirmation and Holy Communion. It should also indicate whether or not you’ve been married in the Church before. This document must have the raised seal of the parish on it and therefore cannot be faxed. If communion or confirmation were received in different parish from that of the baptism and not recorded at the place of baptism, you will have to request those certificates from the parish in which you received those sacraments.
- At least six months prior to your wedding day, attend a diocesan marriage preparation program. To find what programs are available near you, contact our diocesan marriage preparation office. Catholic marriage preparation programs are usually presented by a team of lay married couples and a priest or deacon. They are not restricted to Catholics, but they are always in keeping with Church teaching.