Marriage
Marriage Preparation at St. Francis of Assisi
Congratulations on your upcoming Marriage! This is an exciting time in your life. Your love for one another has led you to make this marriage commitment!
When a couple is married “in the Catholic Church” we believe, as Catholics that the couple commit themselves to one another and make a marriage commitment to God and to the Catholic community. Marriage is not a private affair. In turn, the community and God commit themselves to support the couple in their marriage. This, in part, is why all marriages take place within the church building. Even more important, because the marriage covenant is grounded in faith and will only be successful lived in faith, it is essential that the couple be practicing and living their faith within a parish community.
Because you as a couple and your impending marriage are so important, we start the marriage preparation with a meeting with one of the parish priests. To set your wedding date, please contact the Parish Office at (734) 821-2100 a minimum of nine months before you are planning to be married. Once again, congratulations on your upcoming marriage!
Sponsor Couples for Marriage Preparation
The Sponsor Couple Marriage Preparation Program uses “like-to-like” ministry to help prepare engaged couples increase their knowledge and awareness of each other’s values and attitudes as well as improve their communication skills, problem-solving abilities, appreciation of human sexuality, and the expression of their shared spirituality.
Through this ministry couples who have been married for at least five years help to prepare engaged couples who are planning to receive the Sacrament of Marriage. This approach to marriage preparation allows a married couple to make a difference by giving engaged couples the strong start they need to have a successful marriage. Meetings are held in the home of the married couple.
As a first step, contact our pastor, Fr. James at frjames@stfrancisa2.com or by calling the front desk at (734) 821-2100.
Questions can also be directed to weddings@stfrancisa2.com
Marriage Convalidation
Are you married civilly, but not sacramentally? We invite you to have your marriage convalidated within the Church.
Each couples’ situation is unique and requires discernment. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Fr. James Conlon at the parish office.
“I encourage the faithful who find themselves in complicated situations to speak confidently with their pastors or with other lay people whose lives are committed to the Lord.”
- Pope Francis,
Amoris Laetitia, núm. 312
Is my marriage valid?
In order for a marriage to be considered valid in the eyes of the Church, the following conditions must be met:
1. The spouses (a man and a woman) are free to marry (no impediments or previous marriages that have not been annulled).
2. The spouses exchange their vows freely (without coercion), intend to be married for life, to be faithful to one another and open to the gift of children.
3. Their consent is given in canonical form (before two witnesses and an authorized church minister). There are some exceptions to the last requirement but must be petitioned and permission granted by the bishop. If permission was not granted, then the marriage needs convalidation (as in the case of a marriage that takes place outside of the Catholic Church without previous permission, or when a couple civilly marries without the necessary preparation and dispensation granted by the Church).
These canonical laws are binding for all baptized Catholics, even if only one spouse is Catholic.
What does it mean to have my marriage “convalidated” in the Church?
When a couple has their marriage convalidated in the Church, their union is formally recognized and sacramentally blessed by the Church. They receive a special outpouring of God’s grace in the sacrament which helps them to remain faithful to each other and raise their children to be faithful Christians. It helps them to grow closer to God and to one another. This recognition by the Church also allows them full admittance to the other sacraments, including the Eucharist. It also allows them to take the role of godparents for others.
What does the process look like?
Depending on the length of time together as a couple, any previous preparation done for the previously obtained marriage (whether civil or in another denomination), and other life circumstances and factors, the process may look a little different for each couple. A first step will be to meet with our pastor, Fr. James, and/or another member of the pastoral team to discuss your personal situation and assess what will be best for you and your spouse for proper preparation.
Does it mean we need to have another wedding ceremony?
Not necessarily. If you already had a wedding ceremony with your family and friends, but are in need of marriage convalidation, this can be done in a simple ceremony with a priest, you, your spouse, and two witnesses. However, if you married in a simple civil ceremony with every intent to have a full wedding ceremony at the church (which is often the case for those in other countries where the two ceremonies are separated), this is also a possibility and we’d love to make the sacred sacrament of marriage a reality for you!
