Marriage in the Catholic Church, also called matrimony, is a “covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of the married couple’s children. “

Present-day Catholic canon law regulates the celebration of marriage in canons 1055–1165 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law and canons 776-866 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. While allowing for exceptions, it normally recognizes marriages of Catholics as valid only if contracted before the local bishop or parish priest or a priest delegated by them and at least two witnesses. At earlier times, validity was not made dependent on fulfillment of this condition.

Marriages between Catholics and non-Catholics (“mixed marriages”) are opposed by the Catholic Church, as they are looked upon as degrading the holy character of matrimony. However, permission for such marriages is more readily granted in the circumstances prevailing over the past century.

Please call the parish office at least 6 months in advance of the planned wedding. It is recommended that wedding receptions not be arranged before contacting the parish office, (909) 985-2803.