Why guidelines for the sacrament of marriage?
The Catholic Church believes and teaches that marriage is a sacrament, a symbol of the love of Jesus Christ for his people, the church. As a sacrament, marriage is also a covenant by which a man and a woman establish a partnership of the whole of life. Marriage is also ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. It is meant to be a life-long commitment, until death.
Catholic parishes have the responsibility of assisting couples to understand and to prepare for the responsibilities of the sacrament of marriage. With that in mind, we offer the following information and guidelines.
Who can marry at
Registered and active members of Holy Trinity are welcome to celebrate their marriage at Holy Trinity. This is true even if one party is neither a member nor a Catholic, as long as the party is also free to marry in the Catholic Church. Non-parishioners can also be married here, but they will need permission from the proper pastor of the Catholic party or parties. All couples must contact the church at least six months prior to the planned wedding day.
Are there other conditions for marrying at Holy Trinity?
It is also necessary that the couple manifest the following:
Freedom from prior marriages (consult other pamphlets about decree of nullity of previous marriage and about convalidation of existing civil marriage)
Each party must be at least 18 years old
Maturity and free choice of each party
Appreciation of the Catholic faith and participation in that faith by Catholics
Participation and honesty in the marriage preparation programs of the Catholic diocese and parish
Couples must have known each other for at least one year prior to the date of marriage
What is the preparation required for the sacrament of marriage?
The Catholic Diocese of Dallas requires the following of couples:
Fill out in the presence of a clergyman of the parish a pre-marital investigation form.
A recent copy (less than six months prior to wedding date) of your baptismal record for each Catholic.
An affidavit attesting to your freedom to marry in the Catholic Church filled out by family members or close friend.
Additional marriage preparation programs of each parish.
Holy
Completion of the FOCUS marriage preparation instrument and discussion of the results of the questionnaire with the clergy person preparing the couple for marriage.
At least one or two of the following:
Engaged Encounter - a weekend program of communication and spiritual formation of marriage.
Participation in the Sponsor Couple Program.
What about the actual wedding ceremony?
The couple is involved in planning the ceremony with the minister, choosing the prayers and scripture readings and vow wording. The couple also plans the appropriate music for the ceremony with the parish liturgy/music director. The director may be contacted through the parish office.
Can other priests or ministers take part in the wedding ceremony?
Normally, the clergy of the parish conducts weddings at Holy Trinity. Other ministers (Catholic or non-Catholic) may assist. However, for another minister to conduct the ceremony, permission is required from the pastor. Also, if such a request is made, the normal procedure is for that minister to take responsibility for the premarital preparation with the couple.
When can weddings take place at
Weddings may take place on Saturday, except for Holy Saturday and the Saturdays preceding Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Times available for scheduling weddings are: 11am, 2pm and 7:00pm.
Wedding rehearsals are scheduled hourly the Friday evening prior to the wedding, with the latest start time being 5 pm. Times for weddings and rehearsals are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
What about marriages between Catholics and non-Catholics?
The Catholic Church allows Catholics to marry non-Catholics in the Church as long as each party is free to marry in the Catholic Church. A non-Catholic previously married in his or her church is not free to marry in the Catholic Church automatically upon receiving a divorce. However, an annulment from the Catholic Church is possible for previously married non-Catholics as well as for Catholics. Consult pamphlet on annulments.
Since the wedding party, families, and guests at such marriages will be of different denominations, we encourage a ceremony of scripture readings, prayers and vows, without
Two significant issues for “interfaith marriages” are the practice of the faith of each party and the raising of the children. These issues need to be addressed before the marriage.
What to do next?
Holy Trinity conducts a marriage preparation meeting once a month. Engaged couples interested in obtaining the Sacrament of Matrimony at Holy Trinity are required to attend this meeting. Please call the Pastoral Center (214-526-8555) to register for this class.
Sessions are held on the second Saturday of each month. Session I begins at 9:00 am and Session II follows at 10:00 am in Marillac Parlour. Couples should attend Session I and then the following month attend Session II.
Dates for the Marriage Preparation Sessions
| September 11, 2010 | January 8, 2011 |
| October 9 | February 12 |
| November 6 * | March 12 |
| December 4 * | April 9 |
| * scheduled for the first Saturday because of conflict | May 14 |
| June 11 | |
| July 9 | |
| August 13 | |
| September 10 | |
| October 8 | |
| November 12 | |
| December 10 |