Sacrament of Matrimony

Holy Trinity conducts marriage preparation sessions once a month.  Engaged couples interested in obtaining the Sacrament of Matrimony at Holy Trinity are required to attend this meeting after they have set a wedding date.   Please call the Pastoral Center (214-526-8555) to register for this class, space is limited. 
Sessions are held on the second Saturday of each month.  Session begins at 9:00 am in the Community Life Center room 201/202. 

Dates for the Marriage Preparation Sessions
2020
January 11
February 8
March 14
May 9
June 13
July 11
August 8
September 12
October 10
November 14
December 12

Note: This session is for information on how to begin the marriage process and is meant for couples doing their paperwork or getting married at Holy Trinity. The course DOES NOT replace Pre-Cana or other marriage preparation courses.

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  Holy  Trinity  Church ?

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 Trinity Church requires the following of couples:

• Completion of the FOCUS marriage preparation instrument and discussion of the results of the questionnaire with the clergy person preparing the couple for marriage.
• Meet with a sponsor couple for 4-5 sessions using the "In Faithful Love" program.
• Texas Law-civil license, acquired less than 30 days prior to wedding date.

What about the actual wedding ceremony?

The couple is involved in planning the ceremony with the wedding coordinator, 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 Holy Trinity Church ?

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 4 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 Mass.

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 after they have set a wedding date.  
Please call the Pastoral Center (214-526-8555) to register for this class, space is limited. 
Sessions are held on the second Saturday of each month.  Session begins at 9:00 am in the Community Life Center room 201/202. 

Dates for the Marriage Preparation Sessions
2020
January 11
February 8
March 14
May 9
June 13
July 11
August 8
September 12
October 10
November 14
December 12

Note: This session is for information on how to begin the marriage process and is meant for couples doing their paperwork or getting married at Holy Trinity. The course DOES NOT replace Pre-Cana or other marriage preparation courses.