Marriage

Congratulations on Your Upcoming Marriage!

To become married is one of the most significant endeavors of a couple's life. The Catholic Church considers marriage so important that we want couples to be well-prepared and ready for this vocation. Even if a Catholic is getting married to a non-Catholic and/or at a non-Catholic church, there are three basic requirements:

1. Paperwork
This includes filling out forms and obtaining recent baptismal certificates. Did you know that individual Catholic parishes always retain the original baptismal certificate and dispense copies as needed? These copies expire, so "fresh" copies are required for each new sacrament.

Additional paperwork may include "dissolving" any previous marriages, which necessitates an annulment. Couples needing an annulment should allow 12-18 months before continuing any wedding plans. Annulments are required for any Church wedding, even if a non-Catholic was previously married to another non-Catholic, as the Catholic Church holds that all church weddings are binding and sacramental.

2. Workshop/Retreat
Couples must attend a Pre-Marriage Workshop or Pre-Marriage Retreat (e.g., Engaged Encounter). These options are offered through the St. Cloud Diocese, but couples may attend those offered through other Dioceses. The retreat option is preferred over the workshop option for a more immersive experience.

3. Pre-Marital Inventory
The bride and groom separately fill out a Pre-Marital Inventory Survey, and the results are discussed with a sponsor couple from the parish. This is not a test but a compatibility survey to gauge the couple's strengths and weaknesses. At Christ Our Light, we use the FULLY ENGAGED inventory. The results are discussed privately with a married couple from the parish over three evenings.

Additional Requirements
Because we believe wedding preparation is crucial, Christ Our Light requires a fourth component. Couples are expected to attend three Saturday Pre-Marriage Seminars led by Fr. Kevin Anderson. The next round of seminars will be held on October 12, 19, and 26, from 10:00 AM - Noon, in the Fellowship Area. These seminars do not replace the Diocesan workshop/retreat; they are additional. During these seminars, all marriage requirements are explained, forms and inventories are filled out, and couples take the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory. We also provide talks on spirituality, sexuality, and wedding planning.

Other Considerations

Setting a Wedding Date: Allow adequate time for all this preparation. The Diocesan minimum is three months. At Christ Our Light, we require at least nine months, but we recommend at least one year.
Living Together Prior to Marriage: This is not encouraged, but each situation is addressed individually.
Cost: The cost for Christ Our Light’s Saturday pre-marriage seminars is $40. Completing the seminar entitles a couple to receive a $50 voucher toward the cost of a wedding license, making the seminar essentially free.
Parish Donation/Fee: The fee for a wedding is $150 for current members and their children, and $300 for non-members.

For any questions or to start the preparation process, please contact Fr. Kevin Anderson at 763-389-2115.

Marriage Handouts:

We look forward to supporting you on this important journey!