"Therefore, whom God has joined together, no one may ever separate"
(Mark 10:9)

Marriage solemnizes a relationship of committed love, blessed by Christ and recognized by His Church. Catholics may celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony when they have been properly prepared by the Church and its ministers. This sacred commitment requires careful preparation.

Who May Celebrate Catholic Marriage?
A baptized Catholic person, who is free to marry and is of legal age of consent, may celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Catholic Church. All Catholics are expected to celebrate Matrimony according to the form of the Catholic Church, whether marrying another Catholic or a non-Catholic person. Catholics wishing to celebrate Holy Matrimony are expected to be practicing their faith, participating in Mass regularly, and registered in a Catholic parish.

What Makes this Sacrament so Special and What is Required?
The Church believes that marriage is a public, spiritual, and legal declaration of committed love, celebrated by the couple before God, in the presence of Christ and His Church, and sanctified by grace of the Holy Spirit. When properly prepared and celebrated, the Church believes all marriages to be permanent through the earthly lives of one or both spouses.

Preparation
Please begin by contacting the pastor a minimum of six months before the requested marriage date. No plans can be made for celebration of Marriage until this conversation takes place.

Preparation for the Sacrament of Matrimony involves compliance with requirements of both Canon (Church) and Civil Law, and includes following steps:

• Schedule an initial interview with the Pastor
• Complete necessary documentation and verification of freedom to marry
• Complete a Pre-Marital Inventory (PMI)
• Meet with Pastor or Pastoral Assistant for Marriage Preparation sessions
• Plan the Marriage Rite celebration with the Pastor

• Baptismal Certificate: Catholics and Christians from other traditions are asked to present a recently-issued (within 6 months) Baptismal Certificate.
• Names and Addresses of Two Witnesses: Please provide names and contact information for two people who can vouch for each parties' freedom to marry. The Pastor will need to contact and interview these witnesses.
• Marriage License: Couples must obtain a Washington State marriage license which is valid at the time of celebration of Matrimony.

Civilly (by Court) Married Catholics who have a civil marriage are invited to Con-Validate their marriage in the Church. Con-Validation, often referred to as "blessing the marriage", mean Sacramentalizing the marriage in the Church. Candidates for Con-Validation of Marriage will follow some or all of the Marriage Preparation as outlined above. Applicants will need a copy of their civil Marriage License.

If Civilly Divorced and Seeking Marriage in the Catholic Church If either party has been previously married, freedom to marry at this time needs to be established. Normally this requires completion of the annulment process through an official Catholic diocesan office. The annulment process requires a copy of the Dissolution of Marriage by the Court (divorce papers) and obtaining a Decree of Nullity (annulment papers) from a Diocesan Tribunal. We are ready to assist with the annulment process prior to beginning Marriage Preparation.

Please Take Note: WE CANNOT SET A WEDDING DATE UNTIL BEGINNING MARRIAGE PREPARATION. Please do not make any commitments with a hotel or banquet hall for the wedding reception or print invitations until Marriage Preparation is underway and the Pastor confirms the requested date.

The pastor must verify proper preparation prior to all Celebrations of Marriage at Holy Disciples.

Contact: Fr. Matthew O'Leary: email: frmatthew@frmatthew.com or phone 253-875-6630.

Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage
Questions about Annulment