Marriage & Wedding Planning – St. Joseph Parish

"Love to be real, it must cost
it must hurt, it must empty us of self."
- St. Theresa of Calcutta

Congratulations to both of you!

Your engagement is a special time for each of you, for your families and friends, and for your entire parish community. This is a time of new beginnings, of love, of promise, and of hope. The Church is blessed and encouraged by your willingness to make this commitment of life and love to each other. Your wedding celebration will be a special and grace-filled time in your lives. The Church welcomes you to celebrate and solemnize your wedding in the context of Christian prayer.

Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with “the wedding feast of the Lamb” Rev 19:7, 9. Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his Church. Man and woman were created for each other.

By their marriage, the couple witnesses Christ’s spousal love for the Church. One of the Nuptial Blessings in the liturgical celebration of marriage refers to this in saying, “Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church.”

The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy. See United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

May God bless you during this special time of reflection and preparation,
-The Pastoral Staff of St. Joseph Parish

see also: Marriage Preparation Timeline

Scheduling the Wedding

Please contact Sheri Hanson ten (10) months before the time you wish to marry. If you or your parents are not registered at St. Joseph Parish, and if you are not registered at any other parish, you must register in the parish first before a wedding date can be finalized. Once you are registered, the Parish Office can provide you with information regarding the availability of wedding dates at St. Joseph and give you a Wedding Information Packet. In the Wedding Information Packet you will find a “Pre-Nuptial

Information” sheet. Fill this form out and return it to the Parish Office along with your deposit of $175.00 to reserve your wedding date on the parish calendar. This is an administrative fee that helps to defray the costs to the parish of preparing for and celebrating your wedding. We strongly suggest that you contact the Parish Office prior to arranging a date with a reception hall or caterer.

After the Parish Office receives the Pre-Nuptial Information sheet and $175 deposit, one of the Pastoral Staff members will contact you to arrange the first meeting with you as a couple to begin the marriage preparation process. Weddings are usually scheduled for Saturdays with the latest time at 1:30 pm. Other days and times are possible, depending on the parish and presiding priest’s or deacon’s schedule. There are times in the church liturgical year, such as Lent and Advent, when the celebration of weddings is less appropriate. No weddings will be scheduled during Lent. Advent weddings will be scheduled only in special circumstances.

Contact: Sheri Hanson – Pastoral Associate (262) 375-6500 ext175 | shanson@stjosephgrafton.org

Preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage