“Therefore A Man Leaves His Father And Mother And Clings To His Wife, And They Become One Flesh. "
- Genesis 2:24
HOLY MATRIMONY
What is marriage?
As defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Marriage is a lifelong partnership of the whole of life, of mutual and exclusive fidelity, established by mutual consent between one man and one woman, and ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring."
Engaged Couples
Congratulations on your engagement! Couples contemplating marriage are requested to notify the rectory and make an appointment with the Pastor. Arrangements should be made at least six (6) months before the desired wedding date.
Additionally, all couples need to take a Marriage Preparation class held by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. You can register for the class by clicking here.
Bring your civil marriage into the Church (Convalidation)
Did you know that Church Canon Law requires all Catholics to marry in the Catholic Church in order for the marriage to be recognized as valid in the Church? If you married outside of the Catholic Church and wish to have your marriage recognized, the Church offers a way for you to bring your marriage into "good standing" with the Church through something called "convalidation". It's not a vague blessing of your civil union, but rather the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic Church, a new consent. It's not a difficult or lengthy process, and all that's needed at the Rite is the couple, the celebrant, and two witnesses to your vows. Bringing your marriage into the Catholic Church is important, as seen in the priest's potential directive to refrain from receiving Holy Communion until you do so. Please contact the Rectory or Father Smith to learn more.
Divorce and Remarriage
We pray you won't find yourself in a marriage that ends in divorce, but sometimes sadly, it happens, If you do find yourself in this situation, and wish to remarry, here are some things you'll need to know: to marry in the Catholic Church - as a Catholic is called to do - both parties (even if one is not Catholic) must be free to marry. This means that this must be a first marriage, or a former spouse is deceased, or prior marriage/s have received a Declaration of Nullity from the Tribunal. To learn more about your situation, or to inquire further about how to obtain an Annulment, please contact the Metropolitan Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at 215-587-3750.