Matrimony

Congratulations on your engagement! The Bible describes God’s plan for marriage as a grace for a happy life and sign of Christ’s faithful and fruitful love for his Bride, the Church. We are excited for you to grow in this love and understanding. This is one of the most exciting (and hectic) seasons in your life. Let us help you get ready for more than just the wedding day. We will guide you through the preparation process. To get started, please Contact Us at least six months before a planned wedding.

What comes next?

Follow these simple steps to make the most out of your special day!

1. Meet with your Pastor

You should meet with your Pastor before you schedule a date for the ceremony. You must meet with the Pastor at least six (6) months in advance of the wedding. At this meeting, the Pastor will walk you through the marriage process within the Catholic Church and he will guide you as you make your way through the next steps. 

2. Take Inventory

This step begins as soon as you finish meeting with the Pastor about initial preparation. You will have to complete the FOCCUS Inventory which gauges a couple's habits, expectations, and values. It will provide you with a series of strengths and weaknesses that will be used to help you grow as get closer to the ceremony.

3. Enroll in a Marriage Prep Course

You should begin this step around 5-6 months before the date of your ceremony. Each year, the Diocese of Madison offers Marriage Prep Days to all engaged couples. You can register for one of these days or you may participate in the online course. Your pastor will provide all of the information that you need for either of these two parts in the preparation process.

4. Natural Family Planning

You can begin this step around 4-6 months before the ceremony. This is not required by the Diocese of Madison, but it provides useful insight in family planning according to the Doctrine of the Catholic Church. For more information about this program, you can contact Fr. Randy at frtimmerman@stmaryotic.org or call 608-742-6998 ext. 214.

5. Plan the Ceremony

You can begin this step at any point, however, we encourage you to be done about 6 weeks before the ceremony. Planning your ceremony will require a second meeting with your Pastor to solidify any details in regards to the liturgy. This may also require you to schedule meetings with other members of the Parish Staff who will help you navigate planning readings and music for your ceremony. 

Every couple will receive an informational marriage planning booklet that will also help guide them when planning the liturgy. If you need to pick up a Marriage Booklet, please Contact Us or call 608-742-6998.

6. Go to Confession

The Church invites all Catholics to prepare themselves spiritually by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You can make an appointment with your Pastor to schedule a private Confession, or your can attend weekly Confession at 9:00 am every Saturday morning at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception.

7. Get Married

This is the moment that you have been preparing for. Marriage is a special Sacrament that not everyone is able to receive. We encourage you to continue growing closer as a couple by staying involved in parish life by attending weekend Mass and volunteering for events.

More Resources

Do you have questions about getting married in the Catholic Church? For more information about the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church, you can view the Catholic Marriage FAQ which will help you navigate the ins-and-outs of Catholic Marriage.