Sacrament of Marriage
Got Engaged? Congratulations!
“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” (CCC 1601)
For more details, contact Jodi Todd: 903-592-1617 ex 130 or jtodd@thecathedral.info
Timeline for Planning your Wedding Mass
What to do 9-12 months before your wedding
Call your parish
Call as soon as you get engaged! A member of the parish staff will schedule a meeting with you to discuss your wedding preparations as soon as possible.
Contact Jodi Todd: 903-592-1617 ex 130 or jtodd@thecathedral.info
Schedule an Initial Meeting
At this meeting with the priest you’ll learn about the formation process for the sacrament of Holy Matrimony and the necessary paperwork for your marriage. You will also set your tentative wedding date.
What to do 7-8 months before your wedding
Complete the Couple Assessment
The Prepare Enrich or FOCCUS couple assessment provides you with a personalized profile of your relationship. Your marriage formation coordinator will set this up for you, and upon completion, the parish pastor or staff will help you schedule the follow-up session to review your results.
Begin the Witness to Love Program
You will be asked to choose your own mentor couple who will accompany you during your formation and throughout your first years of marriage using the Witness to Love model. You will have several meetings with them leading up to your wedding, and they will continue to be a support to you in the years to come!
Plan your Wedding Liturgy
This planning pertains to the day of your wedding celebration at the church.
If your celebration is at the Cathedral, contact Brian Braquet: 903-592-1617 ext. 114 or bbraquet@thecathedral.info
If your celebration is at the Chapel of Sts. Peter & Paul, contact Suzanne Liles: sliles@thecathedral.info
What to do 6-7 months before your wedding
Attend a Three to Get Married Retreat
The Three to Get Married retreat weekend will be an opportunity for you to grow closer to Jesus Christ and to one another. You will build on the topics you have discussed with your pastor and mentor couple, with a special focus on the theology of Catholic marriage and other teachings of our Catholic faith. To see the schedule of upcoming retreats please visit www.stphilipinstitute.org/familylife.
Take a Natural Family Planning Course
NFP and Fertility Awareness Based Methods respect the love-giving and life-giving purposes of marriage and can enrich the bond between husband and wife. This course gives couples a holistic approach to understanding the cycles of fertility and infertility, and how ovulation is a vital sign of health for women. For more information and see a schedule of live and online course listings please visit www.stphilipinstitute.org/nfp .
What to do 2 months before you wedding
Schedule your final meeting
This meeting will review your previous formation, complete all your paperwork, and review your wedding liturgy. You’re getting close to celebrating this beautiful sacrament!
What to do 1 week before your wedding
Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Catholics preparing for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Reconciliation and the Eucharist are invaluable sources of grace and healing. Celebrate this sacrament with your spouse-to-be!