The Sacrament of Matrimony
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Contact Us
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Bethsaida Azpeitiabethsfrchurch.orgParish Secretary & Bulletin Editor
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The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is a sacred covenant through which a man and woman are united in love and called to reflect Christ’s faithful love for His Church.
Marriage is more than a commitment between two people; it is a lifelong partnership of love, self-giving, and service. Through this sacrament, spouses receive God’s grace to grow together in holiness, support one another through life’s joys and challenges, and build a family rooted in faith.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:“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…” (CCC 1601)
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celebrating marriage at st. frances of romeCongratulations on your engagement! The community of St. Frances of Rome extends a cordial welcome to you who are planning to consecrate your love for one another in the sacrament of matrimony.
It is our privilege to help you prepare for this special time of joy and spiritual enrichment. For Catholics, marriage is not only a personal covenant; it is also a sacrament in which God is present in a special way in the lives of the two persons joined with Christ in a union of love.
Engaged couples desiring to be married in the Catholic Church are strongly encouraged to contact a parish priest or deacon to begin the preparation process at least 12 to 6 months prior to the anticipated wedding date. -
marriage preparation processStep 1: Contact the Parish Office
- Speak with office staff regarding your desire to marry, potential dates and time you are interested in getting married.
- Weddings are normally scheduled on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
- You should contact the office 12 to 6 months prior to your anticipated wedding date to begin the preparation process.
- When meeting with the representative you will review and determine the most suitable type of ceremony, and review next steps.
Step 2: Obtain Recent Copies of Sacramental Certificates- Make that request to the parish where the person received Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation. Once you have these certificates turn them in to the Parish Office.
- If the parish no longer exists or baptismal records are unavailable, contact the Parish Office for assistance.
Step 3: Attend a Marriage Preparation Retreat- As part of your marriage preparation you are asked to attend a retreat designed for couples who are seeking the sacrament of marriage. Please note, this does have a separate cost associated with it and must be attended in the 6 month time frame before your wedding date.
Step 4: Pay Necessary Fees to the Parish- Wedding Fee = $1,750
- This fee covers the cost of usage of the parish church, music, and processing fees.
- A $200 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve the church for the time and date you request.
- The balance of fees is due at least a month before your wedding date.
Step 5: Marriage License- As part of the Pre-Nuptial Investigation you will need to collect certain documents such as a marriage license from the county clerk’s office. Please turn in this marriage license to the Parish office or to the wedding coordinator the day of the rehearsal. *Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance*
Step 6: Schedule a Meeting- Call the Parish Office to meet with the pastor and/or his delegate to review the Pre-Nuptial Investigation, Witness Forms, and to fill out any other documents.
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Planning Your Wedding Ceremony
rehearsal
Once you have confirmed your wedding date and time with office staff, ask to be contact by the wedding coordinator, to schedule a wedding rehearsal. Rehearsals are typically scheduled on the Thursday or Friday before the wedding, except for the First Friday of the month.readings
Readings for the mass are already selected by the priest however; if you would like to select the readings for your ceremony, the wedding coordinator can assist you in doing so. The options to select can be found in the "United in Christ" booklet. Please contact the parish office for this booklet or the wedding coordinator. There are some readings/prayers that you will be required to select while others are optional.
Additionally, please review the wedding guidelines page to understand what is and is not permitted and info if requesting a visiting priest.Music
Marriage is celebrated in the context of worship and therefore should reflect the musical styles incorporated into sacramental celebrations of the Catholic Church. With this in mind, music chosen for the wedding liturgy must be religious in nature, so that the spirit of prayer and celebration can be established to strengthen the expression of faith. No matter how personally meaningful love songs and secular ballads may be to the couple, these are best left to the reception where other dimensions of the wedding celebration prevail.
For questions regarding music by contact our Music Director, Rafael Cabezas at 626‐969‐1829 or email at [email protected], or by leaving a message for him with the Parish Secretary.If you have any other questions, contact the parish office (626) 969-1829
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Learn moreSee the video below to learn more about the Sacrament of Matrimony
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