The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
Marriage is one of the seven Sacraments and should be entered into with great reverence, discernment and preparation. For this reason, we ask that couples wishing to get married at the Cathedral be actively participating in the Life of the Church prior to the wedding. If a couple would like to be married at The Cathedral of Saint Patrick, they should contact the parish office at least one year in advance. A well-planned marriage celebration will take at least a year of preparation.
- Weddings at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick are held on Saturdays at 11 AM and 2 PM. Weddings during Advent and Lent, while not forbidden, are discouraged as they are not in keeping with the liturgical season.
- The bride and/or the groom must be Catholic with no canonical impediments to marriage.
- The bride and/or groom must be registered at The Cathedral of Saint Patrick for at least six months before beginning the six month marriage preparation process.
- If the bride and/or groom are not registered at the Cathedral, then the bride and/or the groom must be practicing Catholics, registered at another parish within the Diocese of Charlotte or outside the Diocese for at least six months before beginning the marriage preparation process.
Preparation for marriage involves the following steps:
Paperwork
This step involves gathering the paperwork necessary to perform the ceremony including Baptismal and Confirmation certificates, determining if there are previous marriages to consider or any obstacles to the marriage.
Formal Marriage Preparation
Meetings with a priest or deacon in the church in order 1) to enhance or initiate your relationship with the Church, 2) to explain and invite you to reflect on and further appropriate the Church’s understanding of marriage, 3) to establish your freedom to marry, 4) to overview the whole preparation process, 5) and to invite you to live your married lives in communion with the Church. Engaged Couple Workshops
These workshops provide the couple a chance to explore various areas of marriage and family life and consist of presentations, panels, and small group discussions. They are offered in many locations throughout the Diocese of Charlotte. Visit the Marriage Workshop web page for a complete listing of times and locations. Follow up Sessions with priest or deacon
This is an opportunity for you 1) to reflect on your experience of the Workshops, 2) to respond to any question or difficulties raised by the Workshop experience, 3) to be assisted in your ongoing appropriation of the Church’s understanding of marriage, 4) to plan (in final detail) the Wedding Mass or Ceremony, 5) to be encouraged in your regular practice of your faith, 6) and to ensure that all of the canonical and civil requirements for marriage are completed.
Marriage Preparation Information and Links
For more information, please contact:
Debra Lemmon, Coordinator of Wedding Preparation
Marriage is a "covenant or partnership of life between a man and woman, which is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children. When validly contracted between two baptized people, marriage is a sacrament." (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1601)
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