Marriage Preparation Program

The Catholic Church requires that you prepare ahead for your wedding, preferably starting at least six months before the wedding. During that time, you will attend a parish marriage information night, meet with a couple on the Marriage Preparation Team, participate in the Pre-Marital Class offered by Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia or an Engaged Encounter, meet with a priest at least once, and fulfill all the necessary paperwork required for your wedding and plan the ceremony. At least one of the people who is to married must be a registered, active and practicing Catholic.

This six-month period allows you to come to a deeper knowledge of each other and of the sacrament you will soon minister to each other and will provide you an opportunity to enter into candid discussions about your hopes for marriage and to reflect on the wonderful steps you are taking together. It also affords you the time necessary to prepare the documents that are required; to allow the priest to get to know you, so that he might enter more fully into the celebration; and provides you adequate time for you to participate in a marriage preparation program.

Marriage Information Nights 2007-2008

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 7:00pm in the Church library.

Please contact the parish office sh.church@verizon.net, 757-625-6763 to register for a Marriage Information Night prior to setting your wedding date.

Marriage Preparation Programs

Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia offers a Pre-Marital Class for couples planning to marry and couples planning to have their marriage blessed in the Catholic Church. These classes are offered once or twice every month, except in December. Classes are held on Saturday from 9:00am-4:00pm. Registration begins at 8:30am. All couples must enroll in the class in advance. To enroll, call Catholic Charities at 757-467-7707. Further class dates or additional information about Catholic Charities Pre-Marital Class, visit their website: www.cceva.org

Catholic Engaged Encounter is a weekend retreat experience from Friday through Sunday afternoon. Visit additional information about this program visit the Richmond Virginia Catholic Engaged Encounter website: www.richmondvacee.org for additional information.

Necessary Paperwork

The Catholic Church requires several documents to be on file with the Church prior to the wedding celebration. These documents establish your ability to enter into marriage freely and provide the Church with the necessary information to record your marriage properly.

A. Pre-Nuptial Investigation
The priest working with you will conduct this investigation during one of the regularly scheduled meetings you have with him as you prepare for marriage. This investigation ascertains your freedom and readiness to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage.

B. Baptismal Certificate
If you were baptized as a Roman Catholic, an official copy of your Baptismal certificate is needed (with the seal of the Church embossed onto it). An official copy is one issued before your wedding date, but not more than six months prior to it. Call, or preferably write, to your Church of Baptism for a copy with any notations.

If you were baptized in another Christian church, a certificate or other proof of Baptism must be provided. A photocopy of that certificate is sufficient.

C. Testimony of Family
Each of you must provide two letters or affidavits from your immediate family (parent or sibling) that attest that you are “free to marry”. This is not a letter of “permission”; rather it is an attestation that you are not already married.

D. Canonical Permissions and Dispensations
When necessary, the priest working with you will prepare permission and dispensations required by the Church for the marriage to take place. These dispensations apply to all couples when one is not a Roman Catholic, or the couple who intends to marry in a Church of another faith.

E. Civil License
The Civil Marriage license is obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the City in which you live. The license is good for 60 days. Please bring the license along with all fees to the Parish Secretary two weeks before the wedding.

Wedding Ceremony

Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. As such, marriage is a Sacrament of the Church. The ceremony is to be attested to by at least two witnesses besides the priest or deacon; it is to conform to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Canons of the Roman Catholic Church, and the local traditions of Sacred Heart Church.

Liturgy Planning
The priest that will be celebrating your wedding will assist you in the planning of your wedding liturgy.

Pastoral Music
Music is an integral part of your celebration. The Music Director, Dr. Jim Gallatin, will assist in the planning and implementation of all music for your wedding. He should be contacted as soon as your wedding date has been set, or at least two months prior to the date of your wedding. He may be reached at 757-625-6763 or j.gallatin@verizon.net

Wedding Coordinator
Sacred Heart provides a wedding coordinator who is available at the rehearsal and the day of the wedding. The coordinator is responsible for the setup of the Church and helping the wedding party.