Marriage
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Sacrament of MatrimonyThere are two sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, that are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God. Through these sacraments those already consecrated by Baptism and Confirmation for the common priesthood of all the faithful can receive particular consecrations. (CCC 1534-1535) -
Receiving the Sacrament of Marriage
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Congratulations on your engagement! We look forward to working with you to prepare for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
What’s the first step? Give us a call! We will guide you through the preparation process. It typically takes approximately 9 -12 months to prepare to receive the Sacrament (minimally 6 months), so allow yourself plenty of time.
Please reach out to Fr. Louie at [email protected] or 507-645-8816 ext 209 or call the parish office.
Fr. Louie will set up an initial meeting with you. Your preparation over the next several months will include meeting with a mentor couple, taking and discussing the results of a personal inventory, attending an Archdiocesan retreat, and learning tools to use for a fruitful marriage.
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Archdiocesan Marriage Preparation Retreat Information
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Designed by the Office of Marriage, Family and Youth, Living God’s Love Marriage Preparation Program offers a marriage preparation program for engaged couples. Offered in a weekend format, Living God’s Love is structured to help engaged couples reflect on the beauty and richness of the Church’s teachings on marriage and the family.
In order to help you prepare to live out your God-given vocation as husband and wife, you and your future spouse are invited to attend Living God’s Love: The Sacrament of Marriage at one of the scheduled locations within the Archdiocese.
The retreat includes presentations given by priests, educators and couples who will share the beauty of the God’s vision of marriage including:
Sacrament of Marriage
Gift of Self, Intimacy, and Children
A Natural Family Planning medical overview
Specific “how to” ideas from vibrant married couples
Time to discuss the topics and reflect on how they apply to you
Suggestions for nurturing your faith
Discussions on improving your communication, time management, and planning skills.
You will also have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and attend Mass.
The retreat is offered several times throughout the year. Online registration for the retreat is done directly through the Archdiocese.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I set a date for my wedding?
- Who may be married at St. Dominic?
- My spouse and I were not married in the Church. Can we get our marriage blessed?
- What if one of us was previously married?
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How do I set a date for my wedding?
At your initial meeting with Fr. Louie, he will begin to work with you to find a date that works for your schedule and the availability of St. Dominic Church.
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Who may be married at St. Dominic?
You must fulfill the marriage requirements of both the Catholic Church and the State of Minnesota. Either the bride or the groom must be Catholic, live within the official boundaries of our parish, and be a registered (under your own name, not your parents’), and actively attend Mass as a member of St. Dominic.
If neither of you lives within our boundaries, you will need to obtain written permission from the pastor of the Catholic parish in which you reside to have the wedding celebrated here at St. Dominic.
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Can we get our marriage blessed if we're not married in the church?
Yes! Please contact Fr. Louie to discuss your particular situation to have your marriage recognized by the Church at [email protected] or 507-645-8816 ext 209.
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What if one of us was previously married?
The Catholic Church considers a marriage to be a sacrament whenever two Christians get married in a ceremony acceptable to both their churches. For Christians of most other denominations, even a wedding before a judge or justice of the peace is acceptable. Such a marriage would, therefore, be considered a sacrament by the Catholic Church.
If the Catholic Church recognizes a previous marriage as sacramental, permission to marry in the Catholic Church will not be given until a petition for an annulment of the sacramental recognition of the marriage has been presented to the archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal and a positive response received. We will help you to walk through this process.
An annulment procedure usually takes a year or longer. No wedding date may be assigned or the church reserved until permission is granted by the archdiocese.
In the case of a baptized Catholic who previously was married without permission of the Catholic Church, the marriage would not be considered a sacrament and no annulment procedure is required. Testimony is received from the two parties to the marriage and witnesses.
