Two become one in Christ.
The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and become one in Christ, is one of two “Sacraments of Vocation.”
The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator.
How Do I Get Married at St. Patrick Parish?
To schedule a wedding, contact our Wedding Coordinator at 610-647-2345. Since the bride and groom are the real ministers of the Sacrament of Matrimony, it is important that they are the primary contacts during the planning and preparation of their wedding. With that in mind, the parish staff will only share information about the couple’s marriage preparation with the bride and groom.
A marriage must occur between two freely consenting individuals, and must be a mutual giving of self. Both individuals must understand the sacramental meaning of marriage and be open to the possibility of procreation in their married life. A Catholic marriage must take place in a Catholic Church, in the context of a Mass.
A wedding must be scheduled with the church at least six months prior to the desired date. Marriage handbooks are available in the Parish Office.
What is Pre-Cana?
Pre-Cana courses receive their name from the Wedding Feast at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. Though Pre-Cana courses vary, they are frequently a series of six weekly sessions conducted by a priest on the topics of compatibility, the theological meaning of marriage, based on theology of the body, and dealing with conflict. The reason behind the Pre-Cana requirement is that marriage is an unbreakable bond and should not be formed without first making both individuals fully aware of the Sacrament’s profound effects.
All provided information is based on the Catechism. For more information regarding Matrimony, access the Catechism of the Catholic Church here.
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