Marriage
The Vocation of Marriage is the divine call to show forth the love of God for the world in the love of husband and wife for each other. The bride and the groom at the wedding are themselves the “ministers” of this sacrament. For Roman Catholics, a priest or deacon must witness the marriage with two other witnesses (normally the best man and maid of honor). The Church imposes numerous requirements on a couple to marry validly because the commitment of married love is so important for the couple and plays such an integral role in the sacramental life of the Church. Thus an extensive pre-marital preparation program is in place which normally requires at least six months of preparation time to complete. If you wish to celebrate your wedding at St. Ignatius, you should contact Ms. Joanne Cunneen at the Parish House as soon as possible after your engagement, and certainly before any plans are made about a reception or other arrangements. If you plan to celebrate your wedding some place other than St. Ignatius, the Parish can offer you pastoral assistance if necessary with your preparation and meeting the Church requirements.