+ Couples are to notify the parish priest of their plans to marry as soon as possible after the engagement, BUT no less than six months prior to their wedding date.

+ Couples are required to attend a Marriage Preparation program conducted either in the parish or an Archdiocesan Program.

+ A premarital inventory, such as FOCCUS, should be administered to and reviewed with the couple to assist them with their communication and mutual understanding.

Special Circumstances

+ Cohabitation
Couples who are cohabiting should be informed of the theological and sociological reasons that indicate why cohabitation prior to marriage can undermine the future success of marriage. They are to be strongly encouraged to separate during the remaining period of engagement. This may not be possible for various reasons. They then should be encouraged to abstain from sexual relations. Catholic parties should be encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that they are in the state of Grace to receive and confer the Sacrament of Marriage.

+ Second Marriages
People who have received annulments, are divorced or widowed have special circumstances entering into a second marriage. Each is to be treated with the sensitivity called for by the Church.

+ Pregnancy and Couples with Children
are situations that are a concern to the Church, the priest and the Pre-Cana Team.

+ Interfaith Marriages
When the couple belong to different denominations or religions they may wish, for the sake of harmony, to contact the minister, rabbi or representative of the non-Catholic party concerning their marriage. The non-Catholic party is to be made aware of the responsibility of the Catholic Party to do all in his/her power to have the children baptized and reared in the Catholic Faith.

Situations that may cause a priest to delay or refuse to witness a marriage

+ Denial of the “goods of marriage” which are: the unity and indissolubility of marriage, the fidelity of conjugal love and the openness to fertility

+ Inability to provide the consent which marries requires: lack of maturity, age, mental/emotional disability, drug abuse, etc.

+ Refusal to cooperate with the priest or the Pre-Cana Team.

Documents needed

+ Baptismal certificates for the Catholic Parties as well as certification of the Baptism of a non-Catholic. These baptismal documents should not be older than six months.

+ Confirmation Certificates

+ Letters of Freedom to marry. These letters are a true certification that both parties are, indeed, free to marry and have not been married before.

+ If one or both parties were married previously they will need (depending on the circumstances) to provide: death certificate of former spouse, a declaration of annulment, divorce decree.

+ Civil license from any courthouse of Penna. This license is valid for 60 days.