MATRIMONY
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
HOLY MATRIMONY
Jesus said: “From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate." Mark 10:6-9
We at the Cathedral welcome and rejoice with you as you prepare to enter into Holy Matrimony in the Catholic Church!
The Sacrament of Matrimony is one that brings great blessings to the couple, to their family and friends, and the Church as a whole. The Cathedral strives to prepare couples for not only their wedding day, but for a lifetime of grace-filled blessings in the relationship that will help lead them to eternal salvation.
SCHEDULING YOUR WEDDING
Contact the parish at least six months prior to your desired wedding date to begin the marriage preparation process. Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee a wedding date until you have contacted the rectory office for specific requirements and information about preparing for your wedding.
Please note: the Sacrament of Matrimony is not celebrated during Lent, Holy Week, Solemnities or Feast Days of particular importance in the Cathedral calendar (Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Saint Joseph the Worker, etc.). Wedding dates during the Christmas season are variable due to timing and scheduling.
TIMELINE FOR ENGAGED COUPLES
The marriage formation process at the Cathedral is designed to help you to build a firm foundation for a joy-filled, life-long marriage. Each step has been designed to assist you in growing as a couple as you grow in relationship with God.
Step 1: Call the Parish (At least 6 months before the wedding)
Call or email us as soon as you get engaged! We will connect you with one of our priests for an initial meeting. We cannot schedule a wedding date until you have met with the priest. It is important that you wait to reserve a reception venue or make other arrangements until you have first met with the priest.
Step 2: Initial Meeting with a Priest
At this meeting with one of our parish priests, you will learn about the formation process for the sacrament of Holy Matrimony and the necessary paperwork for your marriage. This is an opportunity for the priest to get to know you as a couple and learn how we can best help your prepare for this sacrament.
Step 3: Complete the Couple Assessment
The FOCCUS couple assessment provides you with a personalized profile of your relationship. The parish will set this up for you, and upon completion, you will meet with a mentor couple to discuss the areas where your relationship is strong and develop a plan to work on the areas where your relationship needs strengthening.
Step 4: Begin the Joy-Filled Marriage Preparation Program
The Cathedral uses a marriage preparation program called Joy-Filled Marriage for all engaged couples at the parish. One of our key parish priorities is strengthening marriage and family, and the best way to build strong marriages and families is to make sure that their foundation is strong. This program will help couples appreciate what the Catholic Church teaches about marriage, and why, embrace the gift of grace that makes a lifelong, joy-filled marriage possible, and explore important topics, identify shared goals, and set concrete plans to build a joy-filled marriage.
Couples within the Diocese of Rapid City are required to complete a Joy Filled Marriage class. Please find the date below that works best for for your schedule and click on the date to register. Someone from the marriage preparation team will contact you the week prior to your scheduled class with more details and information about the class location at the Cathedral.
Joy Filled Marriage classes run from Friday 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM and Saturday 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM.
The Weekend includes breakfast and lunch provided on Saturday. Materials cost $35 and payment is due at the class.
Upcoming Joy-Filled Marriage Class Dates:
Step 5: Attend an engaged couple retreat through the Diocese of Rapid City
The Heart to Heart Weekend Retreat is designed to provide couples with an opportunity to deepen their relationship with one another and with God through a series of talks, activities, prayer experiences and quiet time for reflection. We ask you to bring an attitude of eagerness and openness to talk with your beloved, to pray to God, and to quietly listen to your heart. This is a chance to step away from the ordinary–from work, from recreation and from distractions. It is a time for you to relax and to spend quiet time with each other and with God. More information on the Heart to Heart Weekend Retreat and upcoming registration dates can be found here.
Step 6: Complete Natural Family Planning Education
Natural Family Planning (fertility awareness) respects the love-giving and life-giving purposes of marriage and enriches the bond between husband and wife. This seminar gives couples a natural approach to understanding the cycles of fertility and infertility. Course listings may be found here.