Matrimony
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"When the Catholic Church teaches that marriage between two baptized persons is a sacrament, it is saying that the couple’s relationship expresses in a unique way the unbreakable bond of love between Christ and his people. Like the other six sacraments of the Church, marriage is a sign or symbol which reveals the Lord Jesus and through which his divine life and love are communicated. All seven sacraments were instituted by Christ and were entrusted to the Church to be celebrated in faith within and for the community of believers. The rituals and prayers by which a sacrament is celebrated serve to express visibly what God is doing invisibly.
In a sacramental marriage, God’s love becomes present to the spouses in their total union and also flows through them to their family and community." - ForYourMarriage.org
- For those called to the vocation of marriage, congratulations on your engagement! We are excited to help you prepare for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
- Our marriage preparation process follows guidelines of the Archdiocese of San Antonio
- Arrangements must be made at least 6 months in advance.
- At least one party to the marriage (bride-to-be or groom-to-be) needs to be a baptized Catholic.
- Bride-to-be or groom-to-be, please call Jessica (726) 207-4432 to schedule your initial meeting. Both bride-to-be and groom-to-be will be present together for this initial meeting.
- At our initial meeting, we will get to know one another, talk about the prenuptial preparation process at St. Helena (Parish guidelines, required documents, and costs), and you will meet with Father.
- Per Archdiocesan policy, a wedding date may not be set prior to completing the Archdiocese of San Antonio's pre-nuptial questionnaire and ascertaining that couples are free to marry and not in need of a declaration of nullity.
- Marriage - Archdiocese of San Antonio and ForYourMarriage.org has excellent links to information that will be helpful as you grow through your prenuptial formation time.
- Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage in the Catholic Church (from ArchSA)
- If you are united in a civil marriage or your marriage took place before a minister of a different faith tradition than the Catholic church, not before a Catholic priest or Catholic deacon, and you would like to have your marriage recognized in the church, the Convalidation process looks very similar!
- Convalidation brings the marriage to the dignity of a sacrament in order for it to become fully recognized by the Catholic Church.
- Please call Jessica to talk about your particular situation so that we can determine how to proceed -- together.
Your Parish Family at St. Helena are praying for your vocation to a good and holy marriage and look forward to accompanying you in the prenuptial formation!
"Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with "the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Rev 19:7, 9). Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his Church. Man and woman were created for each other.
By their marriage, the couple witnesses Christ's spousal love for the Church. One of the Nuptial Blessings in the liturgical celebration of marriage refers to this in saying, "Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church."
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy."
- The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults