Sacrament of
Marriage

To aid in the development of their relationship and to prepare for the sacrament, registered parishioners are asked to call the parish office to make an appointment with the rector at least 6 months prior to the proposed wedding date. A preliminary packet will be mailed to a couple when they call to reserve the church. The marriage preparation process includes FOCUS, Engagement Program, and various required forms. All couples married at the Cathedral must follow the policies for preparation of the Diocese of St. Cloud and the Cathedral policies for music, decoration and photography of the parish. Any reservation must be confirmed by the Rector. Couples must be registered and active for 6 months before a date for a wedding will be set. Due to various circumstances, couples from outside the parish can be married at the Cathedral. Permission from the parish where they are registered must be obtained, giving the rector of the Cathedral jurisdiction to witness the marriage at the Cathedral. It is expected that those who desire marriage in the church are active Catholics. In the case of inter-denominational marriage, the Catholic is expected to be active in the church.

Marriage Checklist

Congratulations on your engagement. Marriage is a big step in your life. We at the Cathedral will do our best to help you prepare not only for the wedding liturgy, but also for life after the wedding. This is a checklist for you to follow. Those items with * are important first steps.

• * Reserve your date with the parish secretary. The date will be confirmed once the preparation work is under way. A non-refundable reservation deposit is required to hold the date.
  
  
• If you are not a parishioner (or a son or daughter of a parishioner living away from home), a letter from your pastor telling us that you are a registered member of a local Catholic community needs to be presented to the Rector of the Cathedral.
  
  
• * Enroll for the Marriage Course or an Engaged Encounter sponsored by a Catholic Diocese in Minnesota. After the weekend, you will be given a certificate that must be presented to the Rector. Contact the "Office of Marriage and Family" at 252-4721 for dates and availability.
  
  
• * Take and review the FOCUS pre-marriage inventory with the Rector or his designate. This is not a "test," but a tool to aid discussion that focuses on various aspects of married life. This requires about 3-6 meetings. It should be finished at least one month before your wedding.
  
  
• Fill out the Pre-Nuptial Investigation required by the Diocese with the rector or the priest who will witness your marriage. This document gathers basic information and inquires about your freedom to marry in the Church.
  
  
• Baptism Certificates are needed for EACH of you. Call or write the parish of your baptism and request that one be sent to you. If you were baptized at the Cathedral or at Holy Angels, yours will be on file here.
  
  
• Freedom to Marry Forms are to be filled out for the bride and the groom if the priest witnessing your marriage does not know you personally. The form is to be filled out by someone who knows you well in the presence of a priest or his designate.
  
  
• * Declaration of Nullity. If you have been previously married, you must seek an annulment before your wedding can be scheduled in the Catholic Church. Depending on the type of annulment needed, the process can take from 3 to 15 months. Contact your pastor or the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of St. Cloud at 251-6557.
  
  
• Procure your Wedding License from the State of Minnesota. It is valid for 6 months but because of the 5-day processing time, applications must be made at least 5 working days prior to the wedding. The license is to be given to the Rector before the wedding.
  
  
• Begin to study and select Scripture readings for your wedding liturgy. The Cathedral has a folder of Scripture selections ready for your use.
  
  
• Planning the Liturgy. Even though your wedding is personal, it is a public liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church. See the attached pages for information on liturgy planning, wedding music planning, decorating, photography, and the general policies of the Cathedral. Call Eileen Farrell at 251-1840, ext 105 to plan your liturgy.
  
  
• Call the Cathedral Organist (Andrew Floerke: work 363-2792, home 203-9415)

Marriage Encounter

Marriage Encounter is designed to give married couples the opportunity to examine their lives together. The emphasis on Marriage Encounter is on communication between husband and wife, who spend a weekend together away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, to concentrate on each other. It allows couples to rediscover each other and together focus on their marriage relationship for an entire weekend. What a great gift! Watch the St. Cloud Visitor for dates.

Retrouvaille (pronounced "ret-to-vy")

A lifeline for troubled marriages. It is a weekend experience with six follow-up sessions and is designed to provide tools to help put one's marriage in order again. The main emphasis is on communication. For information call Office of Marriage and Family at 252-4721.