"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh...Each one of you should love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife should respect her husband."




We look forward to assisting you as you prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage!

Catholic Understanding of Marriage
A wedding in the Catholic Church is a religious event, requiring a public act of faith by the couple who are asking the Church to witness their marriage. The Sacrament of Matrimony is a matter which concerns the whole church and is not a private or family affair. The priest and/or Deacon, with the assembled community, witnesses the couple's exchange of vows and prays that this new covenant of mutual life and love will continue to be an enduring sign to others of Jesus' intimate and faithful covenant with the People of God.

Marriage Preparation in the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church believes firmly in the importance of thoughtful and responsible preparation for the lifetime commitment of marriage. Research demonstrates the effectiveness of careful marriage preparation. In order to be married in any Catholic church in the U.S., a couple must first complete all steps of the marriage preparation process.

Preparing for Marriage
If you are getting married at one of our parishes, you must contact Fr. Tom Melvin at the parish office at least 6 months before your wedding date. All marriage preparation requires the Pre-Marital Inventory discussion tool, and a Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter weekend (held locally at Minnesota State University in Mankato), as well as other pre-marital counseling.