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Marriage

Requirements for Marriage

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FROM THE BRIDE AND GROOM:

  • ORIGINAL Baptism Certificate, dated no more than 6 months from the current date and notations.
  • ORIGINAL First Communion Certificate
  • ORIGINAL Confirmation Certificate
  • If not yet baptized, ORIGINAL Birth Certificate
  • If you are already civilly married, you need to present your ORIGINAL Marriage License

To facilitate the registration process, it is recommended that you have the contact information of your 2 witnesses when submitting your documents.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED PREVIOUSLY TO ANOTHER PERSON:

  • Civil Marriage:
    • Present ORIGINAL Marriage License
    • Present ORIGINAL Divorce Decree
  • By the Church:
    • Present your annulment documents as well as the documents mentioned above from your Civil Marriage.
    • If you are widowed, please present a death certificate.

IF YOU HAVE STARTED MARRIAGE PREP AT A DIFFERENT PARISH:

  • A letter from your pastor is required authorizing you to marry in our parish and you must meet all the specific requirements of our parish.
  • The person in charge of marriage preparation in the other parish and the bride and groom must sign an agreement.

IF YOU ARE MISSING ANY SACRAMENT OF INITIATION:

If you have not received your sacraments (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation), RCIA (Catechism for Adults) classes are offered at St. Anthony Parish.

If you have not received your sacraments of initiation, by signing the wedding contract you also agree to attend and complete RCIA and receive your sacraments before marriage.

Marriage Preparation

FIRST STEP:

When you bring all the required documents, a prenuptial file will be prepared with your information.

It is important to note that the process will be slower when you have been previously married or if you need to be granted another dispensation. The Diocese of Phoenix will need to approve your marriage petition before beginning marriage preparation.

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE MARRIAGE PREPARATION IF YOU HAVE NOT TURNED IN THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

SECOND STEP:

  • You will meet with the Marriage Coordinators for a few months as they prepare you to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony. The number of meetings depends on the situation of each couple. 
  • The marriage coordinators will ask you to present 2 witnesses each, to complete an affidavit. 
  • The marriage coordinators will guide you with information on the retreats required by the Diocese to attend.
  • After participating in the additional retreats/classes that are required (or at least already registered in them), you will be ready to set a date and sign the contract.

 THIRD STEP: (Three months before the wedding)

  • If you are not yet married civilly, you must present your marriage license so that your civil marriage can take place on your wedding day.
  • Make the last payments for your celebration.

FOURTH STEP: (One month before the wedding)

  • The Marriage Coordinators will communicate with you to finalize wedding details such as choosing the first reading, setting a date for rehearsal, etc.
  • Preparare through the sacrament of reconciliation.  

Additional Notes:

  • We ask for a total of $900 (that does not include the $250 reimbursable deposit) to cover parish expenses such as the marriage prep process, the use of the church and musician.
  • RCIA (Catechism for adults) classes are offered at St. Anthony Parish if you have not received any of the sacraments (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation).
  • Wedding preparation will be between the parish staff and the bride and groom only. Family/Friends of the bride and groom will not be able to make changes related to the wedding.