The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws . . . God himself is the author of marriage.

-Gaudium es spes, 48:1

Despite its varied spiritual, social and cultural expressions, marriage is neither a purely human invention nor a solely secular institution. The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they come from the hand of the Creator.

-The Catechism of the Catholic Church, pp 1603.

It is sometimes difficult to appreciate marriage as a covenant in a culture accustomed to contracts, but the free consent by which a man and woman become one in marriage gives rise to a mutual, exclusive and indissoluble covenant relationship, sealed in Christ and guaranteed and ratified by God’s own fidelity. The self-giving love of man and wife signifies God’s eternal love for his children, and the love that binds together Christ and His Church. Therefore, the Church proclaims Marriage as a Sacrament, a sign that confers the grace it signifies.

If you are interested in marrying at Holy Rosary, we encourage you to refer to the introductory letter and guidelines on our website. You will also find an overview of our marriage preparation program in the section on Sacramental Preparation. In addition to marriage preparation classes, confidential counseling and spiritual direction is available on a short term basis for couples trying to discern their readiness before announcing an engagement, as well as for husbands and wives who have been married for many years.

Concerns about the validity of marriage, convalidations, and the process involved in petitioning the Church for a Decree of Nullity, should be directed to Janine Applegate. If you have questions about any of these topics, please call the office and she will return your call as soon as possible to schedule a meeting.