We take seriously our responsibility to help you prepare for the amazing sacrament of Marriage through pre-marital counseling sessions with one of our priests and our Pre-Cana Marriage Prep Ministry. Our Pre-Cana Ministry includes a team of married couples who are matched with engaged couples to prepare for Christian Marriage. A married couple’s relationship is the most important gift that is shared and offered to engaged couples. 

Pre-marital counseling with a priest gives you an opportunity to better understand yourself, your partner, and the nature of the marriage relationship. The final sessions provide you the opportunity to discuss the details of your wedding. The amount of time spent in pre-marital counseling is dependent upon the maturity and needs of the couple as determined by our priest.

Due to the number of weddings at our parish, only registered parishioners who have regularly attended Mass here for at least four months can be married at St. Maria Goretti. 

Sorry, we can’t prepare everyone, but we can help those who are already registered parishioners who have regularly attended Mass here for at least four months. At times, we can prepare non-parishioners; however, this is only possible on rare occasions and requires a $200 stipend.

The preferred location for a Catholic wedding is always a Catholic church.  Special permissions can be obtained to have your wedding in another Catholic church or another Christian church.

You may ask any priest assigned to St. Maria Goretti to officiate your wedding.  If a visiting priest will be presiding at your wedding, it is expected that all these guidelines be followed and that visiting clergy will provide all documentation from their dioceses or religious order to us.  Visiting clergy should contact our Pastor, Father Brian Dudzinski as soon as possible to obtain permission and to receive a copy of our Wedding Guide.

"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."

According to the Canon Law (the law of the Church), in order for a marriage to be valid, there are certain requirements:

• At least one of the spouses is a baptized Catholic;
• The wedding must be celebrated in a Catholic church in the presence of a Catholic priest/deacon/bishop and in the presence of two other witnesses;
• The two spouses must be free to be married (e.g., no prior valid marriages or any other vow that would impede the spouses fulfill their commitment to marriage);
• They must be psychologically mature and capable of consenting to the marriage; and they must understand the nature of Catholic marriage (i.e., exclusive, permanent, and open to having children).

The Church takes marriage very seriously, because God takes it very seriously. 

Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and woman and God. It is a tremendous gift from God, and it is a visible sign of His love and commitment to His people (cf. Eph 5:31-32).

Marriage is the foundation of the family and of society, and it is central to the life of the Church. It is also a public act that is celebrated as part of the Church’s liturgy, and introduces the couple into a special state of life in the Church. It creates a permanent and faithful bond between husband and wife, and it establishes significant rights and responsibilities between the married couple and, eventually, their children. It is also the most important relationship in the life of a married couple, and is vital to their happiness and to the happiness of their children.

Because it is so significant, the Church wants to make sure that a couple is properly prepared for marriage, and that they enter into it freely, without reservation, and with full understanding of what is involved. The Church also has an obligation to make sure that the marriage is celebrated in the right way, according to the right forms. All of this stems from the Church’s special obligation to take care of the spiritual health of all of God’s people.

As a result, the marriage preparation process is governed by rules and regulations that are part of the Church’s Canon Law (her universal law), regulations of the Diocese, liturgical rules, and particular pastoral requirements of individual parishes and priests. While these rules may seem complicated to those who are unfamiliar with them, most people find them no more difficult than the civil law requirements governing marriage or any other civil or social commitment.

In addition, a couple who goes through this process with an open heart and open mind will find that they will address issues of critical importance to their marriage. In having discussions between themselves and with a priest/deacon or parish staff about these issues, they can avoid problems in the future and have a firmer sense of confidence in their love and in the love of God.

In short, the Church is concerned about your well-being, and wants you to have a great marriage. That’s what marriage preparation is all about.

Source: Archdiocese of San Antonio

The bride and groom are personally responsible to pay the below listed honorariums. Please bring the checks to the rehearsal and give them to the Wedding Coordinator who will distribute them to all staff. Fees for the services of the staff should be made payable directly to those individuals. Checks for the use of the facilities (if applicable) should be made payable to St. Maria Goretti and brought to the office with the license at least three days before the ceremony.

Instrumentalists                                                                            $100-$150
Cantor                                                                                           $125
Accompanist                                                                                 $200
Pastoral Service                                                                           Gifts left at discretion of the couple
Altar Server                                                                                  $20 (required)

Our Music Director can provide you with a list of St. Maria Goretti musicians and accompanists if desired.  Please contact us at least two months prior to the wedding.