Matrimony
We are happy to assist you during this very exciting time.
To inquire about the Sacrament of Marriage at Holy Family Parish please contact the Parish Office to make an appointment to meet with one of the clergy.
Sacrament preparation includes taking the Pre-Cana online course as well as the FOCCUS Study through the Allentown Diocese.
In Pre-Cana you will work through course content, you will receive the guidance and facilitation of a certified instructor couple, who you will be paired with.
FOCCUS stands for "Facilitate Open, Couple, Communication, Understanding and Study." The FOCCUS Inventory is designed to help engaged couples appreciate their unique relationship.
Ordinarily the period of preparation requires a minimum of six months.
Weddings are ordinarily celebrated at 4PM on a Friday or at 11AM or 2PM on Saturdays.
Please visit the Diocese of Allentown website once you have met with a Priest to register for Pre-Cana and FOCCUS classes. You can do so at:
http://www.allentowndiocese.org/catholic-life/family-life/marriage-preparation/
Why get married in the Catholic Church?
If you are recently engaged you may be thinking about where to hold your wedding. Every couple wants their wedding to be a memorable event and wants the ceremony to have a special meaning. The wedding day is one of the most important days in a couple’s life.
What can be more romantic than the tradition of walking down the aisle in a church full of family and friends? What is more reassuring for the couple than being surrounded by the people who love them and who will give them ongoing support? What is more meaningful than reciting wedding vows handed down by Christian tradition? What is more awe inspiring than a rite through which you enter a spiritual reality where God unites you as husband and wife and gives you an important mission?
If you and/or your fiancé are Catholic, you are expected to marry in a Catholic church unless you have received permission to marry elsewhere. Marrying in a church is much more than an obligation. It’s an opportunity to hold a celebration that is joyful and meaningful, one that can have a positive impact on the rest of your married life. Should you choose to marry outside of the church, your marriage is not recognized by the Catholic church. Being in a recognized marriage allows a married Catholic to be Godparent at Baptism or Confirmation.
In the Catholic tradition, husband and wife accept a role in God’s plan for humanity. They are to be ambassadors of God’s love. Through their love for each other they show God’s deep love for us, and they collaborate with God to keep humanity alive. The Catholic Church considers marriage a sacrament, a vehicle for God’s graces to the couple and to the community.
The focal point of any wedding ceremony is the exchange of vows. The vows are not simply a ritual that defines the relationship of two people in love. They are much more. They are a sacred pact through which spouses embrace each other and, together, embrace Christ as their partner. The pledge they make is unbreakable because through their union with Christ they participate in the unbreakable pact between God and humanity: the covenant that was sealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus.