The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. By its very nature it is ordered to the good of the couple, as well as to the generation and education of children. Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to the dignity of a sacrament. (Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 1660)

The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life.

Marriage is based on the consent of the contracting parties, that is, on their will to give themselves, each to the other, mutually and definitively, in order to live a covenant of faithful and fruitful love.

Since marriage establishes the couple in a public state of life in the Church, it is fitting that its celebration be public, in the framework of a liturgical celebration, before the priest (or a witness authorized by the Church), the witnesses, and the assembly of the faithful.  (CCC, 1661-1663)

Weddings at St. Michael Parish

Please meet with a priest or deacon at least six months before desired wedding date.

Our marriage preparation program includes the following:

• Meetings with a priest / deacon
• Taking the Dynamic Catholic survey and meeting with a mentor couple
• Attend a diocesan Engaged couple one-day seminar: https://www.catholicnh.org/family2/family/marriage/seminars/
• Attend a one day or two evening Parish retreat; God’s Plan for Love
• Planning the wedding ceremony details with the priest or deacon

Please contact Fr. Marc or Fr. Schultz for more information or to arrange an initial meeting.