Through the Sacrament of Matrimony, a community of love is formed. For Catholics, marriage is not merely a civil contract; it is a covenant of life and love between a man, a woman, and God. The marriage of baptized Catholics creates a symbol of unity and fidelity between Christ and the Church. A sacramental marriage is a means of grace which gives strength to a husband and wife, so that they might better live out their lifelong commitment and help each other on the path to holiness.

We invite you to learn more about Catholic marriage and how you can make your own marriage stronger with the program Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage from FORMED!

Preparing for Marriage

Wedding Guidelines can be found in the link below. Arrangements should be made at least 8 months prior to the marriage by contacting the parish office in Bellevue. One or both of the parties needs to be a registered, practicing member of one of our parishes or a parish where they reside. The latest time for a wedding at St. Joseph is 1:30 p.m. if held on Saturday. In addition to the pastor/deacon, other priests/deacons may preside at weddings with the pastor’s permission.

Steps for Marriage Preparation in our Parishes

• Have initial informational meeting with pastor
• Complete the FOCCUS inventory
• Meet with a sponsor couple to review FOCCUS inventory
• Attend a Pre-Cana, Engaged Encounter weekend, or Two Become One event (see list of offerings in our Archdiocese here: https://dbqarch.org/marriage-preparation )
• Meet with a certified Natural Family Planning instructor (Find an instructor here: https://nfp.dbqarch.org/providers/)
• Complete the Church marriage forms
• For Catholics, a recent baptismal certificate issued six months before the wedding from the parish you were baptized in needs to be submitted to the parish office. If you were baptized of another faith, a baptismal form from the time you were baptized needs to be submitted.
• Obtain a civil marriage license from the county where you currently reside.
• The person who is arranging your wedding should give you a book containing all of the prayers, readings, and other parts of a Catholic wedding ceremony. Take some time to prayerfully choose which you think best represents your love for each other.
• Meet with the priest/deacon celebrant and talk over the specifics of the wedding.

Enriching Your Marriage

"The initial years of marriage are a vital and sensitive period during which couples become more aware of the challenges and meaning of married life. Consequently, pastoral accompaniment needs to go beyond the actual celebration of the sacrament." -Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia 223 

There are many opportunities throughout the Archdiocese of Dubuque for couples who are currently married to enrich their relationship to better their marriage and family life. Please check out the various opportunities offered locally by our Archdiocese here: https://www.dbqarch.org/offices/family-life/marriage-enrichment/