MARRIAGE
“A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh, so they are no longer two but one flesh.”
Mark 10:7-8
The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. – CCC 1601
Where to Begin
Newly-engaged ONLINE marriage prep class options:
Newly-engaged WEEKDAY marriage prep class options:
Newly-engaged WEEKEND marriage prep class options:
Natural Family Planning class options:
Congratulations on your engagement! What do you do next?
Call the Parish to schedule a meeting with the wedding coordinator.
The Archdiocese of Denver requires a norm of eight months preparation for marriage. We encourage couples to call the parish at least 8-12 months before the date of your wedding to schedule a meeting with the wedding coordinator to discuss the Archdiocese of Denver requirements for marriage preparation. This includes a Marriage Preparation class, a Natural Family Planning (NFP) class and completion of the FOCCUS (“Facilitate Open, Couple, Communication, Understanding and Study.”) inventory.
After the initial meeting with the wedding coordinator, we urge you to register for your Marriage Prep/ Pre-Cana and NFP classes. Keep in mind that you may have to wait for dates and times available and compatible with your schedules. Do not underestimate the length of the NFP course, as it may take up to three months to complete.
Meet with the Pastor (or Deacon)
During your meeting with the pastor, you will begin a series of forms required for marriage. You will be given an MB, or Freedom to Marry Form, which must be completed by family member or friend. Please have your witness complete the form, then sign before any priest, deacon or notary.
Other Requirements
In addition to the required classes that you will be taking, you will also have to provide your updated baptism certificate (if you are Catholic), any proof of baptism (if you’ve been baptized as a non-Catholic). Please be aware that to be married in the Catholic Church at least one of the parties must be Catholic.
Please keep in mind that once your wedding document folder is complete it will be sent to the church where your ceremony will take place. If the church is located outside the Archdiocese of Denver boundaries, it will be sent to the Archdiocese for final review before making its way to the church where the ceremony will take place. This will take time, especially if the church is out of state. Most churches expect a marriage folder 1-2 months prior to the wedding date. For this reason, it is crucial that you complete the document requirements and schedule your archdiocese-required classes early so that they are all completed two months before your wedding date.
If you plan to be married at Risen Christ, you will be given a liturgy and music planning sheet, where you will add your reading selections, your lectors, musicians, etc.
In order to facilitate the marriage preparation process, your wedding coordinator will assist you throughout the phases of your requirements.
Although we are continuing to work with couples with marriage preparation, Risen Christ will not be scheduling ceremonies in loco due to the ongoing renovations. We hope to open the sanctuary by Christmas 2024.
