"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."
— Code of Canon Law, can. 1055 § 1
"In the Sacrament of Matrimony, the man and woman administer the sacrament to themselves, the priest being a witness to the deliverance of their bodies one to another until death do them part."
— Abp. Fulton Sheen, Three to Get Married
For couples who are recently engaged, please contact the office or one of our priests to begin the process for preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony. This should begin approximately 6 months or more before the wedding date. For more information on the program for preparing for Marriage, visit the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City website.
"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."
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 1663
If you are a Catholic but were married in a civil ceremony outside of the Church, we would like to invite you to come talk about how we can regularlize your situation. God's plan for marriage makes the couple a witness to his love–a love blessed by Him–so that the couple's life together can glorify Him here on Earth. Catholics who have not been married in the Church should not be receiving Holy Communion, unless they are willing to live "as brother and sister," after receiving sacramental absolution.
If you are divorced and remarried outside the Church, likewise, please come to discuss the process of petitioning for a declaration of nullity (annulment) for your previous marriage. Many who are divorced and remarried think they have been excommunicated by the Church. This is not true. God desires to offer healing and communion with his faithful who find themselves in complicated marital situations. And the Church wants to help you to discern and understand your previous relationship(s) and how to go forward in the future. For more information and answers to frequently asked questions about annulments, visit the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City website.