Marriage

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her...

Ephesians 5:25

Sacrament of Marriage

At its most basic level, marriage is a union between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and mutual love and support.

In the Catholic Church, marriage is considered to be more than a natural institution. It was elevated by Christ Himself, in His participation in the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), to be one of the seven Sacraments. A marriage between two Christians, therefore, has a supernatural element as well as a natural one.

The ministers of the Sacrament of Marriage are the spouses themselves, because the mark - the external sign - of the Sacrament is not the wedding Mass, but the marriage contract itself. This does not mean the wedding license that the couple receives, but the vows that each spouse makes to the other. As long as each spouse intends to contract a true marriage, the Sacrament is performed.

The effect of the Sacrament is an increase in sanctifying grace for the spouses, a participation in the divine life of God Himself.

Click for information on Marriage Preparation at St. John the Apostle

A Guide to Marriage Convalidation

​Guía para la Convalidación del matrimonio

Petition for a Declaration of Marriage Nullity (Annulment) and/or Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage Contracted Outside the Church (Lack of Canonical Form)

If needed, our parish has trained Annulment Field Advocates to help support you through the Petition/Annulment process.  Contact the parish office for a referral.

Field advocates at the parish level meet with the petitioner to provide the form needed to begin the process. The field advocate reviews the completed form with the petitioner prior to the submission of the Petition to the Tribunal.  For this ministry, diocesan training is required.