Matrimony

Marriage Preparation (Pre-Cana)

“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.”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1601)   

The Sanctity of Marriage

Love is the “fundamental and innate vocation of every human being.” (CCC #1604) We are all created in the image and likeness of God, who is Himself love. Since God created us male and female, the mutual love between husband and wife becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which the Lord loves us. All married couples become this sacramental sign – in their covenant, they reflect Christ and his eternal pledge of love for his bride, the Church. It is a love which is:

Forever- “Until death do us part.”
Faithful-  Exclusively for one another.
Fruitful-  Open to the possibility of new life.

There are many questions that people have as to why the Church teaches what it does about this beautiful sacrament. We invite you to click here to see the answers.

Getting Married?

If you are engaged, Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish congratulates you! For those who wish to be married in our Church, we ask that you contact our Parish Office at least 6 months before a planned wedding date. At least one person of the engaged couple must be a registered member of the parish. Also, it is important to meet with a parish priest before any other wedding arrangements are made, so that the date and time can be confirmed. Meanwhile, we invite you to click here if you have any other immediate questions about your wedding preparation.

What is Marriage Preparation
(Pre-Cana)?

Marriage Preparation is a program that all couples must attend if they are to marry in the Catholic Church. It is commonly referred to as "Pre-Cana" a name derived from John 2:1-12, which depicts the wedding feast of Cana in Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water into wine. During the program, couples will be invited to reflect more deeply on the sacrament which they are preparing to receive.

Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish offers this program twice a year. Please contact the Parish Office for more details and for registration. If your schedule does not permit you to attend our Marriage Preparation program, you are welcome to attend it elsewhere.

Click Here to visit the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Office for Family Life webpage, where you will find information on both online and in-person Marriage Preparation Classes.