Marriage

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT!
 

The Diocese of Austin directs that marriage preparation is properly completed at the Home Parish of the bride and/or groom. This is the parish in which you are registered. If you are not registered, then your Home Parish is the one within whose boundaries you live, typically the Church closest to your residence. This follows Diocesan guidelines and makes the logistics easier.

For our member couples, St. Catherine's clergy and staff are pleased to assist you with the sacrament of Marriage. Each engaged couple is unique in their needs as they approach the Sacrament of Marriage.  Our clergy and staff work with each couple on an individual basis to meet those needs, helping the couple build a firm foundation for a lifetime of marriage.

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Engaged couples should contact the marriage coordinator at least nine months prior to the date they wish to be married.  A summary outline of the requirements is provided below. The summary is typical for most couples, but can vary depending on specific needs.
 
Clergy and Staff who will assist you

• Pastoral Staff: A member of our pastoral staff will conduct your prenuptial interview.
• Marriage coordinator: Mrs. Diane Bily provides support and information for each step of Marriage Preparation.
• Presider: The priest or deacon who will officiate at your ceremony. He will make every effort to meet your expectations for your ceremony. He also ensures that liturgical guidelines are met. This includes family customs (i.e. unity candle, lasso, arras, etc.). Your music selections must also meet standards of reverence and respect.
• Pianist/Organist: He/she will offer guidance for your music selections.  It is recommended that you hire St. Catherine’s music staff.  Contact information is provided at your prenuptial interview. 

Marriage Preparation steps

1. Prenuptial interview: Contact the marriage coordinator at least nine months in advance of your anticipated wedding date.  She will assist in scheduling the prenuptial interview with one of our Pastoral Staff.  The Prenuptial Questionnaire is completed at this interview.
2. Presider meeting: Meet with the Priest or Deacon who will preside at the ceremony. This is an opportunity to discuss the sacrament of marriage as well as your expectations for the ceremony.  Parish staff schedules this meeting.
3. Required documents: After the prenuptial interview, begin procuring the required documents:
   1. Updated Baptismal record
      • For Catholics, contact the church of Baptism and request this document. The record must have an issue-date which is within 6-months of the prenuptial interview.  Plan your request accordingly. 
      • For non-Catholics, a certificate or letter from your Church of Baptism is acceptable and can be issued at any time.
      • For non-baptized, this requirement does not apply.
   2. Affidavits of Freedom to Marry: these forms are provided to you at the prenuptial interview.
   3. Other documents as specified at the prenuptial interview.
   4. Marriage license must be procured according to guidelines issued by the state of Texas.
4. PREPARE-ENRICH assessment: The marriage coordinator will connect you with a family counselor who will assist you with this relationship assessment.
5. Marriage Preparation course: Choose ONE of the following.  Let the marriage coordinator know your preference
   1. Sponsor Couple:  A specially trained married couple, the Sponsor Couple, meets with the engaged couple on four or five occasions. The workbook, For Better and Forever is used as guide in the discussions.
   2. Retreat weekend -OR- 4-class series: The Austin Diocese offers Together in God’s Love marriage preparation in a weekend retreat at Cedarbrake in Belton, -OR- as a series of four classes usually held at the Pastoral Center.  Current dates, fees and registration information may be found on the Office of Family Life page of the Diocesan website (see link on the left of this webpage). The engaged couple may also call the Diocesan Family Life Office at 512-949-2493.
   3. Online marriage preparation: The Austin Diocese has approved the online marriage preparation course provided by Agape Catholic Ministries (see link on the left of this webpage).
   4. Other Marriage Preparation courses: Any course supported by the Austin Diocese is acceptable.  Other courses must be approved by the pastor.
6. Liturgy Review: The wedding folder provided at your prenuptial interview contains the Together for Life planner and helpful information for planning the wedding day ceremony.  The planner must be submitted for review to the marriage coordinator one month prior to the wedding date.
7. Reservation contract: To reserve the Church or Chapel for your ceremony, a reservation contract must be completed and appropriate fees paid.
8. Have a blessed and joyous wedding day!

 
Marriage Preparation Only (marriage to be celebrated at another church)

• Steps 1, 3, 4 and 5 must be completed no later than 2-months prior to the wedding date.
• Preparation Only fee - $200.  This is payable to St. Catherine of Siena Church.

Marriage Preparation at another Catholic Church  (marriage to be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena)
A Marriage Preparation program may be completed at another Catholic Church and will be accepted as “complete in full.”  For purposes of sacramental recording and ceremony planning, these steps also need attention:

1. Church information: provide to St. Catherine’s office the name and contact information of the Church at which you are completing marriage preparation.  This includes the Church’s mailing address, phone number and website.
2. Clergy/Facilitator name: provide to St. Catherine’s office the name and contact information (phone number and email address) of the person directing your preparation.
3. Marriage Packet is due in the church office no later than 1-month prior to the wedding date.
4. Presider meeting: see #2 above.
5. Liturgy Review: see #6 above.  Please provide your mailing address to the marriage coordinator and she will mail the wedding folder to you.
6. Reservation Contract: see #7 above.

  
Reservation information

• Weddings are scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays at 2:00 PM, contingent on availability.
• The prenuptial interview must be completed prior to reserving a wedding date.
• Reservations are accepted up to 18-months in advance.
• No weddings are scheduled during Lent, or the month of December.
• Included in the reservation
  • Brides Room
  • Piano
  • Cantor’s microphone
  • Two church coordinators to direct Rehearsal and assist clergy at the Ceremony

 
Fees

• The PREPARE-ENRICH program charges a $35 processing fee for the relationship assessment.
• Marriage Preparation course fees vary.  Fee information is provided with the course details.
• If the Director of Music is required to be present at your ceremony to manage special requests by musicians, an additional $250 is assessed.
• Reservation fees
  • $200 down payment is paid at time of reservation and is applied to the total fee.  Balance must be paid no later than 2-weeks prior to the wedding date.
  • A parishioner is defined as one who has been registered with the parish for a minimum of one year before contacting the parish about setting a wedding date.  Only the pastor can make exceptions to this requirement.
  • The fees include the clergy stipend for St. Catherine’s clergy.  (*For visiting clergy, this is not covered by the reservation fee. It is paid separately to visiting clergy by the bridal couple.)
• Reservation fee for the Church
  • Parishioners - $800
  • Non-Parishioners - $1400
• Reservation fee for the Chapel (seats 40 people)
  • Parishioners - $500
  • Non-Parishioners - $800

• Preparation Only - $200 (marriage will be celebrated at another Church)
• Additional fees may include but are not limited to: clergy stipend*, musicians, cantors, flowers, photography.

 
Other concerns

• Guest clergy are always welcome to celebrate sacraments at St. Catherine of Siena.  The marriage coordinator will provide information about the additional paperwork required.
• Convalidation of a civil marriage follows these guidelines unless modified at the prenuptial interview.