Congratulations on your desire to enter into "Sacramental Marriage" at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Helotes, Texas.
Jesus said: "...from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate." (Mark 10:6-9)
Marriage is a very important step in your lives. It is always wonderful to witness the love between a couple being realized as growth, challenge, pain, comfort and a lifetime of individual and shared experiences.
The celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage is a very public event. Sacramental Marriage is a covenant, a total commitment of you and your spouse to each other and the Body of Christ -- the Church. Together, you are entering into a covenant with God and the community of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As the primary ministers of the sacrament, you both must be actively involved in the planning of the wedding liturgy. Communication between you concerning the various elements of the preparation process will result in a liturgy which is prayerful, memorable and reflective of the sacrament.
For baptized Catholics, the proper form of receiving the sacrament is within the Catholic church in the presence of a Catholic priest or deacon. One of the spouses may be non-Catholic.
We pray that your faith will be nurtured and that your continual practice of faith will be a celebration of your love for each other and God. The community of Our Lady of Guadalupe pledges its support and prayers during this special time in your lives.
