Congratulations on your engagement! We are looking forward to helping you prepare to be married in the Catholic Church. Some of the more frequently asked questions are answered below. To begin the marriage preparation process, please contact Fr. Brad by email or phone (906-632-9625). 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is necessary to be married at St. Joseph Parish?

Ordinarily, at least one of the parties must be Catholic and either be registered at St. Joseph Parish or live in the parish boundaries. It is also possible for a couple from outside the parish to get married here. In that case, marriage preparation is usually done in the parish where one of the parties lives. Our pastor can help you determine what procedure best fits your situation.

We are also able to do marriage preparation for couples getting married out of town. In that case, our pastor will be in touch with the parish of marriage to determine the best procedure. 

When can weddings take place?

Weddings usually take place on Saturday afternoons around 1:00 PM, but they may also be scheduled on other days of the week, depending on the availability of the church and the celebrant. We ask that the wedding party exit the church by 3:30 PM on Saturdays to accommodate our weekly Confession time. Please call the church as soon as possible to make sure your desired date is available. No date can be finally confirmed until the couple has had their initial meeting with Fr. Brad and all requirements from the Church's marriage laws are fulfilled.

How long does marriage preparation take?

We ask that couples make contact with the parish at least six months before the desired wedding date. It is best to contact the parish as soon as possible after your engagement.

What does the marriage preparation process look like?

The first step is to schedule a meeting with our pastor, Fr. Brad, as soon as possible. He will get to know you and conduct the "prenuptial investigation" which helps verify that there are no serious obstacles that would prevent a marriage from taking place (e.g., a prior marriage with no declaration of nullity, serious lack of freedom on the part of one of the parties, etc.). He will also determine if there is anything else that needs to happen for the marriage to take place in accord with the marriage laws of the Catholic Church. No date can be finalized until this step has been completed and all requirements from Church law are met. Fr. Brad will help you navigate any issues that may arise at this stage.

The second step involves three meetings with one of our mentor couples. These couples help facilitate important conversations about marriage and family life in a relaxed and supportive environment.

The third step is an introductory class on natural family planning. This step may not be necessary if, for example, the couple is beyond childbearing age.

The final step involves meeting with Fr. Brad to debrief the whole process and plan the ceremony.

Are there any costs to marriage preparation?

We ask for participants to cover some of the cost of materials for the marriage prep program. If there is a financial hardship, these fees can be covered by the parish. The current fees are as follows:

• $35 online Prepare/Enrich test fee
• $50 Introduction to Natural Family Planning Class
• $10 Together for Life Booklet

We ask for a $100 deposit, which will be returned to you following the wedding when it is confirmed that the church and surrounding areas used by the wedding party are left clean.

You may give the celebrant a stipend for the ceremony. The current diocesan policy sets the suggested offering at $100. This contribution is not required when our pastor does the wedding.

Stipends for music are to be worked out directly with the musicians themselves.

In the above cases, exceptions can be made in the event of financial hardship. For smaller ceremonies, such as convalidations, there is no deposit or stipend necessary.