Congratulations on your engagement!
In the Sacrament of Marriage, the natural love shared by a man and a woman is raised to a supernatural level. The bride and groom are the ministers of the sacrament. They confer the Sacrament of Marriage on each other when they commit to a lifelong partnership of their entire lives which is total, permanent and open to the possibility of children. The sacramental relationship between Christian wives and husbands is an image of the mystical relationship between Christ and his bride, the Church.
“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 their 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.” (Canon 1055, Code of Canon Law, 1983)
Couples wishing to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage are to make arrangements through the parish priest at least six months before the Sacrament is to take place. The couple will enter into a Marriage Preparation with the priest, as well as participating in either an Engagement Encounter Weekend, or a Pre-Cana conference.
Pre-Cana Program is required for all couples. Marriage Preparation programs available through the Diocese of Erie