Matrimony
The Sacrament of Matrimony reveals God’s plan for humanity: a covenant of love and communion. As Pope Francis teaches, the union of man and woman is not merely a human agreement—it reflects divine love itself. “The two shall become one flesh” (Gen 1:27; 2:24).
In Matrimony, husband and wife are called to mirror God’s faithful, life-giving love. Through this sacrament, God impresses upon the couple the qualities of His own love: unity, fidelity, and permanence. Their covenant is a sacred sign, a living witness of God’s love in the world.
Matrimony is a path to holiness, where the daily, mutual gift of self allows spouses to grow in grace and show God’s love to others.
Celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage at St. Gerard
It is a duty and privilege of all Catholics to get married in the Church. Baptism and free marital status is the basic requirement for engaging in the sacrament of marriage in the Catholic Church. The Catholic party must be a registered member of the parish and show some sort of engagement in parish life. Six months is considered the minimum amount of preparation time before a couple can get married. Marriage preparation includes: meetings with the pastor, a pre-marriage inquiry, meetings with a married couple for premarital course, and a course on Natural Family Planning. No commitment to a date for marriage is to be set before meeting with our pastor.