Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a covenant that unites a husband and wife as one, which is a representation of the bond between Christ and His Church.
This sacrament is the only sacrament in which the lay couple confers the sacrament to one another before God, the priest, and their community.
Between baptized persons, marriage is elevated to the dignity of a sacrament. This covenant was established by God to provide grace for “the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring” (CCC 1601).
A wedding between two Catholics normally takes place during Holy Mass, to draw the connection between marriage and the mystery of the Eucharistic feast, which unites Christ to His Bride, the Church (CCC 1621).
Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Please contact the priest six to nine months before your anticipated wedding date to begin the marriage preparation process.
Catholic weddings are primarily to be celebrated in a Catholic church. Either the bride or the groom must be a parishioner. Be sure to book the church before booking the reception venue.
The Diocese of Buffalo also requires that couples who desire to be married attend marriage preparation sessions.
The Marriage Preparation / Pre-Cana ministry plays an important role in preparing engaged couples for entering into the sacrament of marriage.
During each session couples follow a Diocesan-approved agenda that guides discussion of important marriage issues and fulfills the Pre-Cana requirements.
Engaged couples outside of St. Greg’s are welcome to attend our in-person pre-CANA classes when offered.
Engaged couples are asked to contact Jo Pierino to schedule a wedding date. Brian Ruh will reach out to the couple with Pre CANA options.
Here are additional resources from the Diocese of Buffalo and the USCCB that you may find helpful as you prepare for marriage: