Sacrament of Matrimony

“ …But in the beginning, at the time of creation, “God made them male and female, as the scripture says. And for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one. So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together…”
Mc 10:6-9

Marriage preparation should start preferably between 6 to 9 months before the wedding day.

Steps to follow

  1. Contact your parish and schedule an appointment with the Pastor. He will guide you in the preparation of your marriage.
  2. Documents needed:
    • Baptismal Certificate for both parties updated with the parish within the last 6 months.
    • For baptized non-Catholics, a letter from their church with baptismal data. (This requirement is waived for unbaptized persons.)
    • Sacrament of Confirmation Certificates for both parties unless one is a non-Catholic.
    • Permission letter from the church you belong to marry at St. Mary Magdalen; if you are a parishioner of St. Mary Magdalen, this is waived.
    • Certificate of Attendance in a marriage preparation program from the Archdiocese of Miami: “Transformed in Love or Camino”.
    • Successful completion of the survey “Fully Engaged Inventory.” Answers must be discussed with the priest or delegate person. This is a survey designed to help you identify and discuss your expectations for your future together in a number of areas like children, careers, roles, faith, finances, etc.
      www.miamiarch.org/FullyEngaged
    • Take a “Natural Family Planning (NFP) Class”. These classes will teach you signs to recognize your own fertility. You can choose a live in-person class, a live online class, or a self- paced online class. Depending upon the method you choose, it will take 3-6 months to complete this element of your preparation.
      www.miamiarch.org/NFP
    • If you are civilly married, please provide a copy of the marriage certificate.
    • If you are civilly divorced, please provide a copy of the Divorce Decree.
    • If you were married in the church, please provide the original annulment decree or the certification of Death of the ex-spouse.
  3. When you have completed the above requirements, the priest will review them with you and complete all the correct documentation for the church and the state. Once the process is completed, the priest will discuss your willingness to marry and confirm the date and details of the wedding.
  4. A church marriage certificate does not have legal value. You need to apply for a Florida Marriage license at: www.miami-dadeclerk.com. The marriage certificate must be given to the priest by the time of the wedding rehearsal. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the court to automatically mail back a copy of your marriage certificate. During the marriage ceremony, the marriage license will be signed. The officiating priest will mail the document to the appropriate Florida Courthouse.
  5. A written notarized testimony staying that you are not currently married has to be provided by two witness for the groom and two witness for the bride.
  6. The fee of the wedding is a fixed fee of $1,500.00. The first 50% is payed when the tentative date is scheduled, and the remaining balance of the 50% is paid one month before the wedding.

“ 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 the 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.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1682