The Marriage Preparation Process is necessary to seek marriage in the Catholic Church.

If you're a couple planning to get married in the Catholic Church, it's important to get in touch with St. Joseph Parish at least six to nine months before your anticipated wedding date to start the process of marriage preparation. 

You must be a registered and an active member of our Parish in good standing, or a child of, for more than one year, or have graduated from our Parish School. 

Please keep in mind that only the Pastor will be able to discuss and confirm any dates, and will only discuss specifics with the couple.

You don't need to hire an outside professional wedding coordinator for ceremonies inside the church, as the Parish provides one to help with coordinating the paperwork, wedding rehearsal and the ceremony itself.
 

Step #1 - Before booking your wedding venue, it is important to contact St. Joseph Parish and prioritize the Church before your venue. During your initial meeting with our Pastor, you will have the opportunity to:

• You must be a registered and an active member of our Parish in good standing, child of, for more than a year, or graduated from our Parish School.
•  Meet and greet the Pastor.
• Complete the required pre-nuptial form (A-form) with the Pastor during your meeting.
• Discuss wedding fees, including those for the Priest, Wedding Coordinator, Cantor, Organist, and Facilities
• You must obtain Baptismal certificates dated no more than 6 months before the wedding.
• Schedule and confirm the wedding date, which should be done before securing a venue. Remember, the Church should be a top priority. 
• After your meeting fill out the Pre-Wedding Form for approved couples, which is located on the right-hand side on this page.

We hope this information helps plan your special day. If you have any questions, please contact the parish office at 269-983-1575.

Step #2 - Administration of a pre-marital inventory - FOCCUS Inventory set up by the Parish Office after you visited with the Pastor.

A premarital inventory aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your relationship. It is not a test that you can pass or fail, nor is it something you can prepare for or study. Instead, it offers a snapshot of your relationship at the time you take it. The real value of a premarital inventory lies not just in taking it, but in the discussions that ensue after taking it and during the review session that follows with the Priest. 

Step #3 - To prepare for marriage, you can register for either a Marriage Preparation Seminar (JFM) which is offered in person through the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Check the current dates below or a Pre-Cana online course designed for engaged couples. Please inform the parish office of your chosen course.

On-Line Marriage Pre-Cana (Choose One):

The Marriage Group - Online Marriage Preparation & Enrichment Course

OR

Or

a for Joy-Filled Marriage Seminar (JFM) iN-pERSON weekend.

(See below in the next section or bottom page). 

Step #4 An introduction Session to the natural way (God's plan) for planning a family- NOTE: You may register directly with one of the NFP instructors listed here if you are choosing to do it in person. Online will have that incorporated within the course or you may have to take a separate course by the same company. 
 

Step #5 - To plan the wedding liturgy, please coordinate with the wedding coordinator of the parish. She will work with you through the entire process.  Please plan on budgeting for all wedding fees and ensure that all fees are paid in full before the wedding date. If you choose to hire an external wedding coordinator, they are welcome to assist our coordinator. However, during the rehearsal and wedding day itself, the parish's coordinator makes sure everyone is supported and everything runs smoothly according to our Catholic faith. 

Other guides for couples:

• Meet with the parish priest to plan the liturgy for your wedding ceremony.

• Marriage between two Catholics is normally celebrated during Mass
• Marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic may be celebrated inside or outside the Mass
• Marriage between a Catholic and an unbaptized person is celebrated within the Liturgy of the Word

The Diocesan Office of Marriage and Family hosts the Joy-Filled Marriage retreat for engaged couples. This weekend provides time for couples to dialogue and enter into a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Marriage. The schedule for each weekend is typically as follows: Saturday - 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday - 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Dates for 2025 are: 

 June 14-15

September 13-14

Visit www.diokzoo.org/marriage-preparation for more information and registration form.