The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
Newly Engaged?
Congratulations! St. Margaret of York looks forward to helping you prepare for your marriage and plan your wedding. Here are some frequently asked questions:
1. What is the first step in planning a wedding at St. Margaret of York?
The first step is for the engaged couple to schedule a meeting with our Pastor. Please contact Fr. Ed Smith | 513.697.3960 to set up a mutually convenient time.
2. We are eager to set a date for our wedding. Can you hold a date for us now?
We cannot hold a date or review the parish calendar regarding prospective dates until you meet with the pastor. Following your meeting with our priests, you will have a more complete understanding of the marriage preparation process, next steps, and how to secure a date for your wedding. We strongly recommend that you not book a reception hall or enter into other contractual agreements regarding your wedding until we can confirm the date on our church calendar for you.
3. What times are available for weddings at St. Margaret of York?
Mid-day weddings on Saturdays may begin anytime between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., subject to availability. Evening weddings on Saturdays may begin at 6:30 p.m., subject to availability, to allow time for the placement of decorations following our 4:30p.m. Mass.
There is generally more flexibility with respect to ceremony time on Fridays or Sundays (yes! that is possible). If you would like to begin your wedding ceremony later than 1:30 p.m. but earlier than 4:30 p.m., please ask us for more information about a Friday or Sunday wedding.
4. What are the fees for a wedding at St. Margaret of York?
The marriage preparation fee at SMOY is $200. This fee covers the cost of marriage preparation activities we offer. The cost for church facilities for rehearsal and wedding is waived for parishioners, non-parishioners is $500. These fees do not include off-site Pre-Cana workshops/classes, Natural Family Planning classes, musicians’ fees, or any gift you offer to the priest or deacon presiding at your wedding.
5. Our wedding is planned at a church out of town, but we live in the Loveland area and attend Mass at St. Margaret of York -- can you help us with our marriage preparation?
Yes. We are happy to help couples planning out of town weddings to prepare for marriage. Completing marriage preparation locally simplifies things for engaged couples and greatly helps to facilitate reflection and discernment. Please contact Frank and Lisa Hoffman | marriage@smoy.org regarding this process.
6. Where can I get more information?
For more information please visit the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Marriage and Family Life Office scroll to 'What is the process for preparing for marriage in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati?'
General Questions
Why does the Catholic Church insist that Marriage is between one man and one woman?
When Jesus elevated marriage to the dignity of a sacrament he was building upon the existing natural reality that man and woman were made for union with one another in marriage. God made them male and female and from the beginning the institution of marriage has been for the benefit of the spouses and the loving care of their children. It is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love that is open to children and is the most basic unit of human society.
Why Does the Church Require Preparation for Marriage?
Because marriage is a vocation that involves both the help of grace from God and the cooperation of the spouses with one another, the Church has required various amounts of preparation for the engaged to help them be well equipped for their new life together. Marriage preparation takes many different forms throughout the world because the needs of couples are different according to culture and circumstances. Once entered, marriage is a permanent state of life which requires sacrifice and commitment. For this reason the Church seeks to help the engaged not only learn useful skills and grow in their relationship with one another and with God, she also assists them in making a good decision to marry so that they can be ready to say "I do" and commit to living out the full expression of married love. Couples who make the most of the time of their engagement find themselves more ready for the challenges that lie ahead for them in the exciting adventure of marriage and family life.
What is the attitude of the Church toward those people who are divorced and then remarried?
It is perhaps best to let this answer come directly from the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 349:
"The Church, since she is faithful to her Lord, cannot recognize the union of people who are civilly divorced and remarried. 'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery' (Mark 10:11-12). The Church manifests an attentive solicitude toward such people and encourages them to a life of faith, prayer, works of charity and the Christian education of their children. However, they cannot receive sacramental absolution, take Holy Communion, or exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities as long as their situation, which objectively contravenes God's law, persists."
