“God disposed man and woman for each other so that they might be ‘no longer two but one’ (Mt 19:6). In this way they are to live in love, be fruitful, and thus be a sign of God himself, who is nothing but overflowing love.” -YouCat 260
Between his exchanges with the Pharisees (Matthew 19, for example), trying to get them to see marriage as it was intended from the beginning, as well as his blessing of the marriage at Cana,Jesus raised marriage from a contract to a Sacrament. Among the Sacraments, marriage is unique in the sense that it is the one sacrament in which it is not the priest who administers the Sacrament; but rather the couple who mutually administer the Sacrament while the priest witnesses on behalf of the Church, calling God’s blessing upon their marriage. According to the late, great American Bishop Fulton Sheen, there are two key elements to the Sacrament of Marriage:
“One is very visible and evident. It is the exchange of consent which is signified not only by the joining of hands, but also by the words of consent. And this is witnessed by a priest. There is the invisible grace, also, which is communicated for their married state of life, and because this grace symbolizes another marriage—the marriage between Christ and His Church. That is the meaning of sacramental marriage (and it is found throughout the Epistles of Paul).”
(Source: iamthird.ca)
In order to be married at Holy Trinity Parish, you must first meet with Paul & Carol Quist, members of our pastoral team responsible for marriage & family ministry. Please contact the parish at least 6 months prior to the proposed marriage date to arrange a meeting. A preparation course is mandatory, and our parish office can fill you in on specific details.
Please call the parish office at 780-960-0135 or email office@trinitycatholic.net for more information.
You can download our marriage preparation brochure here:Marriage Prep brochure 2017-18