9 Steps to Receive the Sacrament of Marriage
in the Diocese of San Bernardino
Step 1: Contact your parish and arrange to meet with your Priest or Deacon
When: BEFORE you set a wedding date or begin any other steps
When you become engaged, you first point of contact should be your parish, your home of faith. They are the ones who will guide you through the entire marriage preparation process from start to finish, whether or not you are being married at your home parish. At that time, you will schedule a time to meet and begin walking together on this joyous journey and receive the guidance and assistance you need to complete steps 2-7, keeping in mind they may even have specific recommendations as to which courses or tools listed below are best for the couple to follow. You can ask about appropriate music for the ceremony, and begin to fill out some of the required paperwork. You may also want to take a moment to plan out a timeline for completion of these steps and other wedding arrangements.
This step is completed through your parish. Therefore, be sure you’ve completed step 1 before you move to this step. Your parish will then oversee the process then use the results to help guide your preparation process. This is a sampling of marriage inventory tools currently approved for use in the Diocese of San Bernardino. Keeping in mind that some of the tools are intended for special circumstances, and always with prior parish approval:
Step 3: Take your Marriage Preparation Course
Step 4: Learn about Natural Family Planning
Couples may access a wealth of information from class registration to local support contacts basics on the various NFP methods and much more via our Pro-life Office (909) 475-5467.
Step 5: Sacrament of Reconciliation
Step 6: Final Meeting(s) with your Priest or Deacon
Discuss any issues or concerns raised in your marriage prep class, share the results of your premarital inventory, and finalize the ceremony details. Finish your paperwork and review the readings and music you've chosen.
If you are getting married at a different parish, do keep in close touch with your home parish and embrace any opportunities they may offer for you to receive spiritual guidance and final wedding tips there as well. They are your family of faith!
Step 9: Keep Connected! Be part of the Marriage Initiative