Church and Civil Requirements

Baptismal Certificates: [dated no more than six (6) months prior to wedding]: If you are a baptized Catholic, you should contact the parish where you were baptized and ask for a certification of your Baptism that is dated no more than six months before your planned wedding. That parish will be familiar with this sort of request and should be able to send you the document within a couple of days. When you receive the certification, forward it promptly to the priest who is preparing you for your wedding.

Witness Testimony: As part of the preparation process, the priest will ask you to provide two written declarations by two different witnesses that you are free to marry your intended spouse. The priest will give you forms to use for this purpose. The witnesses should be members of your immediate family or other persons who have known you well through your adult years. The witnesses need not be Catholic. The declaration is signed by the witness and needs to be attested to by a Catholic priest/deacon at any convenient rectory location. Note the inter-diocesan procedure on the bottom of the Form, if that applies.

Fully Engaged Inventory is a Catholic catechetical premarital inventory designed to help engaged couples solidify the foundation upon which they, together with Christ, will build their Sacrament of Marriage. Grounded in Church teaching and loaded with catechetical content, this dynamic premarital inventory is a trustworthy guide that meets the real challenges today’s couples face.  Fully Engaged helps couples to grow in their Catholic identity by smoothly integrating Church teaching into its materials.

Pre-Nuptial Investigation: The Pre-Nuptial investigation is completed by the priest or deacon preparing you for marriage. It consists of an interview and the obtaining of “witness testimony” by someone who can testify to your readiness to enter into the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. The Catholic Church law has requirements that must be met before any wedding is valid and lawful. These requirements are designed to protect the high value that the Church has for Christian marriage.  During the face-to-face interview as a couple with the priest, you will get to know him, and vice versa as well as review all the preparatory details for a Catholic wedding.

Dispensations: If a couple who desires a Catholic marriage cannot meet any one of Church Law requirements, the couple may have to obtain a dispensation, or exception to the requirements. For instance, if a Catholic wishes to marry a person of another faith, the Catholic must request a dispensation from the local bishop. As part of the request, the Catholic party to such a marriage reaffirms his/her commitment to the Catholic faith and his/her intention to remain in that faith and promises to do what he/she can short of causing harm to the marriage relationship to raise any children of the marriage as members of the Catholic community. The priest who is preparing you for your wedding will determine whether you need any dispensation and, if so, will help you request it. If you need a dispensation, you must obtain the dispensation before your wedding can take place.

If you were married previously, a Declaration of Nullity must be provided at the time of your inquiry in order to demonstrate that you are now free to re-marry in the Catholic Church. This applies to all forms of previous marriage, whether by a judge, by a religious leader in another faith tradition, or common law. For more information about annulments: https://www.archgh.org/offices-ministries/metropolitan-tribunal/english/

Marriage License: It is your responsibility to obtain the civil license no more than two months (60 days) before your wedding date. Please give the marriage license to the Priest or deacon as soon as you obtain it for safekeeping. The parish will submit the license to the State in accordance with State law. A duplicate of the signed document will be given to you after the wedding.

Our pre-marital education program has been approved by “Twogether In Texas,” under the Health Marriage Program, Texas Code §2.013. The desire of this program is “to build a community where marriage is valued and strong families can contribute to the success of the great State of Texas.”

Couples who complete the Twogether In Texas pre-marital program will receive a certificate providing 1) up to $60 off their marriage license fees, and 2) waive a 72-hour waiting period at the County Clerk's office. 

For further information about “Twogether in Texas,” you can visit the website TwogetherInTexas.com. We look forward to being a part of your story together.

The study of Natural Family Planning (NFP) is required as part of the marriage preparation process provided by the Family Life Ministry of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Couples are invited to attend an introductory class to learn more about NFP and the different methods and models available. The following classes are offered through the Family Life Ministry.
https://archgh.cventevents.com/event/efde6c80-12ab-4330-8824-16254f109883/summary

Increase Awareness

The results of an assessment provide insights to your relationship. Research has shown the act of taking the Prepare/Enrich assessment improves relationship quality and brings increased awareness across multiple aspects of the relationship.

Assesses Your Relationship

Prepare/Enrich covers various areas within the relationship including communication, conflict resolution, finances, and spiritual beliefs. In addition, the assessment will explore your personality, family of origin, and relationship dynamics. Over 30 customized categories, such as previous marriage and expecting a child, ensure your experience with your results will feel accurate and relevant to your relationship.

Reduces Your Risk for Divorce

Research has shown that taking the Prepare/Enrich assessment prior to marriage reduces your risk for divorce by 30%.

Encourages Discussion

Prepare/Enrich will help you celebrate your strengths as a couple and use them to gain momentum in the growth areas of your relationship. The assessment primes you to have meaningful conversations as you continue to grow as a couple.

Enhances Your Relationship Skills

Prepare/Enrich provides skill-building exercises to help you strengthen your relationship. Developing skills such as assertive communication and active listening will allow you to support growth in all areas of your relationship.

IS THIS A TEST?

No, we promise it is not a test. It’s an assessment of your relationship across several categories. Review below what the assessment is, and is not, so you have a deeper understanding of what it will do for your relationship.

As part of the Preparation of Marriage program, engaged couples will be taught materials from TOBET.  It topics engage couples to develop and deepen their relationship using the practical examination of the body through the lens of St. John Paul's Theology of the Body.  

• Communication and Safe Dialogue
• Family of Origin
• Conflict Resolution
• Finances
• Family Planning

Couples develop familiarity with TOB themes and deepen their understanding of the “whys behind the whats” of the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage and sexuality. Some common TOB themes include:

• The “Spousal” Meaning of the Human Body
• Masculinity & Femininity: Archetypes, Not Stereotypes
• The Sacramental Vision of Marriage
• Marital Love as a Person-to-Person Encounter