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St. Martha Parish welcomes and congratulates you as you come to request marriage in the Catholic Church.  The celebration you are planning and the lifelong commitment you are choosing to make are signs of God’s great love for us all.
 
To begin Marriage Preparation please fill out the marriage preparation form HERE.  After submitting the form, the Director of Community Life, Francine Puglia, will contact you. 

For questions, email Francine Puglia at franp@stmartha.com

If you are not registered at the Parish and do not live within the parish boundaries, you are advised to contact your local Catholic parish.  If they are unable to assist you, please ask the pastor or his representative to contact us.
 
Has either the bride or groom (Catholic or non-Catholic) ever been married before?
If yes, please contact Francine at franp@stmartha.com before beginning marriage preparation.

For the time being, some group meetings are being handled remotely using Zoom.
 

Beginning the marriage prep process and setting the wedding date:

• Bride and groom attend a Marriage Preparation Information Meeting.
• Francine assigns you a clergy and provides you his contact information.  Weddings between a Catholic and a non-Catholic will be assigned a deacon.  Weddings between two Catholics will be assigned a priest.
• Bride and groom complete the Prepare-Enrich assessment.
• Bride and groom contact their assigned clergy person to set up their first meeting.  At the first meeting, their freedom to marry is determined by the priest or deacon.  
• The priest or deacon sets the date on his calendar and the church calendar, and he confirms the date with you.

• Prepare and Enrich Group sessions are held using Zoom.
  • Conflict Management:  For dates and to register please click the link: https://forms.gle/dc5pENYcYSGtY87w7
  • Spirituality and Closeness:  For dates and to register please click the link: https://forms.gle/dc5pENYcYSGtY87w7
  • Communication and Scope Personality:  For dates and to register please click the link: https://forms.gle/h4YVaNhBP9KzYWDg6
• Catholic Teaching on Marriage:  For 2020: November 14.  For 2021: January 9, March 13, May 8, July 10, September 11, and November 13.   All sessions are using Zoom for the time being and begin at 1:30 p.m. (choose one session).  To register, email Lourdes at lourdesf@stmartha.com
• Natural Family Planning class –  Next session begins Nov. 10. Register by clicking on the followoing link: https://www.melissabuchan.com/NFP  . For questions, email Melissa at support@virtusfertilitycare.com

• The sponsor couple program “For Better and For Ever”: couples meet in the sponsor couple’s home for five meetings.  Ask your clergy to contact the coordinator to begin this program and for him to provide you with the books used for this program.  Complete Chapters 2 and 3 before your first meeting with your sponsor couple.  Or if you prefer, a weekend Engaged Encounter is offered through the archdiocese (register at www.archgh.org).  The cost is $250, and the various dates are listed on the website.  Discuss each option with your clergy.

• Am I called to make a life-long commitment with this person?
• What may help me to grow closer to Christ and stay connected in the Church?

• If you are Catholic, a newly issued baptism certificate is required (not your original baptism certificate).  Contact the church where you were baptized and ask them to send send a newly issued certificate to you.  
• If you are not a member of the Catholic Church and are baptized in another faith, proof of the baptism is requested.  It can be an original certificate or a letter from your parents.
• A “Witness Affidavit of Freedom to Marry” form – your clergy will provide blank forms. 
• A civil marriage license (this cannot be obtained more than 90 days or less than 72 hours) prior to the wedding). 

• Twogether in Texas: Texas will discount a marriage license fee by $60 for couples who complete marriage preparation at St. Martha.  Ask your clergy to request this certificate of completion of marriage preparation. 
• Wedding Fees:
  • The wedding fee for a wedding in the church is $800.
  • The wedding fee for a wedding in the Holy Family Chapel is $600.
  • The wedding fee for a wedding in the St. Martha Woodland Hills Chapel is $400.
  • A $100 deposit is required when setting the wedding date.
  • The balance of wedding fees is due two months prior to the wedding date.
  • For a simple wedding ceremony in the St. Martha Woodland Hills Chapel with no Mass, no music, and no bridal party, the above-stated wedding fees will be waived.
• You are welcome to also extend a gift to the priest or deacon officiating at your wedding and give your gift directly to the priest or deacon.

• Watch the bulletin, St. Martha Facebook page, parish app, or the parish website www.stmartha.com for details and for updates on the marriage prep group sessions.

 Questions?  Please email Francine at franp@stmartha.com.