Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage at St. Paul Catholic Church
Parishioners wishing to be take the Sacrament of Marriage at St. Paul Catholic Church will need to contact the parish office 916-381-5200 at least six months before the planned ceremony for additional information and to register for the Marriage Preparation Program.
For information or to register for the marriage preparation class click on the brochure and/or the registration form in the right column under "documents".
Couples must have completed our Marriage Preparation Program before the Sacrament of Marriage can be administered.
Anyone requiring information regarding annulment of a previous marriage, please call 381-5200 and make an appointment to speak directly to Father Joyle Martinez.
The Marriage Preparation Program (UNITAS) is a program conducted by trained parishioners of St. Paul. Learn more about UNITAS.
Please call the parish office at 381-5200 to register.
UNITAS
Our parish is approached frequently by couples wishing to enter into the Sacrament of Matrimony. The Church (and our Diocese) requires couples to undergo marriage preparation before the sacramental celebration takes place.
We have chosen a comprehensive marriage preparation program for use in our parish that is called UNITAS. The UNITAS program is presented by St. Paul parishioner-couples.
These presenters and sponsors of the engaged are experts in marriage, based on experience of from twenty to fifty years of the married vocation. They have also participated in formation sessions to give them a solid ground in presentation skills.
Their expertise introduces the engaged couples to practical skills needed for their life-long relationship and assists in answering the many questions the engaged couples have. These married couples provide a close look at areas of marriage that need to be addressed to help the engaged couples create their own successful marriage. Faith formation is an integral part of all the sessions to help the couples understand their relationship with God in the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Along with the presenters and sponsors, there is a ministry of prayer for these couples and for all those who participate in the program. These prayer ministers are vital to the success of the preparation of these couples, as are the prayers and support of the community as a whole. People from our community who are directly involved with the preparation program for these couples; including presenters, sponsors, prayer ministers, hospitality ministers, parish staff and others number more than eighty.
The engaged couples are enrolled in the book of the engaged and introduced to the parish at a mass, when they also receive the blessings of the parish. The engaged couples then participate in seven weekly formation sessions. The parish as a whole has the opportunity to celebrate the midpoint of their journey and pray for their continued strength with the couples at a Sunday mass. The conclusion of their formation period also is celebrated.
Please continue to ask God's blessings for the couples to be married and support them with prayer in their journey from engagement to marriage. Please also continue to pray for all those involved with their formation.