WHAT IS NEEDED TO MARRY IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
- The Diocese of Pueblo requires a minimum preparation period of six months and recommends one full year if possible.
- This preparation period begins when the couple meets with the Pastoral Assistant at the parish for the first time.
- The minimum age for marriage in our Diocese is 19.
- If one or both of you has been previously married, then an annulment is required even for a non-Catholic. Annulments are done through the Marriage Tribunal of the Diocese of Pueblo and the process can take more than a year. Scheduling a wedding cannot take place until the annulment process has been successfully completed. (See bottom of this page for more info)
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS:
- Baptismal certificates: Catholics getting married need to submit a certified copy of their baptismal certificate dated within 6 months of the wedding date. Non-Catholics who are baptized need to submit a copy of their certificate if they have one.
- Both parties must have two affidavits called witness forms filled out by blood relatives and witnessed at a Catholic Church with the church seal. These forms concern your freedom to marry and your baptismal status.
- A Pre-Nuptial Investigation Form is filled out by the priest, deacon or pastoral assistant working with the couple.
- Any other documents as may be necessary, such as dispensations, annulments, etc.
- Marriage license: the State of Colorado requires a marriage license that is valid for 30 days.
Once you have met with the pastoral Assistant or a priest to begin your preparation process, you may register for a local Marriage Prep Class or Retreat. The Pastoral Assistant will assist you with this. The fee for the classes/retreat is $50 per couple.
We offer classes several times a year.
In lieu of the local marriage prep class we also accept:
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- The online class from the Archdiocese of Chicago CLICK HERE
- The online class out of Colorado Springs CLICK HERE
Natural Family Planning
NFP classes are a requirement in our deanery and consist of one class a month for 3 months. The cost is $135 but the Pastoral Assistant will have a code for you to use that takes $75 off this cost. You can register online at www.ccli.org for “Live Onsite” classes. Questions or assistance with registration, contact Robert & Bernadette Jones at jonesfamily2007@gmail.com or 245-5722
Annulments
An annulment is a declaration by the Catholic Church that after careful investigation, flaws were discovered in the marriage relationship that prevented it from becoming a true sacramental marriage. If it is proved that a marriage was not sacramentally valid, then the parties are free to marry someone else.
The Pastoral Assistant is also an Annulment Advocate for the Diocese of Pueblo and your contact for information and for petitioning the diocese for an annulment of a marriage.