Matrimony

What is Marriage?

  • The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring. (CCC 1601)


  • The marriage covenant...has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. (CCC 1660)


  • The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life. (CCC 1661)


  • Since marriage establishes the couple in a public state of life in the Church, it is fitting that its celebration be public, in the framework of a liturgical celebration, before the priest, the witnesses, and the assembly of the faithful. (CCC 1663)


  • Unity, indissolubility, and openness to fertility are essential to marriage. (CCC 1664)


  • The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. (CCC 1666)

Want to get married?

  • Receiving the sacrament is a very special moment for a couple. As a parish community, we share your joy and excitement about your celebration. We consider the preparation period vital for your future, so we want to do everything possible to help you have the best preparation possible. 


  • Come to the Church office to fill out a marriage registration form.

FAQ

  • What to Expect in Marriage Prep

    Interview with a Priest


    Marriage Prep Sessions

    • Orientation (Review of the Policies and Guidelines Brochure and complete the Foccus Questionnaire)
    • 6 Classes

    Review the Foccus with the Priest or a couple from the Marriage Prep Team.


    Ceremony Preparation Meeting

    • Review the Liturgy and discuss the wedding ceremony in detail one to three weeks before the ceremony

    Rehearsal (Day or two days before the Wedding)

  • What do I bring to the Interview?

    If you can, bring the following: the sooner we have these documents, the sooner we can give you the okay to choose a wedding date.

    • Recent Baptismal Certificate sealed by the parish (date issued should not be (6) months before the interview date)
    • First Communion Certificate
    • Confirmation Certificate (If you have not done your confirmation, that is not a problem; the priest will notify you of your options)
    • If you are not a parishioner of St. Pius X, bring a letter of permission to marry from the parish corresponding to your home address. 

  • What if my spouse or I cannot attend Marriage Prep?

    In Exceptional Situations, we provide a Sponsor Couple Program. The Priest may take this route if your case qualifies during the Interview.

  • What if we are getting married somewhere else?

    • No problem. You can go ahead and do your marriage prep here. Once the marriage packet is complete, we will send it to the parish within the Diocese of El Paso or to the Chancery of the El Paso Diocese to send to the Diocese where you will marry. 
    • Note that if you want a destination wedding, you must get married in a Catholic Church or an approved Chapel by the Catholic Diocese in that destination. The interview will discuss this further.

  • I was married before, can I get married?

    • If you were only civilly married before and now are divorced, we would need to complete what is known as the Lack of Canonical Form. The priest will guide you through the process of the required documents.
    • If you were married in the Church, you would need to have the marriage annulled by the Tribunal of the Diocese. We cannot begin the marriage prep process until you have the decision of the Tribunal declaring your marriage nulled. If you are in this situation, make an appointment with the priest to begin the annulment process.