• The Convalidation of a Marriage

  (which occurred outside the Catholic Church)

   

  The validity of a marriage comes about through the exchange of vows (the consent) by the two spouses. For a Catholic person to have his or her marriage deemed valid by the Church certain forms must be followed. Although the couple themselves are the ministers of the sacrament, a marriage outside the Catholic Church needs advance permission to be considered valid.   Without that permission a process called convalidation is required. Convalidation is the means by which a marriage celebrated outside the Catholic Church (a civil marriage or one in a church of another faith tradition) is recognized as valid and receives the formal blessing of the Catholic Church.
  
  

  Parish Guidelines for the Convalidation of a Marriage

   

  1.      Convalidation presumes that both parties are free in the eyes of the Church to marry one another in the first place. Any individual (Catholic or not) who has had a previous marriage and whose former spouse is still living will require an annulment prior to convalidation. (An annulment may take six months or more, so plan accordingly. A date for convalidation may not be set until the annulment is approved.)

   

  2.      Couples seeking convalidation must contact the Church and make an appointment with a priest or deacon at least six months prior to the anticipated date of the ceremony.

   

  3.   Couples will be required to take either a Diocesan Convalidation Workshop (Living Your Marriage as a Sacrament) or meet with a Sponsor Couple as part of their preparation.

   

  4.   As part of the preparation for convalidation, a copy of the Civil Marriage License will be required. In addition, the Catholic spouse(s) will be required to present a copy of their Baptismal Record, recently issued (no more than six months old) by the original church of baptism of that individual.
  
  

  Some additional Considerations

   
  Convalidation will generally be celebrated at the Divine Mercy of Our Lord Parish on Saturdays. Other days and times will be determined by the availability of the Church, and the schedule of the presiding priest or deacon.

  
  

        Convalidations may be celebrated either in the Main Sanctuary or the smaller Eucharistic Chapel.