The Sacrament of Matrimony, or Marriage, is a sacrament instituted by Christ that elevates the natural union of marriage to a grace-filled covenant where man and woman give witness of the love of Jesus for his bride, the Church, to the whole world.

All engaged couples that would like to get married at Christ Prince of Peace or St. Lawrence are required to contact the Parish Office at 724-763-9141 at least nine months prior to the wedding date.

PREPARATION IN OUR PARTNER PARISHES:
 
1. Marriages should be scheduled at least 9 - 12 months in advance.  The wedding will ordinarily take place in the church of the bride, or in the parish of the Catholic party.  Once scheduled, a wedding registration form (see below) hould be completed and returned to the parish.
 
2.  Approval will be withheld for marriages in the church for those prior to their 18th birthday until an evaluation by Catholic Charities is made.  The parish priest, in the final analysis, knowing best all the details, will make the final decision.
 
3. Within one year of your marriage date, you must do one of the following:
A.  Participate in a Parish Marriage Preparation program (Sponsor Couples)
B.  Participate in an Engaged Encounter weekend
 
4. Six months prior to the approved scheduled wedding date, the couple will make an appointment with the parish priest.  At the first meeting, the priest will complete the necessary paperwork and administer the marriage  Inventory called FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication,         Understanding, and Study).  If either party was not baptized at Christ, Prince of Peace Parish or St. Lawrence Parish, they should bring a current copy of their baptismal certificate to this first meeting.
 
5. A second meeting will be scheduled to review and discuss the results of the FOCCUS answers.
 
6.  The third meeting will be with the parish priest to discuss the wedding rehearsal and the actual wedding ceremony.