Marriage

“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”
— CCC 1601
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Sacrament of Matrimony

  • Couples planning to marry must contact one of the Priests or Deacons 10 to 12 months prior to the tentative date of marriage. Participation in Witness to Love, our marriage preparation program is required. Call the Parish Office at 410-647-4884 to be put in touch with a Priest or Deacon.

  • Download wedding procedures here.

  • Links to Marriage resources from The Archdiocese of Baltimore which include info on pre-Cana and Engaged Encounter Marriage Preparation options, as well as marriage enrichment ideas. Foryourmarriage.org, an initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to strengthen marriages, and General Marriage and Family Information from USCCB.

  • Yes. When a Catholic marries in a non-Catholic ceremony (e.g., before a justice of the peace, minister, rabbi, etc.) without the involvement of or a dispensation from the Catholic Church, that marriage is not sacramental. However, the couple can seek a convalidation. In a convalidation ceremony, the couple exchanges their vows in a simple Catholic ceremony that brings their prior civil marriage into the Sacrament of Matrimony.

    Because every couple’s situation is unique, persons interested in pursuing a convalidation should speak with a priest or deacon. Please call the Parish Office at 410-647-4884 to contact one of our clergy who is ready to help you and answer any questions you have about the convalidation process.

    Please note: To complete the convalidation process, the couple will need to provide copies of their baptismal certificates and their civil marriage license. If either of the couple was married previously, then a copy of the Declaration of Nullity will also be needed. Please speak with a priest or deacon who will be ready to help you with all of this!

  • While recognizing that with the exchange of marital vows God takes two persons and makes them one flesh, the Church knows that there are times when an element necessary for a valid marriage is missing. If a person claims that something was missing from a marriage to make it invalid, that person has the right to seek the assistance of a tribunal.

    Most often the person asking for a declaration of nullity (commonly referred to as an annulment) will be a Catholic or a person who is now seeking to marry a Catholic. Begin first by speaking with a parish priest. Additional information on the annulment process can be obtained from the Archdiocesan website or by calling the marriage tribunal office. For a quick intro to the subject, and to avoid much misinformation, read 12 Myths about Marriage Annulments in the Catholic Church.