“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” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601).
The vocation of marriage stands as one of the most important aspects of human existence. Every culture throughout history has recognized marriage as the cornerstone to its well-being. Christian couples not only receive the great social blessings of marriage, but also are granted a special grace from God who elevates their covenant to the level of a sacrament.
The Catholic Church recognizes marriage as fundamental to human flourishing. To support engaged couples as they take upon themselves the responsibility of married life, our parish offers a comprehensive marriage preparation process that involves the following components:
The marriage preparation process at St. Francis Xavier takes a minimum of 6 months. Only parishioners who have been members of the parish for at least 3 months can begin marriage preparation unless the pastor gives special permission otherwise. Please contact Jody Klaphake at (763) 489-9225 or jody.klaphake@stfxb.org to schedule your initial meeting with Fr. Meyers.
To help cover the parish’s expenses in hosting a wedding, a $500 is assessed to all couples who are married at St. Francis Xavier. This fee covers the expenses accrued by using parish facilities, staff time, and the materials used for preparation. It does not cover the retreats and classes offered off-site.
For couples that are only receiving marriage preparation at St. Francis Xavier, but will be married elsewhere, the total fee for marriage preparation is $150.