1661The 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 (cf. Council of Trent: DS 1799). (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1661)
Marriage preparation in the Catholic Church can begin anytime after the engagement. However, in order to help a couple prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage, preparation must be started at least 6 months prior to the date of the wedding.
Please note: One must first meet with one of the friars of the parish before a wedding date can be set. Please call the office at 703-880-4300 to make an appointment with one of the friars.
During your meeting, the friar will inform you of the policies of the Diocese of Arlington, as well as the policies of having a wedding here at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
If you are preparing for your marriage at another Catholic Church, but wish to have St. Joseph Catholic Church be the wedding location, please talk to one of the friars to ensure the date requested is available. Next, have the priest or deacon doing your preparation send us a letter stating that he is taking care of your marriage preparation documentation. A date can not be set until we have this letter in our files.