The Sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church and 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.

The couple confer the Sacrament on one another, and the clerical minister is merely the Church's witness. The essential element of the Sacrament is not the specific words spoken but the  assent within each of their minds and hearts to take responsibility for the other person until one of them dies. The celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful normally takes place during Holy Mass because of the connection of all the Sacraments with the Paschal mystery of Christ. It is fitting that the spouses should seal their consent to give themselves to each other through the offering of their own  lives by uniting it to the offering of Christ for his Church made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice and by receiving the Eucharist together.

In the Diocese of Phoenix Marriage Preparation classes are required. This is a nine month course. Please contact the Parish Office at 928.634.2933 to begin marriage preparation at least ten months before setting a Wedding date.

Please download the Wedding Guidelines booklet for further details on marriage preparation at Immaculate Conception.

Immaculate Conception Wedding Guidelines