The Sacrament of Marriage

The marriage covenant, by which a man and woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. By its very nature it is ordered to the good of the couple, as well as to the generation and education of children.

The 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.

At least 6 months before the anticipated wedding date, contact Fr. John Sponder at frjohn@hscc.us to schedule a meeting to discuss your marriage preparation, and determine a wedding date.

Basic marriage requirements

• Either the bride, the groom, or the parents of either are required to be registered members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church for at least three months prior to contacting the parish to set a date.
• The Diocese of Joliet requires an engagement period of at least six months before the date of the wedding.
• The completion of the marriage preparation program is to be discussed at the initial meeting with the priest.

Convalidation

If you are married outside the church and are seeking to validate your marriage in the church, please contact Fr. John Sponder at frjohn@hscc.us.

Annulments

Contact Fr. John Sponder at 630.922.0081 to discuss your specific situation.