Marriage
God created man and woman out of love and commanded them to imitate his love in their relations with each other. Man and woman were created for each other…Woman and man are equal in human dignity, and in marriage both are united in an unbreakable bond. (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, Ch. 21, p. 279)
"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." Reception of this sacrament requires at least six months of preparation prior to the wedding. Persons who intend to marry should contact the pastor well before the intended wedding date. The process includes the FOCCUS Inventory which addresses practical areas of conflict between most couples, lessons in the theology of marriage, participation in a weekend retreat, and participation in a seminar on Christian Family Planning. The latter two events are conducted by personnel who are employed by the diocese of Rapid City. Registration information can be located here.
