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Marriage

The love of man and woman “tends to rise ‘in ecstasy’ towards the Divine, to lead us beyond ourselves” (Pope Benedict XVI, God is Love, n. 5).

St. Joseph Parish invites couples to find nourishment in their personal journey to become witnesses of holiness and charity. Where family life is strong and healthy, it helps build that “civilization of life and love” which must be everyone’s aim. When the family is weak, all human relationships are exposed to instability and fragmentation (Pope John Paul II, Springtime of Evangelization, 95).

The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant between the spouses. The consent the man and woman freely and mutually give to each other creates an eternal institution. Their love is a reflection of divine love. This love is confirmed, purified and completed in Jesus Christ, given through the Sacrament of Matrimony.

The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant between the spouses.

The intimate union of marriage, conjugal love involves a totality, in which all the elements of the person enter – appeal of the body and instinct, power of feeling and affectivity, aspiration of the spirit and will. A deeply personal unity demands indissolubility, faithfulness in mutual giving and openness to fertility. Children then are the supreme gift of marriage. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1638 – 1651)

Natural Family Planning

The Archdiocesan Office of Natural Family Planning coordinates and promotes information for all five models of Natural Family Planning methods at 13 different locations in the Archdiocese to all Archdiocesan Marriage Preparatory programs through the Office of Laity and Family Life, the St. Louis Review, Parish Bulletins and through individual priests and marriage preparers who request specific information. For a list of NFP doctors and NaPro Physicians in the St. Louis Area, please click here.

Marriage Preparation

Couples seeking to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony should meet with a priest at the parish up to 18 months and no less than six months prior to their planned wedding date. At least one of the couple must be a registered member of St. Joseph Parish.  Call the office at (636) 441-0055 for more information. Marriage preparation classes are also required. Click here to go to the Archdiocesan Marriage Preparation page, then click on “Engaged Couples” to view a list of current classes.