Matrimony
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife,
and the two of them become one body." Genesis 2:24
Congratulations on your engagement and your decision to get married in the Catholic Church!
Matrimony is one of the two sacraments of service. Married couples promise to serve each other with love and to serve the whole Church. They enter into a lifelong covenant of love. This is their vocation. They serve the Church by their love and they share in God's creation in a special way when they give birth to children.
The Sacrament of Matrimony, whereby a man and woman are joined together in a life-long union of procreative love, is a calling from God. The creator established this purpose from the very beginning by the very manner in which He made men and women. Jesus taught that the nature of marriage itself reflects the indivisible unity of the love of God. In this way Jesus raised the natural bond of marriage to a supernatural sacrament of life and love. The movement toward this life choice, the union of marriage, is, therefore, a moment requiring careful deliberation and spiritual preparation.
The parish office should be contacted as soon as the couple has gotten engaged so that the desired date of marriage and appropriate arrangements and preparation can be made.
To view our Marriage Booklet please click here.
Wedding Request
When should we contact the Parish about the wedding plans?
As soon as the engagement is announced! The preparation requires at least 6 months for spiritual preparation and coordination.
Do we need to be parishioners to get married at St. Marys?
While we do give preference to our registered parishioners, we welcome inquiries from couples with a family connection to the Parish.
What does the marriage preparation entail?
Formation sessions are facilitated with the minister who is scheduled to celebrate your wedding for at least 6 months prior to the wedding date. You will also attend the Engaged Couples retreat (either locally or within the Diocese of Toledo).
What is the cost?
The church does not charge for the celebration of the Sacraments. The "Church Fee" is requested to reserve the building for your exclusive use for your wedding. The fee is $200, with a $50 non-refundable deposit due when the wedding date is approved to hold the date.
An additional stipend is not required for a priest or deacon assigned to St. Mary Parish. Any gift is at your discretion. Other fees:
Visiting Priest or Deacon (please let us know immediately if you wish to have a visiting priest so the proper paperwork can be filed): $150 stipend plus travel and lodging
Parish Music Director/Organist: $150
Servers: a gift of $20 per server is appropriate
Engaged Couples Conference
The Diocese of Toledo requires couples contemplating marriage to attend an Engaged Couples Conference (preferably six months prior to the wedding date). The conference is facilitated by a team of married couples from both St. Joseph and St. Mary Parishes. This day-long program allows couples to explore their relationship and prepare for marriage.
The Engaged Couples Conference takes place on the first Sunday in March, the third Sunday of July, and the Sunday before Thanksgiving, with the location rotating between St. Joseph and St. Mary Parishes.
Current Engaged Couples Classes are:
- November 23, 2025 (St. Joseph)
- March 1, 2026 (St. Mary)
- July 19, 2026 (St. Joseph)
- November 22, 2026 (St. Mary)
St Mary Catholic Church
Parish Office Building, Room 22
75 S Sandusky Street
Tiffin, Ohio
St Joseph Catholic Church
Activity Center, Upper Room
36 Melmore Street
Tiffin, Ohio
Retreat Registration
Annulments
Trained advocates are available to assist members of the parish who wish to pursue an annulment. Each petitioner is required to meet with an advocate and then begin the application process for the annulment. More details regarding annulments can be found on the Toledo Diocese website or you can email a Priest to contact you.
