Congratulations on your decision to enter Holy Matrimony in the Catholic Church. We at St. Joseph's Fullerton Parish welcome and rejoice with you! The celebration you are planning and the lifelong commitment you are choosing to make are signs of God’s great love for us all.

Wedding Guidelines

Before a marriage takes place, we require that you attend our Marriage Prep program. The program is a 2 day preparation program and will be held Friday, October 25, 2019 from 7 – 9 pm & Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 9 – 4:30PM with Mass following. Space is limited!

Catholic Church law ordinarily requires baptized Catholics to marry before a priest or deacon. Unless they requested and received a “dispensation from canonical form”, Catholics who exchange marriage vows in the presence of only ministers from other religious traditions or authorized civic officials, are not considered validly married in the eyes of the Church. That is, they have not received the grace of the Sacrament of Matrimony. As Catholics we believe that the seven sacraments Jesus instituted are integrated and build upon each other. So, if a couple is married but has not conferred the Sacrament of Matrimony upon each other at a Nuptial Mass or ceremony, they are not free to receive the Eucharist or Reconciliation. We want to help you change that.

In technical Church terms, this is known as convalidation of a marriage. Convalidation, commonly referred to as “having a marriage blessed,” is actually much more than a blessing. At a convalidation ceremony, the husband and wife exchange their vows before a priest or deacon, thereby conferring the Sacrament of Matrimony upon each other. If you are married, but not in the Catholic Church, we encourage you to take the step of having your marriage convalidated here at St. Joseph Church. The Lord wants you to receive His love and support through the healing sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation.

For more information about Convalidations, contactThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 410-256-1630 x150 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..