In Gaudium et Spes, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) call marriage a "community of life and love" and tell us that "God himself is the author of marriage." Thus a man and a woman, when they marry, enter into a covenant with each other and with God, giving their lives to each other in order to form this community.

St. Pope Paul VI (b.1897- d.1978) then went on to say that the purpose of this community is the generation and education of children. The Catholic home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason, the family home is rightly called "the domestic church," a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity.

On April 22, 2019, Bishop Robert Vasa promulgated ("made public") an updated Marriage Preparation Policy for the Diocese of Santa Rosa. The updated policy contains components and tools to aid in the formation of engaged couples as they prepare for the joy and beauty of the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church. The effective date of this policy was January 1, 2020. 

Click here to read Bishop Vasa's "Decree" of the updated Marriage Preparation Policy.

Click here to read the entire updated Marriage Preparation Policy.   

Please go to the Marriage Preparation web page for more information on the marriage preparation process.

If you have any questions, please contact the Marriage and Family Life Office at: (707) 566-3305 or [email protected]
 

"The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church."

~ Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia, 31