Marriage Information
Marriage Policy
Our parish community welcomes couples wishing to be joined in holy matrimony at Sacred Heart Church.
Couples seeking marriage must comply with the following criteria:
- A minimum of six months for marriage preparation
- Completion of all required paperwork
- Submission of all required documentation
- Submission of all required donation fees
Weddings are scheduled on all but the third Saturday of the month at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Weddings during the week can also be requested. A tentative date can be assigned however dates are not finalized until the couple meets with the parish Wedding Coordinator. At the first meeting the couples freedom to marry is confirmed, the date and time is secured and a non-refundable deposit check (half of the donation fee) is required. Your first meeting with a parish priest will be scheduled at that time.
No reservations should be made or invitations printed until you have met with the parish Wedding Coordinator and receive confirmation of your wedding date and time.
Wedding Coordinator & Sound Technician
The presence of the Parish Wedding Coordinator is mandatory at all wedding celebrations to conduct your wedding rehearsal and assist you and the priest on the day of the event. The Parish Sound Technician will be assigned to all weddings to run the sound system when two or more musicians/instruments are involved. There is no additional fee for either of these services.
Donation Fees
It is appropriate to support the work of the parish by giving your financial support. In the Diocese of San Bernardino, the offering made for a wedding is placed in the general operating fund of the parish.
Parishioners (low desert vicariate) $500.00
Non-Parishioners $800.00
Organist (Optional-payable directly)
Cantor/Soloist (Optional-payable directly)
Special Scheduling Note:
When ceremonies are scheduled it is often well before our parish priests have planned retreats, continuing education seminars or vacations. Therefore, although it is rare, it may become necessary for the priest who is preparing you for marriage to ask another priest to preside at your ceremony.
COMPLETE AN APPLICATION
The first step in the marriage process is to complete & return a marriage application. An application for marriage can be requested by phone, in person from the parish office, or downloaded from our web site at www.sacredheartpalmdesert.com.
The application must be signed by both the bride and the groom and returned to Lorena Ochoa, Parish Wedding Coordinator, either by fax at (760) 773-0843, by email lochoa@sacredheartpalmdesert.com, by mail or in person at 43-775 Deep Canyon Road, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Couples will then meet with the Coordinator, who will then assist them in scheduling an appointment with the parish priest.
Be sure to Download Application Pages 1 & 2.
COUPLES WITH A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE
When either the bride or groom has been previously married and subsequently divorced, they must complete page two(2) of the marriage application and submit it along with the regular marriage application. The wedding coordinator will assist the couple in determining the annulment process for the previously married party. Previously married parties both catholic and non-catholic must seek church dissolution of their prior marriages before they can enter into a new union together. Civil divorce is not recognized by the Catholic Church.