The Official Web Site for the St. John's Retreat Center & St. John Chapel

Getting Started

St. John Chapel is a Roman Catholic Chapel. Only Roman Catholic marriages are celebrated here. A six-month period of marriage preparation is required according to the Provincial Guidelines for Marriage Preparation (1999) adopted by the Bishops of Michigan. The Marriage Records Office must confirm that a couple meets the following criteria before a wedding date can be secured:

Baptized, Roman Catholic

One of the engaged couple must be a baptized, practicing Roman Catholic registered in a parish.

Free to Marry

Both parties must be legally free to marry under Church and civil law. All prevoius marriage(s) must be resolved.

Registration Form

Your Preliminary Registration Form begins the process to be married in the chapel.

Priest Permission Letter
Speak with your pastor and request permission to be married at St. John Chapel. Ask your pastor to complete the Priest Permission Letter. If both parties are Catholic, we need permission from only one of the parishes.

Return both the Preliminary Registration Form and the Priest Permission Letter to:

Attn: Marriage Records Office

The Retreat Center at St. John's

44011 Five Mile Road
Plymouth, MI 48170

Baptismal Records

The Catholic party is required to obtain a NEWLY issued Baptismal Certificate from the parish where the Catholic party was baptized, (photo copies of original certificate not accepted).

The Non-Catholic is required to submit a photocopy of his/her original baptismal record.

Note: The baptismal records should be submitted to the person completing your marriage preparation program.