Marriage is a sacrament of the Church given by God. The decision to marry is one of the most important choices of anyone’s life.
The Church teaches us that marriage is a life-long partnership between one man and one woman. In asking to be married in a Catholic Church you are accepting the Christian and Catholic understanding of marriage:
· Understanding of a marriage as a union between two people
· Spouses have an obligation to each other in mutual love and faithfulness
· Spouses must be open to the possibility that God will bless the marriage with children
God joins the spouses together in an irrevocable covenant according to the rites and laws of the Church and gives His grace to help love each other and the possibility of having a family.
Due to the life-long significance and gravity of marriage the Church requires a minimum of six months’ notice for a couple to marry. This gives the opportunity for you to make proper preparation for marriage, as well as allowing time for the necessary paperwork to be completed.
Kindly note that the date and time of your wedding service is always provisional until all paperwork, Church and civil, is in good order.
If you would like to celebrate your wedding at St Richard of Chichester, please speak to the Parish Priest after Mass.