Dear couples,
If you are reading this page, it is because you are probably ready to take an important step in your relationship and want to promise your love to one another before God and before His people. Congratulations on such an important milestone in your relationship.
Below you will find some information that may be helpful as you begin preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage.
1. The Sacrament of Marriage
Marriage is a very important milestone in any relationship and, of course, it is something to be celebrated. There is never a fixed time as to when a couple should take this step, you will know when the time is right.
It is important that Marriage is approached with clarity and understanding. This is not a contract where one party has set obligations towards the other, nor is it simply an agreement between two people that can be dissolved at any time. Marriage is a vocation, a call from God, and the response of two people who freely choose to build a lifelong partnership founded on love and life, supported by God’s grace.
“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring, this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” (CCC 1601)
Marriage is a covenant between two people, two people who are equal in dignity, in responsibilities, and in their commitment. Living this covenant means working at it, even when it feels difficult, even when it feels that one is giving more than the other. Each person is called to give themselves fully and faithfully.
2. The Celebration of Marriage
A marriage, where at least one person is Catholic, can be celebrated in any Catholic church, it does not have to be the parish where the Catholic party or the couple resides.
In some circumstances, permission may be granted by the Diocese for a marriage to be celebrated in a church of another Christian denomination, if there is a good reason. Churches normally require at least one year’s notice for a marriage to be celebrated, so please make sure you contact the parish priest or parish office in good time to begin the process.
3. The Marriage Papers
In order for a marriage to be celebrated, the necessary Church documentation, often called the Marriage Papers, must be prepared and processed through the Diocese.
This is normally done in the parish where the Catholic party lives. If you wish for this to be done in another parish, permission from your parish priest will be required. These papers are usually prepared within six months of the date of the wedding.
4. The Steps You Will Need to Take
The first step is to contact the church where you would like your marriage to be celebrated and to agree on a date.
Once this is done, you should contact your parish to arrange a Marriage Preparation Course. This can be done well in advance, even up to a year before the wedding. It is best if the couple attends together, but arrangements can be made if you are living in different countries.
When you are within six months of the wedding, you can begin gathering the necessary documents and arrange to meet with your parish priest to complete the Marriage Paperwork.
Once everything is completed and approved, the documents will be sent either to the parish where the wedding will take place or returned to you if the marriage is abroad.
If your marriage also includes a civil ceremony, you must register with your local authority, who will provide you with the Marriage Schedule or document that will be used to record your marriage. There is no fixed timeframe for how long the paperwork takes, as it depends on individual circumstances. More details will be given when you meet with the priest.
5. What Documents Are Needed
You will normally be asked to provide the following:
- Recent Baptism Certificate, issued within six months of the wedding date
- Confirmation Certificate, issued within six months, this may already be included on the Baptism Certificate
- Statutory Declaration of Freedom to Marry (the form will be provided to you)
- Marriage Preparation Course Certificate
- Marriage Schedule or document from your local authority
- Certificate of Marriage, in the case of convalidation or sanation
In some cases, depending on the country or circumstances, further documents may be required
6. Do You Have a Prior Marriage?
If either of you has been previously married, further steps will be required.
If your former spouse has died, you will need to provide a death certificate.
If there has been a civil marriage that ended in divorce, you will need to obtain a Decree of Nullity. This process can take some time.
If there has been a previous religious marriage, an annulment process may be required, if the conditions are met. This can be a longer process and may take over a year.
For this reason, if there has been any previous marriage, civil or religious, please contact your parish as soon as possible and do not set a wedding date until this has been clarified.
You can contact the Parish Office at 02085701818 or heston@rcdow.org.uk