MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE

Preparation for marriage allows couples to spend time reflecting on issues that may affect their future relationship as a married couple.  It offers the opportunity to reflect on the values and ideals of marriage as sacred, and the approach offered here is intended to help and encourage the couple to make a careful evaluation of themselves, of each other and their relationship. It begins with their relationship; and seeks to help them discern their strengths and weaknesses and the skills they already have, or need to acquire to develop a deepening relationship.

The Marriage Preparation Programmes available in this parish are:

a) Centacare in Brisbane. (Brochures are available from Parish Office

b) F.O.C.C.U.S. (Facilitating of Couple-centred Communication – by appropriately trained people here in the local parish)

(Depending on time and other considerations, some couples choose to do both. However, one is sufficient for the requirements of the Church).

PREPARING THE CHURCH WEDDING CEREMONY

§         Before beginning to prepare your ceremony, you must decide whether you wish to have a Wedding Liturgy or a Mass which includes the Wedding Liturgy.  Details of both of these formats are printed in a booklet “When We Marry” and is available from the Parish Office on loan or can be purchased at a Christian bookshop.

§         St Mary’s Church can only be used for weddings in the Roman Catholic Rite.

It is advisable to take into consideration the people attending before you decide on the choice of liturgy especially if it is a marriage between a Catholic and Non-Catholic because guests who are non-Catholic are not able to participate in the receiving of Communion.   If you are not sure of the implications of the two choices, then please seek the advice of the priest or deacon presiding at the ceremony.

PROCESS FOR PLANNING YOUR WEDDING IN ST MARY’S

 

  • Initial Phone contact to the Parish office is to establish if you are able to celebrate a Catholic wedding in the Church

 

  • If a couple lives overseas, interstate or in another region, we help you to make contact with your local Parish to arrange certain requirements. This is an important step, since we are not permitted to perform a Catholic Marriage until permission is granted from the priest of the area where you live. 

 

 

THERE ARE GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH REGULATIONS WHICH REQUIRE CERTAIN THINGS TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE A WEDDING CAN PROCEED.

 

TIME REQUIRED FOR NOTIFICATION TO THE PRIEST OF INTENDED MARRIAGE

 

ü      Federal Government:            One month

 

ü      Catholic Church:                    Six months

 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

 

ü      Full Birth Certificate (not an extract) or Passport

 

ü      Baptismal Certificate (new within last six months) or Confirmation Certificate

 

ü      Certificate of Completion of Marriage Preparation

WEDDING BOOKING.

The date, time and place of wedding is confirmed when a deposit of $50-00 is paid to the parish office and the couple has committed to a Marriage Preparation course, initial documentation has been completed, and the necessary certificates have been provided to the Priest or Deacon conducting the ceremony.

It is possible to have the wedding conducted by a priest who is not appointed to St Mary’s, but permission must be sought from one of the resident priests

WEDDING PRACTICE.

 

This usually happens the evening before the wedding, or a few days prior.
Payment of the balance owed on the church booking is due BEFORE the wedding day.

 

 

The Parish looks forward to planning your wedding ceremony with you.