Getting Married at Saint Charles

You and your fiancé(e) should go and see your parish priest, in Saint Charles this is Canon Micheal or Farther Stephen, as soon as you have decided to get married. Make sure that both he and the church are available to you before confirming your venue for the wedding reception, etc. If you intend to invite someone else to officiate at the ceremony (such as a relative or family friend who is a Catholic priest or deacon) then you must obtain permission for this also. Normally at least six months notice is required.

"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Matthew 19:6

Your parish priest will take down your details and explain to you the documents that you need to obtain. For a Catholic these are: a recent copy of your baptismal certificate (not the original one); evidence of confirmation; and evidence of freedom to marry in the form of either a parish letter of freedom or a Statutory Declaration of Freedom.

Your priest will also help you arrange some form of preparation for marriage. Marriage preparation courses variety from parish to parish and certainly within different areas (deaneries) of dioceses. Some can be a whole day (usually a Saturday) some a whole weekend such as Engaged Encounter. Others offer a chance over several weekday evenings with an experienced married couple(s) to discuss relevant issues.

If you are not confirmed, you are strongly encouraged to take this step before marrying, though it is not absolutely essential in England and Wales. As preparing for marriage in the Catholic Church is a life-changing decision, this provides you with a unique opportunity to discern how you feel about your personal relationship with God. Perhaps you would like to deepen it? What could you do to enrich it and for it to be more meaningful? Seeking the Sacrament of Confirmation [not to mention the marriage preparation] could provide you with the opportunity to explore these questions so it’s worth considering seriously. You will not have to attend Confirmation classes with young teenagers! – your parish priest will make special arrangements for you.

There are many great resources available to those looking at or decided to get married in a Catholic Church.

There are many good and useful resources for marriage preparation via the internet too such as www.catholicmarriagepreponline.com, for general information about a Catholic understanding of marriage please click here.

None of these should substitute parish-based formation where it is available.