THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY MATRIMONY
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Marriage is a beautiful sacrament in the life of the Church, whereby a man and a woman is united for the rest of their lives. It is a life-long commitment which involves freedom, consent and responsibility. To begin arranging your marriage, we ask that you contact the parish at least a year ahead of your proposed wedding day. This is in order to reserve the date and to allow time for us to take you through the necessary preparation.
Preparing for marriage is a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another even better and to renew an understanding of the meaning of life within a Christian context. Normally, couples who are legally free to marry are able to get married in the Catholic Church as long as at least one of you is a baptised Catholic, and neither of you has previously been married. If this is not the case, please speak to the priest who will advise you of what possibilities may exist. If you do not normally attend Sunday Mass at the moment, we would like to suggest that you think about beginning to come. As well as being a highly enjoyable family and social occasion, a wedding in Church has the special aspect of making your commitment to one another in the presence of God, and so it is an important spiritual moment. If it has been a while since you last attended Mass, please do not be afraid. There is some useful information on our website to help you to come back to Church. |
Watch the video below from the Pope's Prayer Network which gives insight to the beauty and dignity of marriage:
Frequently Asked Questions
Living outside of the parish?
To get married at Holy Souls, we require couples to live within our parish boundaries. If this is not the case, we usually require there to be an historical or family link with the parish. Please contact the parish office for more information about this.
Getting Married outside of the parish?
If you live in the Holy Souls parish, but are getting married in a Catholic Church in another parish, diocese or country, then you will be required to complete the relevant paperwork and preparation at Holy Souls. Please contact us as soon as possible, in order to complete the preparation in plenty of time.
What about a Marriage Preparation Course?
You will also be asked to attend a marriage preparation day here in the parish. This is to ensure that you understand and accept fully the Catholic Church’s understanding of marriage and the nature of the commitment that you will be making when you exchange your vows. It will also help you to think about some of the practical realities of the life you will be sharing once you are married.
How much does it cost?
This is question we are often asked, and although some families spend a great deal of money, a wedding does not have to be expensive. When you meet with one of the priests, they will explain more about this.
What next?
Your first step is to contact the parish in order to begin arranging your marriage. Visit our contact page for the various ways to do this.
