Sacrament of Marriage
Celebrating your Marriage at St Francis of Assisi Church
In the Catholic Church, marriage is an important religious event. For Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally to another person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union of husband and wife speaks of family values and also God’s values. As such, preparing for marriage often means some deep reflection on how God fits into your life, your future and of course, your marriage.
For a wedding in the Catholic Church at least one of the couple must be a Baptised Catholic. Couples who plan to get married in the Catholic Church are encouraged to participate in the pre-marital counselling. We encourage you to talk about this with the Priest as you prepare for your wedding. If you have been previously married in either a civil or religious ceremony make sure you discuss this with the Priest at your first meeting.
Marriage Information
Congratulations! A wedding is an occasion of great joy and happiness. Please read the following guidelines on how to book your upcoming marriage at St Francis of Assisi Church. More detailed information can be found by downloading our Marriage Preparation Forms.
Booking The Church
Contact the Parish Office for availability of the Church. The office is open between Monday to Friday from 9.00AM–4.00PM. Your booking remains tentative until you have had an interview with the Priest and you have paid the Church Booking Fee and Confetti Bond.
Required Documentation
- Birth Certificate: Your original copy or an extract is acceptable.
- Baptism Certificate: A recent copy issued within the last six months. Ring the Church where you were Baptised and ask for a recent copy to be sent to you. If you were Baptised here at St Francis of Assisi Church, please notify the Parish Office. This certificate will be required when you meet with your Priest.
- Commonwealth Document: The ‘Notice of Intended Marriage’ must, by law, be signed at least one clear month before the wedding day; this will be completed when meeting your Priest.
Marriage Preparation Courses
The Commonwealth Marriage Law demands serious preparation for Marriage and obliges each couple to attend a pre-marriage course. Please ensure you collect the pamphlet concerning this course with this information. Ring Centacare Relationship Education direct on 8215 6700 to arrange a time, which suits you to attend. This course is a requirement for all couples wishing to be married at St Francis of Assisi Church.
In addition, contact the Parish office at least six months before to make an appointment to meet with the Priest celebrating your Marriage to arrange the necessary papers.
A Prayer for Couples
Bless us as we begin our journey as a married couple.
We are grateful to You for bringing us together.
As we share our love for our future children, may we open them up to Your love and to the unique call in life that you have for them.
Amen.
Book Your Wedding
To organise your first Marriage Preparation meeting with Fr Anthoni Adimai, please contact the Parish Office on (08) 8337 3849 or email us at newtonparish@bigpond.com