The Sacrament of Marriage
The Catholic Church believes that the marriage bond is sacred and permanent. In the wedding ceremony the bride and groom administer the sacrament to each other by their declaration of consent. In this awesome and holy act, they are filled with the Holy Spirit who strengthens them for their life together. This is the blessing couples seek by coming to the Church for their marriage.
Sometimes couples want to be married in a church because of social pressure or family tradition. These are not sufficient reasons in themselves for choosing a church wedding. A church is the appropriate venue for the marriage of those who believe in Christ and who wish to celebrate publicly God’s blessing of their union. [1]
The effect of the sacrament is an increase in sanctifying grace for the spouses, a participation in the divine life of God Himself. [2]
In the Catholic tradition marriage is protected by two thousand years of pastoral experience embodied in the practical wisdom of the Church’s canon law. The marriage of a man and a woman is revered by the Catholic Church as a vocation ordained by God. It is both a reflection of God’s love, and a manifestation of God’s love in the world. For this reason, the Church understands marriage as a life-long partnership in which the couple co-operates with God in the creation of the human race. Marriage is a public event in which the couple professes an exclusive lifelong love for each other. Where the couple are both baptised Christians, marriage is a sacrament which bestows spiritual graces on the couple.
... to have a Catholic wedding is to invite Christ to your wedding, just as that couple from Cana once did — with wonderful and unexpected results. [3]
Weddings at Holy Spirit
Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage. You are warmly welcome to
celebrate your wedding at Holy Spirit Parish Church. The following
information may be helpful to you.
- Bookings. Please book your wedding at least six months in advance
by calling the Parish
Secretaries.
- Documents Required. Both Bride and Groom must obtain the
following documents so that the marriage papers can be prepared by your
Celebrant.
Government Requirements:
- Notice of intended marriage - Usually the Celebrant
for your wedding will help you complete this form. In some
circumstances it may be necessary to arrange for another Celebrant do
do this. The form is to be signed by both parties, at least one month
prior to the wedding.
- Birth Certificate or current passport - Both
parties require an official certificate showing the date and place of
their birth and the registration number. If necessary, a Birth
Certificate can be obtained from a Registry of Births, Deaths and
Marriages. Persons born in Australia require a birth certificate,
persons born outside Australia may use their passport.
- Declaration of freedom to marry - This must be
signed before the Celebrant prior to the wedding, normally a few days
before the marriage.
Church Requirements:
- Baptism certificates - If both parties are baptized
they will both require a Baptism Certificate.
- Pre-nuptial enquiry form - This will be filled in
with the priest who is preparing the couple for their marriage.
- Application for a dispensation - This will be
required when one of the parties is not a Catholic. The priest
preparing the couple for their wedding will prepare and handle the
necessary application.
- Marriage preparation programme - Very suitable
programmes are run by Catholic
Care. The priest helping the couple plan their wedding will
provide information about these.
- Priest. If you live outside the parish of Holy Spirit, you are
free to choose your own priest or Holy Spirit will provide the
celebrant. When the celebrant is not a priest from Holy Spirit please
make sure that you provide us with his name.
- Nuptial Mass or Wedding Ceremony? Couples need to consider
whether it is preferable to have a Nuptial
Mass or Wedding Ceremony. The Sacrament of Marriage is more
appropriately celebrated within a Nuptial Mass for those who are
practising Catholics. However, in other circumstances the Wedding
Ceremony is more suitable, as a significant number of your guests may
feel they cannot fully participate.
- Photography and Videos. These are allowed in the church provided
they are unobtrusive and those responsible for them do not behave in an
undignified way. The decorum due in a church is sometimes forgotten by
those in these capacities . They may not enter the sanctuary at any time
but if they consult with the priest before the ceremony, he will suggest
places they might use for some good shots of the ceremony.
- Music and Your Wedding. You may choose to make your own
arrangement for music. You may choose a parish organist by enquiry via
the Parish
Secretaries. All copyright laws are to be observed and respected.
All written hymns must contain a Licence No. Recorded music must have
copyright approval.
- Flowers and Decorations. You may provide your own flowers or you
may wish to use the services of our parish florist, enquire of the Parish Secretaries.
Seasonal and liturgical signs and symbols are part of the Church's decor
and cannot be removed for weddings.
- Confetti, etc. No Confetti, rose petals, rice, or soap bubbles
may be used inside the church - please notify your guests.
- Next steps. If you require more information or would like to
chat about any queries regarding church arrangements you may have,
please feel free to call Holy
Spirit Parish.
Other references