> Sacraments > Marriage

MARRIAGE

Marriage is a Sacrament and a covenant of love which unites a man and woman as husband and wife in an indissoluble bond for life and is ordered toward the procreation of children. It establishes a perpetual and exclusive bond between the spouses. It confers upon them the grace necessary to attain holiness in their married life and to accept responsibly the gift of children and provide for their education.

PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE

• Catholics are asked to give to the officiating priest or deacon at least six months notice of their wedding.
• One month’s notice is obligatory by law, but only the longer notice requested here allows for a calm and serious preparation for marriage before the couple become distracted by the pressures surrounding their wedding day.
• Couples preparing for marriage are earnestly encouraged to make use of the courses and programmes that are available. Experience has shown that they are very valuable.
• A Catholic cannot reasonably request a Catholic marriage if he or she has no commitment at all to the Catholic faith. On the other hand, marriage ought to be an occasion for rediscovering one’s faith, and making a new start.
• The Church teaches that living together before marriage is contrary to the law of God. Furthermore, experience itself has demonstrated that it is not good preparation for marriage.

MIXED MARRIAGE

• It is the conviction of the Catholic Church that Catholics should marry Catholics. The unity in faith can greatly assist unity in marriage.
• Permission can be given for a Catholic to marry one who is not a Catholic; provided that the Catholic promises to safeguard his/her own Catholic faith and to do all in his/her power to have the children of the marriage baptised and brought up as Catholics.
• The party who is not a Catholic will not be asked to make any promises. Therefore his/her rights remain intact. However, he/she will be asked to talk with the celebrant on a number of occasions, in order to acquire some understanding of the Catholic partner’s belief, especially in relation to marriage. It is desirable that the Catholic also be present on these occasions.

PLACE OF MARRIAGE

• A Catholic, even when marrying someone who is not a Catholic, should be married before a Catholic priest or deacon; otherwise the Church will not recognise the marriage.
• The Bishop can dispense the Catholic from this requirement, so that the wedding can take place before a person other than a Catholic priest, but a good reason is required. The Bishop looks for some serious and positive spiritual advantage for the couple before giving the dispensation.
• Because of the sacred and solemn nature of marriage, it is celebrated in a church or chapel.
• The usual place for a wedding is the church of the parish to which a person belongs, and the usual celebrant is a priest or deacon attached to that church. The couple are free, however, to choose the Catholic parish church of either of them. Even when one partner is not a Catholic, the couple may choose the Catholic parish church in the area where that partner lives.
• If the couple wish to marry in some other church, or with some other celebrant, the priests approached may accommodate them, but are not bound to do so.

PERMANENCE OF MARRIAGE

• Because of the clear teaching of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church does not recognise the re-marriage of a divorced person while the first partner is still living. In the same way, it cannot recognise the marriage of a single person to someone who has been divorced. The assumption in both cases is that the first marriage was valid.
• It sometimes happens, however, that there are grounds for supposing that the first marriage was not in fact valid. In this case the parties to the divorce could be free to enter into the second marriages. To clarify the matter, an approach should be made to the Church’s Marriage Tribunal.

MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENTS

Both parties to the marriage are required to obtain a full copy of Certificate of Birth and a Certificate of Baptism. Catholics should produce a Baptismal Certificate, which is issued within a period of six months before the wedding.

As there is only one Priest assigned to the parish of Beverly Hills and his duties are confined to the parish, he is unable to undertake marriages of non-parishioners. If you come from outside of the parish, then it is normal practice for your Parish Priest to celebrate the marriage. At the time of making your booking you should advise the name of the celebrant.

The Parish community uses our church on Saturday evenings and on Sundays. No bookings are taken for after 4.00 pm on Saturdays. Sunday weddings are by special arrangement only.

Parties to the marriage make their own arrangements with the Parish Musicians.

It is requested that you use the Parish Organist, unless special permission is given. Permission will be given on the understanding that the organist chosen is a competent musician and familiar with sacred Church Music. The Church Organ is to be used for all music. Music and hymns chosen for the marriage ceremony should have a sacred character appropriate to the solemnity of the occasion.

Our parish musicians are: Clare Brotherton (9580 3239), Michele Samuelson (Vocalist) (9580 4649), Susanne Bowers (9559 1434) and Fiona O’Sullivan (String Quartet) (9747 6093). (3 Singers, Piano & Acoustic Guitar – Contact: Ian Bennie Mob: 0439 990 306).

If you are offering your guests a printed order of service you should be careful not to infringe copyright in the matter of hymns or songs. This could leave you open to a heavy fine.

Photographers, especially relatives and friends, can be intrusive and a distraction during your wedding ceremony. Please discuss this matter with the celebrant so that there is no misunderstanding and that the arrangements are clear to the celebrant and to you. Professional Photographers should as a matter of courtesy, confer with the celebrant as to his wishes.

An offering of $150 is required to help cover the cost of the flowers and seat decorations. During the season of Lent (from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday), no flowers are placed on the Altar in keeping with the austerity and penitential spirit of the season.

The customary offering: With respect to religious services at Regina Coeli Church, there is no prescribed fee, but it is customary that an offering is made and this would be appreciated. As a guide it is suggested that the offering on the occasion of a religious service such as a wedding would be $300. In accordance with legislation and ATO rulings, there is no GST payable for a religious service.

For non-parishioners, a booking for your marriage will be made on receipt of the completed booking form, and the offering of $300.00.

For parishioners, the Best Man usually gives an offering for the Priest to the celebrant before the marriage ceremony.

The scattering of confetti or rice in or around Church grounds is strictly forbidden.

Catholics are reminded that the proper spiritual preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage is a devout reception of the Sacraments of Penance and the Blessed Eucharist.

Attendance at a Pre-marriage Education Course sponsored by the Archdiocese is strongly recommended.

Marriages are by appointment only – all enquiries should be addressed to the Parish Secretary, telephone
9554 8155.