Marriage & Family

PREPARING FOR A CATHOLIC MARRIAGE

• Catholics are asked to give at least six months notice to the officiating priest or deacon.
• One months notice is obligatory by law, but the longer notice requested here allows for a calm and serious preparation for marriage.
• Couples are counselled by the priest before marriage and are also urged to attend marriage preparation courses. (see information on courses available in this section)
• Sometimes people who have not been to Church for a while can be apprehensive about approaching the Church for a wedding. Since marriage can be a time of rediscovering one's faith and making a new start, you should not hesitate to discuss your situation with the priest.

Documents required for marriage in the Catholic Church

The Notification of Intention to Marry Form can be filled in as early as eighteen months before the wedding and must be signed at lease one month prior to the wedding day. This form is available from your parish priest.

Each person must obtain the following documents:

• Birth Certificate - Available from Registrar of Births & Deaths
• Baptism Certificate - This must have been inssued in the past six months and is available from the parish where you were baptised. Send the parish your full name, estimated date of baptism and a stamped self-addressed envelope.
• If either party has been married before:
  • Death certificate of former spouse
    OR
  • Decree of Nullity (from the Catholic Marriage Tribunal)
    AND
  • Civil Divorce Decree

Mixed Marriage

A mixed marriage is one where one party is a Catholic and the other party is not a Catholic, whether baptised or not. A Catholic, even when entering a mixed marriage must be married before a Catholic priest.

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 Catholic.

The partner who is not a Catholic is not required to make any promises but is informed of the expectations the Church has of the Catholic partner.

Place of Marriage

Since the celebration of the sacrament of marriage has an important religious meaning it is celebrated in the Catholic Church.

Where one of the partners is not a Catholic and has a strong connection to his or her own Church, the Bishop may give permission for the marriage to take place in the other Church.

Only in very exceptional circumstances, for example, if one of the partners belongs to a non-Christian faith, will permission be given for the marriage to take place elsewhere than in a Church.

Centacare Sydney Marriage and Relationship Education Program

"The Bishops of Australia want to reinforce their support for marriage preparation and the important role it plays in the Sacrament of Marriage. We like engaged couples to know the crucially central and important role God should be playing in their marriage. We also like to help them with practicalities such as conflict resolution and sexual intimacy."
Archbishop Len Faulkner, Former Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee for Family and for Life

Marriage Preparation Courses

Having taken the decision to marry, Centacare Sydney invites you to spend some time as a couple to build upon your relationship to allow you to have a richer, happier and more fulfilling life together.
This is more important than setting the date and finding the reception venue – learning how to communicate with each other will last for the whole marriage and well beyond the wedding day.
You can choose between three different courses to suit your needs and goals.

Click here to see 2008 brochure (PDF)

1. Becoming One

The Marriage Preparation programs are skills-based and good fun.
Up to fifteen couples take time to reflect on their relationship and discuss important topics such as:
• What makes a good relationship
• Roles and expectations
• Family influences
• Communication skills
• Problem solving ideas
• Conflict resolution methods
• Respecting & responding to differences
• Intimacy
• Sexuality & Family Planning
• Spirituality & Christian Marriage

These courses are held at Bankstown, Bossley Park, Cabramatta West, Enmore, Kensington, Lane Cove, Leichhardt, Liverpool, Miranda and North Ryde.

2. Intimate I

Sharing with seven other couples, you will discuss similar topics to the Becoming One course. You will also be invited to respond to a questionnaire which a facilitator then reviews and gives feedback on your individual responses. These courses are held at Sydney City and Waverley.

3. Intimate II

This course consists of a couple meeting “one on one” with a facilitator. Couples spend three sessions on this program and again couples respond to a questionnaire and the facilitator meets with them for discussion and feedback. This course is ideally suited to couples who may have been married before or who may have lived together for a number of years. Session times are negotiated with the facilitator. These courses are held at Bankstown, City, Enmore, Liverpool, Sutherland or at an agreed upon Community venue.

Marriage Enrichment Program

Couples who wish to improve their relationship and ensure that they remain in a successful and happy marriage are invited to attend a marriage enrichment course. Facilitated by an experienced educator in a safe and confidential environment, couples will refresh the skills they already have and cement the love they have for one another. Session times are negotiated with the facilitator. These courses are held at Bankstown, City, Enmore, Liverpool, Sutherland or at an agreed upon Community venue.