Marriage

In the Catholic Church, Marriage is a Sacrament. A Sacrament is a Sacred Sign. The loving communion that exists between husband and wife reveals to us the kind of love which Christ has for us: free, faithful, fruitful and forever. From the perspective of the Catholic understanding of sacrament, the married couple not only 'mirror' or reflect God's love, they embody the presence of Christ in a unique way. They are a tangible sign of the intimate relationship we share with Jesus. We are Christ's beloved.

Ku-ring-gai Chase Catholic Parish is committed to celebrating and nurturing the vocation of Marriage at all its stages:

Engaged Couples

Part of the sacramental preparation for Marriage is the requirement that all engaged couples attend a pre-marriage course:

Parishioners

Parishioners who wish to be married in either church are to contact the Pastoral Centre as soon as possible after becoming engaged. It is important to coordinate all activities for your wedding, as such the use of the church cannot be presumed on the day you may have in mind. Please do not book a reception venue without first contacting the Pastoral Centre to see if the church is available. It is usual to make an offering for both the church and the celebrant.

Visitors to the Parish

Couples from outside the parish are required to supply a priest or deacon to be celebrant for their wedding. No booking is taken until the celebrant states in writing that he is willing to witness the marriage. There is a fee for the church set by the Finance Committee and the Pastoral Centre will advise this. After receiving the letter and the offering, a booking is made and acknowledged by the parish in writing. If the wedding is cancelled there is no refund.

Government requirements

Birth certificates (no photocopies).

Government papers must be completed no more than six months or less than one month and one day prior to the wedding.

Church requirements

New baptism certificates are necessary for bride and groom, dated within six months of the wedding. These can be obtained by writing to the parish in which the person was baptised. Simply state that a newly dated certificate is required for marriage.

The celebrant of the marriage will assist you in any other documentation to be completed.

Part of the sacramental preparation for Marriage is the requirement that all engaged couples attend a pre-marriage course. Details of marriage courses can be found through the the links provided above.

Weddings

To book a wedding, contact the Parish Secretary on 9456 2450 (Monday to Friday 9am to 3.30pm) and the process will be explained to you. Here are some general points:

  • Marriages are held on Saturdays. Other days are also available. If marriages are to take place on Sunday they will be scheduled during one of the normal Sunday Masses
  • Music is to be of a religious theme.  Musicians details can be obtained by contacting the Pastoral Centre
  • Flowers are to be provided by the wedding party and are to remain in the church after the wedding
  • Pew decorations are to be tied on to the pews and these are to be removed after the wedding
  • Photography is permitted during the celebration of the sacrament
  • Those taking photos and videos should see the celebrant before the celebration

  • Please inform your guests that no rice or confetti is to be used in the church grounds

Further enquiries can be directed to the Pastoral Centre or one of the priests on 9456 2450.

Married couples

Marriage is a journey and it is vital that a husband and wife keep growing in and working at their love for each other. The Diocese of Broken Bay recommends marriage enrichment seminars which can be found here.

We also encourage the blessing of couples at key milestones in their lives: e.g. an engagement or a special anniversary such as 10, 25 or 50 years. This is a beautiful gesture, not only for the couple, but for the whole parish who have a very real investment in their love! A blessing and renewal of wedding vows can be arranged at one of the Sunday Masses. Contact the Pastoral Centre for more details.

Divorce

Marriage is not an easy vocation, and our parish is keen to reach out to couples who are having marital difficulties through the following agencies:

Centacare Broken Bay: Click Here

From the Catholic perspective, married couples are called to a challenging vocation indeed, one which is different from marriage outside the Catholic Church. It involves not only two people, but a community of people. It carries with it great responsibilities. This is why divorce is taken so seriously in the Catholic Church. Having said that, the Catholic Church recognises that people do not always marry wisely, and at times enter into relationships which in hindsight never had the foundations of a valid sacrament of Marriage. In such cases couples can request an annulment. In the annulment process, the Church (via a marriage tribunal) examines the circumstances of the marriage and makes a judgment as to its validity or otherwise. If a marriage is to be found to have been invalid, the marriage is annulled and the person is free to marry in the Catholic Church again. Where a Marriage is found to have been valid, remarriage is not permitted. This does not imply, however, a rejection of the person or an exclusion from taking part in the overall life of the Church. Annulments, divorce and remarriage are a delicate subject, and care should be taken to seek expert advice for each specific case.

For further information about the annulment process, contact the Marriage Tribunal in Broken Bay Diocese:

Phone: (02) 9847 0458

Email: tribunal@bbcatholic.org.au

See also:

  • Seasons a programme of healing for people who have suffered the pain of divorce, both adults and children