The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. Catechism of the Catholic Church §1601
How to book?
Bookings (church, date and time) for the Sacrament of Marriage can be made by contacting the priest on duty.
Ordinarily, the Parish Priest and curate(s) officiate at Marriages in the Parish, except in the case where the visiting priest is a family relation of the bride or groom. When this occurs, the officiating priest must verify with the Parish Priest that he is in good standing before being granted delegation in the parish. This requirement is usually satisfied by way of a Celebret.
Please note the following norms concerning Catholic marriages:
- Marriages are not celebrated on a Sunday or Holy Days of obligation.
- The Catholic Church in Ireland does not permit marriages to take place in hotels or other such venues.
- When an officiating priest comes from another country, he must contact the diocesan office of the parish where the marriage is to take place in order to be temporarily recognized as a solemniser of marriages by the State.
- Only those over the age of 18 may celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic dioceses of Ireland.
What next?
Church Papers
All couples getting married in the Diocese of Cloyne are expected to complete a pre-marriage course. Courses can be booked by contacting ACCORD directly at: www.accord.ie
Each Catholic getting married needs to complete a Prenuptial Inquiry Form with one of the priests of the parish in which in which he/she is currently residing. Please contact one of the priests of the parish to arrange an appointment.
When meeting with the priest to complete the papers— at least a month before the wedding, — you need to bring:
- A Certificate of Baptism* from the parish where you were baptised, which has been issued in the six months prior to the date of the marriage.
- A Certificate of Confirmation* from the parish where you were confirmed.
- Letter(s) of Freedom*: Needed if you lived for more than six months in a parish other than your current one since you were aged 16. (Not required for college years.)
- Evidence of pre-marriage preparation. (A Certificate will be issued to you at the end of the pre-marriage course).
* Those who require Baptismal and Confirmation Certificate from the parish, as well as Letters of Freedom to Marry, should contact the parish office.
Planning the Ceremony
Couples should contact the priest or deacon who will be officiating at their marriage to discuss such matters as the rite of marriage which will be used, appropriate readings, music, etc, before printing the ceremony booklet.
State Requirements
In accordance with Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act (2004), any person intending to get married in Ireland must give three months notification in person to the Registrar. This applies to all marriages, whether solemnised by a Registrar or according to religious rites and ceremonies. The Registrar does not have to be the Registrar for the district where you live or where you intend getting married.
You will need to make an appointment with the Registrar in order to give the notification. In order to ensure the notification is given at least 3 months before the date you intended getting married on, it is advisable to arrange the appointment well in advance. When you make the appointment with the Registrar you will be informed what information and documents you need to bring with you.
When you attend the Registrar you will have to make a declaration of no impediment. The Registrar will issue an acknowledgement to both of you and the proposed solemniser of the marriage confirming the date of receipt of notification. If all the information required has been supplied and there is no impediment to the marriage, the Registrar will issue you with a Marriage Registration Form (MRF). The couple must present this MRF to the priest solemniser in advance of the wedding day.
For up-to-date information and all matters relating to civil registration of marriage in Ireland consult the General Register Office at www.groireland.ie
ACCORD
Catholic Marriage Care Service provides Marriage Preparation courses for couples choosing to get married in the Catholic Church. We wish to express our congratulations and best wishes to you both as you prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage. www.accord.ie
Useful Link
An excellent online resource to help you with your marriage preparation – including the booklet, marriage preparation, marriage catechesis, the ceremony, and married life – can be found at: www.gettingmarried.ie
