Our Lady Queen Of Peace Parish

Matrimony

Marriage is the lifelong, irrevocable union of one man and one woman. It is an intimate communion of life and love.

“A Christian marriage is not just a social institution, much less a mere remedy for human weakness. It is a real supernatural calling. A great sacrament, in Christ and in the Church, says St Paul. It is a permanent contract that sanctifies in cooperation with Jesus Christ. He fills the souls of husband and wife and invites them to follow him. He transforms their whole married life into an occasion for God’s presence on earth. Husband and wife are called to sanctify their married life and to sanctify themselves in it. The marriage union, the care and education of children, the effort to provide for the needs of the family as well as for its security and development, the relationships with other persons who make up the community, all these are among the ordinary human situations that Christian couples are called upon to sanctify”
St Josemaría Escrivá,
Christ is passing by, 23

Practical information

 Church Regulations

Every couple marrying in the Catholic Church is required to give a minimum of three months notice to their priest and complete a Pre-Nuptial Enquiry Form with local priest of each party.

There are at least three forms that you need to get before going to meet your priest.

  1. A copy of your Baptismal Certificate(issued within 6 months of date of marriage).
  2. A recently issued copy of your Confirmation Certificate(in some cases  the Baptismal Certificate may also certify date of Confirmation).
  3. Document(s) establishing Freedom to Marry. This is a supplementary requirement to the notation made on a recently issued Baptism Certificate. It can be done in oneof the following ways:
  • Letter of Freedom from each parish you have lived in for 6 months of more since you were 18. (Such a letter can be issued after consulting the marriage register for the period in question to ascertain that there is no record of a previous marriage).
  • Statement of Freedom to Marry – made by the father, mother, brother or sister of the party in the presence of a priest/deacon who witnesses the attestation. (This form can be downloaded below).
  • Sworn affidavit made in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths, where the party states that he/she has never been married before, either civilly or religiously.

Marriage preparation course

To help ensure suitable preparation for marriage, in June 2010, the Irish Episcopal Conference approved Criteria for Courses of Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage. Some options:

State Regulations

In the Republic of Ireland, according to the Family Law Act 1995, you must notify the Registrar of Marriages, in person, at least three months before the date of the marriage.

To notify the Registrar of your intention to marry you may book a Marriage Notification appointment at www.crsappointments.ie

Find out where marriages are registered in your local area and contact that office. In the Republic of Ireland contact the General Register Office, 8-11 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2, tel 01 635 4000 or visit General Register Office.

See more comprehensive information at: www.civilregistrationservice.ie