Celebrating love

“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)

Marriage Preparation in Our Parish
Call ((02) 9773 9065) the Parish Office and ask for an appointment with the priest or before booking the church or function hall for the wedding.

Preparing For a Catholic Wedding
Give at least six months’ notice to the officiating priest. Couples will be recommended to attend a Marriage Preparation Program. 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.

Marrying a Non-Catholic
Permission can be given for a Catholic to marry someone 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.

Here are some answers to common questions about Marriage that will help you better understand this significant act of faith.

FAQ about the Sacrament of Marriage

• What’s different about getting married in the Catholic Church?

  Marriage in the Catholic tradition is a covenant – a sacred vow which, like God’s promise of love to us, can never be broken. From the beginning, God created man and woman to be joined as a sign of His love both to each other and to the world.In the Catholic Church, Marriage is one of seven Sacraments – a sacred sign that presents to the world a deeper spiritual reality. A man and woman in marriage reveal the full, free, faithful and fruitful love that Jesus Christ has for each of us.

• When contact the church?

  Couples are asked to give at least six months notice to the officiating priest or deacon. One month notice is obligatory by law, but the longer notice requested here allows for a calm and serious preparation for marriage.

• Do you need to take marriage preparation program?

  In order to recognize if you are ready for marriage and to prepare you for issues that you’ll inevitably face in your marriage, taking a marriage preparation course is mandatory for most marriages that occur within the Catholic Church. During the course, you’ll learn about balancing values, money, the role of family, healthy sexuality and intimacy, planning a family and parenting, communication skills and the theology of marriage. Fortunately, there are online courses that you can take that will suit your busy schedule and allow you learn about marriage, fulfilling the Catholic Church’s requirements.

• What documents required do you need to have?

  When you wish to be married in the Catholic Church, you need to provide the priest with the following documents:
  Baptism Certificate – This must have been issued 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.
  Birth Certificate or Passport (if in different language then they need to be translated by professional translator)If either party has been married before, you must provide: a Decree of Nullity and Civil Divorce Decree or the Death certificate of their former spouse.

• What is mixed marriage

  A mixed marriage is 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 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 their marriage baptised and raised as Catholic. The partner who is not a Catholic, though not required to make a promise must be properly informed before the wedding of the obligations and expectations the Church has of their Catholic spouse.

• What is annulment?

  An annulment (decree of nullity) is a declaration by the Tribunal that at the time of a wedding a permanent bond of marriage, as understood by the Church, did not come into existence because some essential element for a valid marriage was lacking.

• How does an annulment differ from a divorce?

  A divorce is a civil decree by which a marriage that existed has ended is now dissolved.
  An annulment, on the other hand, is not a dissolution. It is an official declaration by a Church Tribunal that at the beginning of the marriage, the time of consent, something essential was lacking that prevented a marriage bond as understood by the Church, from coming into existence.

• Can I re-marry in the Catholic Church after an annulment?

  In practical terms, if a marriage is declared null, the Church considers the parties free of the marriage bond that would have otherwise arisen. The parties are then free to marry in the Catholic Church.

• Whom do you need to contact?

  Archdiocesan Tribunal of Sydney Contact: Fr Julian B. Wellspring J.V.A: Level 7, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool St, Sydney 2000P: (02) 9307 8300W: Webpage & E: Email

Please contact the Parish Office to learn more or email

Marriage support