Dear Couple,
I congratulate you on your engagement and welcome your request to be married at Sacred Heart Church, Pearce.
Marriage is a serious and sacred event, and it is presumed that you recognise this as you ask for the blessing of the Church through the Sacrament of Marriage. As you prepare for your marriage both the Church and Government maintain certain legal requirements.
There are a number of things to do in the lead up to your wedding. I trust that with the hectic nature of much of the preparation, you do not neglect:
o The priority of your developing relationship; and
o A spiritual preparation, which will entail prayer, and if necessary, a renewed vigour in your attendance at Mass as a member of your parish community.
Please read the following information carefully, and keep in touch with your celebrant who will help you during this preparation time.
Yours in Christ Jesus
Fr Emil Milat, P.P.
For up to date information from CatholicCare regarding the Archdiocese Marriage Preparation Programs, see their website: www.marriagefamily.org.au
Weddings at Sacred Heart Church
TIMES/DAYS: Weddings are usually celebrated on Saturdays. Due to Parish commitments they are conducted at 3pm or earlier.
CATHOLIC MARRIAGE: Your ceremony may be either the ‘simple rite’ without Communion, or a Nuptial Mass. A Nuptial Mass is an appropriate option if both parties are practicing Catholics. Discuss options with your celebrant. If there has been a previous marriage for either party, there could be an impediment to the wedding. It is imperative that the celebrant is informed so he can determine if that person if free to marry in the Catholic Church.
If only one party is Catholic, the couple should discuss this beforehand, and understand each other’s beliefs and obligations, and the spirituality they can share together.
PRE-REQUISITES TO BOOK: Bookings must be made at least six months in advance. At least one of the couple must be Catholic, and both must be free to marry in the Catholic Church. To make a booking, please contact the Parish Office on 02 6286 1908 (Tues-Fri, 9:00-3:00). The booking will be penciled in only, and not confirmed until you have engaged a celebrant (Catholic priest or deacon) to marry you. If you are not a parishioner of the parish, it is expected that you will approach your own parish priest / deacon, or one known personally to you. The Parish Office can help you out with contact details for other celebrants in the Archdiocese if you require these. Once a priest or deacon has agreed to marry you on your preferred date, you can contact the Parish Office again to confirm your booking, and an email of booking confirmation and additional information will be sent to you.
NOTE: If neither party are from this parish, a Letter of Permission to marry outside your parish, signed by your Parish Priest, must accompany your booking. A request to marry in this parish requires a minimum of six months’ notice. No bookings can be confirmed until our Parish Priest has interviewed the couple and explained the State, Church and parish obligations.
CHURCH OFFERING/FEES: Your wedding booking is not confirmed until all Fees are paid. $300 for the Church; $200 for the Celebrant. Total $500.
Fees are refundable if necessary, excluding $25 administration fee.
Once you have spoken to the Parish Office, Parish Priest, and provided the necessary preliminary information, you can officially schedule the marriage ceremony and pay the applicable fees via the 
App (available on all smart phones) or on Qkr! website.
OFFICIATING CELEBRANT: Normally all marriages at Sacred Heart Church will be celebrated by the Parish Priest. If you choose a visiting priest, as a general rule, he will oversee your preparation and complete the documentation. Your intended celebrant will guide you in the matters of Marriage Preparation, Government and Church paperwork required, preparation of your wedding booklet, arrangements for a wedding rehearsal, etc.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION: All couples are expected to attend at Marriage Preparation Course and this should be completed sooner rather than later. In Canberra, the contact for Marriage Preparation is CatholicCare on 6162 6100 (or visit www.catholiccare.cg.org.au ); or Catholic Engaged Encounter (call 02 9990 3212 or visit www.engagedencounter.org.au ). Elsewhere, your local Parish Priest can put you in contact with courses in your area.
Couples should keep in touch with their celebrant who will help them complete the necessary forms and help plan their marriage liturgy.
DOCUMENTATION: Considerable documentation is required by both the government and the Church.
- For the “Notice of Intended Marriage” (Government), the celebrant must have at least one month’s notice of the wedding, and he must have a full copy of each party’s Birth Certificate before the marriage can proceed.
- For the “Marriage Declaration Form” (Church), both parties must produce a recent copy of their Baptismal Certificate (if baptised).
- If the marriage is one of mixed religion, a small amount of additional documentation is to be completed. You should discuss this beforehand and understand what your obligations are and what spiritual values you can share.
A SPECIAL APPEAL – Courtesy demands that:
- The Parish Office is informed if the marriage is cancelled or postponed; and
- The bridal party should arrive at the Church at the appointed time out of respect for the celebrant, your family and friends.
YOUR CHECKLIST
□ Booking Request Form
□ Birth certificates
□ Baptism certificate(s)
□ Marriage Preparation Course
□ Fees