Marriage

Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. - Gen 2:6

In the Catholic Church, marriage was elevated by Christ Himself, in His participation in the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), to be one of the seven sacraments. Being a sacrament, marriage expresses the unbreakable bond of love between Christ and His people. In a sacramental marriage, God’s love becomes present to the spouses in their union and also flows through them to their family and community. By their permanent, faithful giving to each other, the couple reveals something of God’s unconditional love.

Conjugal love (love between husband and wife) involves a totality, in which all the elements of the person enter - appeal of the body and instinct, power of feeling and affectivity, aspiration of the spirit and of will. It aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul; it demands indissolubility and faithfulness in definitive mutual giving; and it is open to fertility. In a word it is a question of the normal characteristics of all natural conjugal love, but with a new significance which not only purifies and strengthens them, but raises them to the extent of making them the expression of specifically Christian values." - CCC1643

Sacraments bring grace to those who receive them with the proper disposition. In marriage, the grace of this sacrament brings to the spouses the help they need to be faithful and to be good parents. It also helps a couple to serve others beyond their immediate family and to bear witness to a loving and lasting marriage is both desirable and possible. The sacrament is not a social convention, an empty ritual or merely the outward sign of a commitment. It is a gift given for the sanctification and salvation of the spouses. Marriage is mission.

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - 1 Cor 13:4-7

Ready?

  1. Book the Church for the Wedding Mass

Do ensure your presiding priest is available and check with the Parish Office 12 months before your intended date for the availability of the church. Make the booking through this form:

WEDDING BOOKING FORM

  1. Marriage Preparation

Attend Marriage Preparation Course(MPC) or Engaged Encounter(EE) to learn about the fundamentals of what it means to have a Catholic wedding. It is also a good time to dialogue with your partner on your values and beliefs and how to move forward to marriage. Set aside time to plan for your wedding day flow and logistics, but do also set aside for spiritual preparation beyond the set programmes so that your engagement is meaningful. E.g. Block out 1 day a month to just spend time together talking about life and not worrying about your colour theme or door gifts.

  1. Look for a priest to celebrate your wedding

The priest will further guide you both in your marriage preparation and journey with you till he celebrates your wedding Mass in church.

  1. Sign up for Natural Family Planning course

You can sign up for NFP courses or approach those familiar with the process. It is promoted by the Catholic church and is intended to unite the couple in the process of family planning.

  1. Pre-nuptial Form

The form will be completed by the couple in the presence of the priest 1-3 months before the wedding. You will need an extract of your baptism certificates (do enquire at the parish you were baptised at), the certificate from MPC or EE, ROM certificate(if already solemnized).

  1. File notice of your marriage at ROM

You need to file a notice between 3 month and 22 days before your wedding day. Do let the officer know that the solemnization will take place in a Catholic church, do hand the notification of marriage to the priest celebrating your wedding Mass or the parish secretary.

  1. Arrange for a wedding rehearsal on a weekday

The couple as well as the wedding planner(s) will be guided through on what to do during the ceremony.

There are various other Catholic programs that help couples in various phases of their relationship such as Marriage Encounter (ME)(for couples who want to deepen their marriage) Couple Empowerment Programme (CEP) (for couples who want post marriage catechesis and formation) and Retrouvaille (for couples to heal and renew their marriages).