ST. PATRICK’S PARISH

YELLOWKNIFE
 
 

GUIDELINES

FOR COUPLES PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE

IN

ST. PATRICK’S PARISH, YELLOWKNIFE.
 

A man and a woman make a very serious and sacred commitment when they decide to marry one another in the Catholic Church. Marriage is a permanent commitment to a way of life; it requires careful thought, prayer and preparation. Through the covenant of matrimony, couples are called closer to each other, to their God and to the community.
 

May God Bless You As You Prepare For Marriage .

REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES

 

Congratulations on your decision to marry in the Catholic Church. This is a very special time and we want it to go smoothly for you. This pamphlet is meant to help you understand the requirements of the Catholic Church as well as the guidelines for marriage in our parish. Please read the following carefully.
 

INITIAL CONTACT : You should contact the pastor at least six months prior to your anticipated wedding date. It is recommended that you make contact at the beginning of your engagement.

 

MARRIAGE PREPARATION
 

You will normally be required to attend a marriage preparation course organised by the parish at the Trapper’s Lake Spirituality Centre. This is a one weekend intensive course which is conducted once or twice a year depending on the number of couples and date of their wedding. The parish also provides an alternative marriage course for couples who are not able to participate in the intensive preparation because of a very serious reason and you will need to discuss this situation with pastor. This you have to discuss with the pastor. The marriage preparation course fee is $250.00 per couple. This money is used to pay for costs incurred for the books, accommodation, meal etc. during the preparation course and is to be paid before the marriage course.
 

PROCESS

 

The process begins with the initial interview with the pastor, in which he addresses your faith experience, your relationship as a couple, and your understanding of marriage in the church.
 
The initial interview is followed by the marriage course proper. The marriage course is not only a canonical requirement but is as well aimed at helping the couples to have an in-depth understanding of the meaning and obligations of Catholic marriage and provide the means to make your marriage happy and successful. We have some experts and married couples who will enrich you from their own experiences in the areas of; communication, finance, sexuality, intimacy, fruitfulness and spirituality. The parish (Pastor) will issue each couple a certificate at the completion of the course.
 
After the marriage course, the couple is expected to meet with the pastor for the second interview. In this interview, the bride and groom are interviewed separately.
 

The next aspect of the preparation and paperwork will be an interview with two separate persons (one for both parties) who have known the bride or the groom well, i.e. either parents, sibling, close relative.

 

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

 

Some couples have special circumstances and will need further assistance in preparing to be married in the church. Please discus with the pastor if;

  • either or both of you have been married
  • either of you are in, or have been in a common-law union.
  • are now civilly married (to each other) and wish to have your marriage blessed (convalidated) in the Catholic Church.
  • You are presently living together.
  • A pregnancy is involved.
  • One of you practices another faith or does not follow any particular faith.
  • either you or your fiancé is a teenager.
 
PLACE OF WEDDING
 
  • The wedding of two Catholics is a Sacrament and takes place in the parish church of either bride or groom, or other parish of their choice because of other reasons.
  • To be married in another parish, it is required that permission be received from the parish in which you wish to be married, as well as either of the parishes where you reside.
  • The celebration of marriage is an act of worship and a sacrament. Hence, the church building, the house of the Lord and home of His people, is the proper place for weddings. Any other setting is not appropriate except in grave situation (as hospital) may be permitted with corresponding permission from the bishop.
 

WHEN THE CELEBRANT IS A VISITING PRIEST

 

If a priest other than the pastor is to witness to the exchange of vows, permission is required from the pastor in order to officiate at the ceremony. In addition, a visiting priest from outside the Northwest Territories needs a temporary license from the territorial government. You should discuss this with the pastor at the beginning of your preparation.
 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

 

The pastor will complete forms with you to make a permanent parish record of the significant step you are about to take. In addition, if one of you is not a Catholic, the documentation is part of the priest’s request to the bishop on your behalf for permission for a “mixed marriage.”

  • Baptismal Certificate(s): If you are a catholic, you have to submit a copy of your baptismal certificate issued within six months prior to your wedding.
  • Marriage License: A marriage license is mandatory for your marriage to take place. This is obtained from the government.
 

PLANNING OF THE LITURGY:

 

You are to meet with the pastor at least three weeks prior to the wedding to finalise your choice of readings, prayers and music for the wedding. The thought and care you put into the choice of reading, prayer and music, will help make your liturgy a meaningful expression of you as a couple.

 

COPY: August 2009 .