Sacraments

Marriage

Marriage

Sacraments

To book a wedding in Mallow or Mourneabbey
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Weddings are celebrated in this diocese everyday except Sunday and Holy days, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Christ died for our sins.

Congratulations on your decision to get married. It’s an exciting time with lots of wedding day planning ahead but even more important is your preparation for life as a married couple.
The Church honours and treasures the married love between husband and wife. For Christians, marriage mirrors the relationship between Christ and the Church. Married love was described by St. Paul as a “great mystery” (Ephesians 5:32) and came to be recognised as one of the seven sacraments.

During the marriage ceremony, a man and a woman marry each other, for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health until death. They are the ministers of the sacrament. It is they who exchange vows before God and the assembled community. I love you, only you and always you. The priest’s role is to receive their consent, to act as a witness, to lead prayer and to bestow God’s blessing.

Three months’ notice of your intention to marry is required. Once you have decided on a date for your wedding you should contact the Parish Priest to make sure that the church is available on the day you require.

You will also need to participate in a marriage preparation course which is a lovely way for you as a couple to take a serious look at your own relationship.  These courses are organised by Accord (local office in Fermoy Tel: 025 31899) and can be booked online. See www.accord.ie for details. The Civil Authorities also have requirements which must be fulfilled.

The sacrament of Matrimony celebrates a couple’s commitment to share the whole of their life together and to show the love of God to each other, to their children and to others through their relationship. Christian marriage is the place where husband and wife, children, family and friends meet God.

Planning the ceremony

As ministers of the sacrament, the couple should be involved in planning the ceremony. The priest has a responsibility to advise the couple in their choices regarding the liturgy – readings, prayers, music and choice of wording of the vows. Couples are encouraged to look for such guidance early in the process. Family and friends are also encouraged to participate in the ceremony.

The following practical information may be helpful

Documents required:

Civil Requirements for Marriage

THE REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES AT MALLOW PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTRE.​

When the couple have chosen the date, church and priest for their marriage (and confirmed these matters with the relevant priest or priests), they will then need to make an appointment to meet with a civil registrar in person to give notice of their intention to marry. This notification to the registrar must take place at least three months before the wedding in order to comply with the civil requirement, (or else go to court). The couple will be required to bring several documents to the registrar’s office and a fee of €200.

When all the civil requirements have been completed satisfactorily the couple will receive, from the registrar, a Marriage Registration Form (MRF). Without this form the couple cannot get married nor may the solemniser proceed with the marriage ceremony.

If changes are necessary – for instance, changing the name of the solemniser – the couple should contact the civil registrar to arrange for the re-issue of the MRF at the earliest possible stage before the ceremony.

The law requires the solemniser (the priest who officiates at the marriage) to ask the couple to make a verbal declaration of no civil impediment in the presence of the two witnesses and the solemniser within 48 hours of the proposed marriage. It is usually done at the rehearsal.

After the wedding, the solemniser must ensure that the MRF is signed by the couple, the two witnesses and himself.

After the marriage has been celebrated, it is the responsibility of the couple (not the local priest or solemniser) to return the MRF to any Registrar’s Office. This form must be returned within one month of the marriage.

A lot of time is given to preparing for a wedding day. Even more time is required in preparing for married life. The institution of Christian Marriage has served society well for centuries and is the foundation stone of our society. The witness of myriads of married couples living out their marriage vows through whatever life brings them is to be truly admired. Could we have some documentaries on those marriages?

May God bless all those preparing for marriage, those celebrating anniversaries of their marriage, those growing in love in their marriage, all who struggle in marriage, the widowed and those whose marriages broke up.