MARRIAGE PREPARATION
Formal Requirements: Basic to all preparations for the wedding is the fact that, for Catholics, marriage is a Sacrament. Besides the spiritual aspect, this means that the Church as well as the Government has certain requirements which have to be observed. They may be summarised as follows:
Government Requirements:
Those intending to marry must be at least eighteen years of age and free of any impediment to marriage. They must give written notice to the Celebrant, more than 1 month and less than 6 months, before the date of the intended marriage. They must provide the Celebrant with copies of their birth certificate (an Extract of Entry will suffice), Certificate of Citizenship or Passport.
Catholic Church Requirements:
The couple must obtain recent copies of certificates of their Baptism, i.e., not older than six months. Please note that a photocopy of the original is not acceptable. If either party lives in another Parish, a ‘Freedom to Marry’ or ‘Permission of Parish Priest’ form is required from the Parish Priest. When one party is not Catholic, it is necessary to obtain a Dispensation from the Bishop. This will be explained by your Celebrant.
Note: You should contact your Celebrant as soon as possible to discuss the above matters and any queries you may have
Parish Requirements:
Celebrant’s Stipend: Although there is no charge by the Celebrant to officiate at a wedding, it is usual to offer a stipend to him. (The amount should be not less than the fee for a Civil Celebrant.)
Fees: It is also usual to make a contribution to the parish for the use of the church if you are NOT a parishioner. A suggested amount is $150.00 to cover our costs.
please note.....We would prefer that confetti, rice, etc. are not thrown inside the Church or in the grounds. However, if it is likely that your guests will do so, a cleaning fee of $50 is payable in advance to cover the expense of extra cleaning. (This cost is refundable if cleaning is not required.)
Wedding Times: The following wedding times have been chosen to fit in with other regular services:
Weekdays: By arrangement
Saturdays: Morning - by arrangement
Afternoon - 2.00, 3.30 and 4.00 p.m.
Sundays: Afternoon - 2.00 and 4.00 p.m.
Marriage Preparation Course: It is recommended that you attend an approved Marriage Preparation Course. Your choice of course should be discussed with your Celebrant.
Music & Hymns
Style. The choice of music for your wedding should be in keeping with the sacred nature of ceremony. It is best to check your choice of music with the Celebrant before you have finalised your selection with your musicians. The church has a CD and tape player, and an excellent sound system.
The Parish Folk Group regularly provide music at our Church and you are welcome to discuss with them their availability for your Wedding or choose your own musicians. The fee to be paid will be arranged between yourselves and the organist/singer of your choice. Dan Hauw, Telephone 9562 1052
Copyright. Please note that any hymn sheets or booklets used at Good Shepherd must have the appropriate copyright acknowledgement recorded. This is a government regulation and failure to comply is subject to heavy fines. If you require further information about this, please contact the Parish Office on 9560 4511.
Other Services Available
Flowers. Please speak to a member of our Floral Arrangement Team about supplying/arranging flowers for the Church. (Phone Annette Sonego on 9561 3462.) If there is more than one wedding on a particular day, couples sometimes share flowers to cut down their costs. If you wish to investigate this possibility, the Parish Secretary will be happy to put you in touch with the other couples.
Parking. Your wedding cars may park in the driveway at the front of the Church. However, please advise your guests that they should park in the car park at the rear of the Church.
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