Marriage

Getting Married
If you have recently become engaged and wish to be married in the Catholic Church, you need to begin the preparation process at least six months before the proposed date of your wedding.

Marriage at the Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart
In the Catholic Church, the usual practice is to get married in the parish church where either bride or groom resides. If you do not live within the boundaries of the Lauriston Parish but have particular reasons why you wish to marry at the parish church of the Sacred Heart, we may be able to accommodate your request - the important thing is that you speak to us at the earliest opportunity. We are not simply a wedding venue for hire and the church will generally be available only to those who live in the parish, or have strong connections with the Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart, or who have other good reasons for wishing to be married here.

Marriage Preparation
You will need to undertake the marriage preparation course From This Day Forward. The course explores the teaching of the Catholic Church in on the Sacrament of Marriage and looks at ways of developing positive relationships in marriage and better communication skills. You can take this course here at Sacred Heart Church or at the Gillis Centre. The parish-based course takes place three times a year (Saturday 10am-2pm). The diocese course is offered around eight times a year (Friday evening/Saturday morning). The cost of this course is £50. You can find out about marriage preparation courses at the Gillis Centre here. Please contact Andrew Cassidy for more information about courses at the Sacred Heart Church.

Pre-Nuptial Enquiry
The Pre-Nuptial Enquiry is the paperwork necessary for marriage in the Catholic Church. Once marriage preparation is complete, then it is time to complete the Pre-Nuptial Enquiry. To complete this paperwork, the Catholic parties will require:

  • a copy of your Baptism Certificate

  • a copy of your Confirmation Certificate

  • two Letters of Freedom from someone who has known you since the age of 16 stating that you have not been married either civilly or religiously

It is also important that each of the documents required are dated no more than six months before the date of your wedding.

Who to Contact?
For more information or to begin the process of marriage preparation, please contact Andrew Cassidy, Pastoral Associate, at ejcpastoral@jesuit.org.uk