The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptised persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601)
In the Sacrament of Marriage God gives special gifts to the spouses, helping them to perfect their love for each other and to strengthen their unity. By being joined to Christ in this way he gives the couple strength to bear their mutual struggles, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, and to love one another with a supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. In this way the joys of their love and family life become here on earth a foretaste of the wedding feast of Heaven.
Our parish celebrates a steady stream of weddings, either at one of our parish churches or sometimes in another church within the Archdiocese. Those seeking a Catholic wedding should contact one of the parish clergy several months in advance (preferably before a date is finalised), who will meet with the couple several times to help prepare the required paperwork, to offer spiritual guidance, and to prepare the liturgy. The couple is also required to take part in one of the marriage preparation courses offered by the Archdiocese.