MARRAGIE
Marriages Policy
Marriage Coming From Abroad Section
You can advise your priest that the papers should be forwarded to:
Fr. John Kenny
St. Mary's Presbytery,
South Mall,
Westport,
Co. Mayo
F28 TN28
Pre-marriage Course
Accord (Check online for venues) Grásta is a voluntary group of Married Couples based in Ireland, who for over 25 years have been facilitating Pre- Marriage Courses for couples getting married in the Catholic Church.
Our Grásta Preparation for Marriage Courses consist of a residential weekend course, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, for couples to focus on their relationship and what is important for them as a couple planning their married life together.
We work in partnership with other lay people, clergy and the team at the beautiful De La Salle Pastoral Centre in Co. Laois to offer enriching residential courses in a peaceful and
welcoming environment. Grásta also organise courses for Married Couples and Families.
The courses are run with the approval of the Diocese of Ossory and Bishop Niall Coll.
Details: www.grasta.org or at [email protected]
Weddings - Non-Parishioners
Westport is becoming an increasingly popular destination for weddings, both from other parts of Ireland and from abroad. We whole-heartedly welcome this development and do all we can to support and encourage it.
Any couples wishing to book any of the churches in our Parish, that is, St. Mary's Church Wesport, St. Patricks Church Lecanvey, St. Mary's Church Drummin and St. Patricks Oratory on the summit of Croagh Patrick.
The churches can be booked by contacting the Parish Secretary, Catherine McNamara either by emailing [email protected] or telephone 00353(0)98 28871, and are subject to availability.
Couples who are not parishioners, or from the Parish must provide their own priest, as the priests of Westport Parish could not cope with the volume of weddings. If the couple know a priest they are most welcome to ask him and he is most welcome to Westport once he has the necessary documentation.
There is a fee for using the churches in the Parish which applies only to non-parishioners. The current fee is €450 for the use of the church. This is exclusive of any stipend a couple may wish to give to a priest which is a separate matter between the couple and the priest.
Getting Married Abroad
More and more couples are choosing to be married abroad. If you are choosing a Church ceremony abroad, you follow the same procedure as getting married in Ireland.
For the civil requirements the couple should make contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the particular country to ascertain the proper procedures. This should be done in good time.
Department of Foreign Affairs
Consular Section
80 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2
Tel. +353 (01) 4082568 (Civil Letter of Freedom for marriage abroad)
Check out the Department's website here
The Embassy of Italy
63 Northumberland Road
Dublin 4
Tel: +353 (01) 6601744
The Embassy of the United Kingdom
31 Merrion Rd
Dublin 4
Tel. +353 (01) 2053700
www.irishcollege.org — Irish College Rome for Roman marriages.
Mixed Marriages
It is becoming increasingly common that one party to the Marriage is not a Baptised Catholic. For a Marriage to take place in the Catholic Church at least one party to the Marriage should be a Baptised Catholic.
The Marriage Papers are completed in the normal way, except instead of a Catholic Baptismal Certificate the non Catholic party should provide an original copy of their Baptismal Certificate from their own denomination or if they are not baptised, an original copy of their civil Birth Certificate.
The process is completed as laid out in the other sections of this website. Please consult the checklist and other relevant sections of the site.
Marriage Papers
Filling out the Marriage Papers is not a big ordeal! Your priest really does all the work here!
When should I have the papers filled out?
Normally papers are filled out within six months of the date of Marriage.
Where do I go to fill out my papers?
Go to the priest of the Parish where you are currently living, providing you will have lived there for six months by the time of your Marriage.
What do I bring?
Bring the following documents:
Baptism Certificate (Not a Birth Certificate). The Certificate you bring needs to be issued by the Parish where your baptism took place, and should be date no more than six months prior to the date of Marriage. If you are having your papers filled out in the Parish where you were baptised, then you do not have to bring the Cert as it will be issued with your papers.
Confirmation Certificate
Letter of Freedom- When you are getting Married you have to prove that you were not married before. The traditional way of doing this was through the Letter of Freedom, which should be obtained from every parish you have lived in for six months or more since reaching the age of 16.
OR
Affadavit - When you are getting Married you have to prove that you were not married before. Letters of Freedom may be more difficult to obtain as people now move around more and may not know the priests, the Statutory Declaration Form also known as an Affadavit is an acceptable alternative. It may be downloaded here,and signed in the presence of a Commissioner For Oaths or solicitor.
Pre Marriage Course Certificate
The name and address of the Church where you are being married if it outside the Parish where you are having your papers completed.
The name of the priest who will be performing the ceremony.
Coming From Abroad
There are more and more Irish couples who live abroad coming back to Ireland to get married. The process of organising a church wedding from abroad and completing your papers in your new home is relatively simple for the couple. After you book the church and arrange for a priest to marry you, make initial contact with the Catholic Parish where you now live, this is easier in some countries than others but other 'Ex-Pats' who have gone through the process will point you towards the local parish. Or if all else fails consult Google.
The local Parish where you live will be able to point you towards an accredited Pre-Marriage Course in the area, which can be completed at any time, but the sooner the better.
You should follow all the steps laid out in the relevant sections of this website, pertaining the completion of Marriage Papers and Civil Registration of your Marriage. Once you come within six months of the date of Marriage you can begin the paperwork. The first thing needed are copies of Baptismal Certificates and Confirmation Certificates from the Parishes where both parties were Baptised and Confirmed. These must be dated within six months of the date of Marriage and should NOT be photocopies.
In the case that either party is not Baptised then an original copy of their Civil Birth Certificate should be provided. Please note that Civil Birth Certificates need only be provided by people who are not Baptised as proof of age. It is essential that each party to the Marriage complete an Affidavit/Statutory Declaration Form and have it included with their papers.
Please consult the Checklist section of this website to ensure that you have all the required documents for completion of your papers by the local priest. Please note that not having the required documents will impede processing of your papers. The priest where you are completing your Marriage Papers may tell you that you need certain documents and not need others.
ALL DOCUMENTS LISTED IN THE CHECKLIST ARE MANDATORY FOR THE PROCESSING OF DOCUMENTS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TUAM AND MUST BE COMPLETED.
ALL PAPERS BEING PROCESSED THROUGH THE DIOCESAN OFFICE MUST INCLUDE A SIGNED AFFADAVIT WHICH CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE
You can advise your priest that the papers should be forwarded to:
Fr. Charlie McDonnell, Adm.,
St. Mary's Presbytery,
South Mall,
Westport,
Co. Mayo
F28 TN28
Through the Tuam Diocesan Office, the details of ehivh are:
Sr. Mary Lyons,
Chancellor,
Archbishops House,
Tuam,
Co. Galway.
H54 HP57
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL MARRIAGE PAPERS COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE ISLAND OF IRELAND MUST BE PROCESSED THROUGH THE DIOCESAN OFFICES BOTH OF THE PARISH WHERE THE PAPERS ARE COMING FROM AND THE PARISH WHERE THE PAPERS ARE COMING TO. THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRIESTS.
Marriage Checklist
Before going to see the priest who completes your wedding papers please ensure that each party to the marriage have the following documents with them:
Baptismal Certificate issued by the parish where each party was baptised, issued within six months of the date of Marriage (If not baptised a Civil Birth Cert)
Confirmation Certificate
Pre-marriage Course Certificate (One cert covers both bride and groom)
Statutory Declaration Form
If either couple has been previously married! and that Marriage was annulled – a copy of the Decree of Nullity.
Civil Registration of Marriage
URGENT NOTICE
PLEASE NOTE THAT COUPLES WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED A MARRIAGE AND CHANGED THE DATE DUE TO COVID SHOULD CONSULT THE REGISTRAR TO ENSURE THAT THEIR MRF HASN'T EXPIRED
Since 5th November 2007, any couple proposing to marry should begin the process by contacting their local Registration Office to make an appointment to meet the Registrar to give him/her their marriage notification. Notification can be taken only by prior appointment with registrar.
Registrar for County Mayo: Civil Registration Service, St. Mary's Headquarters, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 09:30 - 12:45 & 14:00 - 16:15
Contact: 094 9023249
Check out the Registrar's website here.
You do not need to attend the Castlebar Office. You may attend any office in the country.
To find the office closest to you click here.
Click here for citizens information.ie
While only three month's notice is required by law, couples are advised to contact the Registrar as soon as they know their intended date of marriage to ensure they can get a timely appointment.
The registrar will issue each party to an intended marriage, and their priest, with an acknowledgement confirming the date of the receipt of the notification.
When the registrar is satisfied that all required details have been provided and that the couple are free to marry, he or she will issue them with a Marriage Registration Form (MRF) based on the information they have provided. This is a critical document as it is effectively the civil authorisation for the marriage to proceed. All couples wishing to marry in Ireland must first be issued with an (MRF) which should be given to the priest celebrating the marriage prior to the ceremony.
This is the responsibility of the couple being married.
The law also requires that the couple make a verbal declaration of freedom to marry within 48 hours of the Marriage taking place. This is done in the presence of the priest and the two witnesses to the Marriage. For convenience it is suggested that this takes place at the rehearsal.
It is also the responsibility of the couple to ensure that the form is returned to any Registrars Office within one month of the date of Marriage. It recommended that this document be delivered by hand or failing this that it is sent by registered post.
Pre-Marriage Courses
Every couple preparing for Marriage are obliged to complete a Pre Marriage Course. There is no specific time by which the course has to be completed by in order to obtain maximum benefit from it, couples should complete a course as soon as possible.
The Options
There are a number of options available to couples depending on their need. It is advisable to discuss the course that might best suit.
Esker Premarriage Course
Esker is a weekend residential course and well worth considering.
Dates for 2022 are as follows:
January 14th - 16th
March 11th - 13th
May 20th - 22nd
September 23rd - 25th
for further details click here
Lough Lannagh Village, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Pre Marriage Course & Marriage Information & Marriage Information
ACCORD Castlebar
34B Moneen,
Castlebar,
Co Mayo
094 9022214
www.accord.ie—Details of Premarriage courses, locally & nationally.
Together Pre Marriage Courses—Dublin (01) 2964257—Angela. Details of one day courses in Dublin.
Preparation Timeline
This timeline will give you a summary of what you need to do, and when.
First Steps
Book Church
Book Hotel
Contact registrar ( Minimum notice—3 months!!)
Contact Priest who will officiate at ceremony.
(Some people Book up to 3 years in advance)
1—2 Years Before
Book and complete Pre—Marriage Course
(This can be completed up to the date of Marriage, but you are encouraged to fulfil this obligation as early as possible)
Arrange Church Musicians, flowers etc.
3 - 6 Months Before
Meet with priest to discuss ceremony & complete Marriage papers.
(It is recommended to have Pre– Marriage Course completed at this stage.)
There are two options for a ceremony either a Mass or a service,
Weeks Before
Arrange rehearsal with the priest and the church
24-48 Hours Before - Rehearsal
The rehearsal affords an opportunity to get into the mood in a relaxed way.
(In order to satisfy Civil Requirements a final declaration of freedom to marry needs to be made by the couple in the presence of their two witnesses within 48 hours of the ceremony taking place. For convenience sake the rehearsal is suggested as an opportune time.)