Marriage – Church Ceremony

Congratulations on your decision to get married. It’s an exciting time with lots of wedding planning ahead!
It is common practice for a couple to book the church a long time in advance to ensure the Church is available on their chosen date,(the Priest will provide up-to-date information on the Church requirement).
The couple will have to complete a Pre-Marriage Course with ‘Accord’ (the only provider of pre-marriage courses approved by the Diocese of Limerick)
The couple will need to give minimum 3 months notice of their Intention to Marry to the State – (i.e. Registrar of Marriage in St Camillus, Shelbourne Road, Limerick),

The following information may be helpful
Contact the parish Office of the Church you wish to hold your ceremony in.
Contact the Priest you wish to officiate you marriage ceremony – to ensure he is available
Contact St Camillus to get up-to-date information on State/Civil Requirement
Contact ‘Accord’ to book a pre-marriage course (‘Accord’ are the only provider of Pre Marriage courses approved by the Diocese of Limerick)
Six months prior to the date of the ceremony the couple should contact the priest who will marry them (The meeting of the couple with their priest is a key part of the preparation process. This meeting, and any further meetings, have taken on a
new significance in recent times, because it can no longer be assumed that seeking a Church wedding is an expression of Christian faith on the part of one or both partners. These meetings are an opportunity for a couple to reflect on what Christian
marriage asks of them.)
The priest will also begin the process of filling out Pre-Nuptial Enquiry Forms (Church Paperwork) and advise the couple about the various documents/certificates that will be needed:
a Certificate of Baptism from the parish in which you were baptised
a Certificate of Confirmation from the parish in which you were confirmed
a Statement of Freedom (also referred to as Letter of Freedom)
These certificated should be dated within 6 months prior to the date of marriage.

Celebrants From Overseas
All diocesan priests in the Republic of Ireland are on the State’s ‘List of Solmnisers’. In order for a priest from oversees to be placed on this list in a temporary capacity, it is necessary for him to send his name, address and telephone number to the Diocesan Office. The Diocesan Office in Limerick will then contact the officiating priest to formalise matters with him.
Ask the priest who is to officiate at your wedding to help you with the task of creating your marriage ceremony. There are a variety of prayers, blessings, readings, etc. Read through these together and choose the ones you prefer. Choose the person(s) who will read at Mass, person(s) to read the Prayers of the Faithful and the people to bring up the gifts at the Offertory. Rehearse the ceremony in church with the priest before the wedding day.
To celebrate the sacrament of Marriage does not require the celebration of Eucharist (Mass). While it has been generally the custom, it may not always be appropriate for example in a “mixed” marriage or when a couple are not regularly practising. Some couples today find the celebration of Marriage without the Eucharist, to be more appropriate for them.

If you have any further queries regarding your Church Ceremony, please contact the Parish Office.