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Catholic Holy Matrimony through St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church

Certificate of Registration of Clergy showing our provincial authorization to act as Clergy Marriage Commissioners. In Canada clergy have to be registered in each province in order to act as marriage commissioners there.

The Sacrament of Catholic Holy Matrimony is understood by St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church to be a religious ceremony solely. While the registration of civil marriage or civil partnership may be necessary to give legal standing to the union of 2 persons, such a ceremony cannot by it’s nature constitute marriage as that sacrament is understood by the church in religious terms.

As clergy marriage commissioners in this province, we are authorized to officiate at weddings anywhere in the province. We are happy to work with wedding planners, venue organizers or directly with planning couples. As clergy marriage commissioners, we are happy to officiate at Catholic and non denominational Christian weddings.

This allows wedding planners, venue operators and couples seeking to hold their wedding at their home or other venue, to bring us in to officiate whilst they enjoy a 'one stop wedding and reception venue'.

If you are a venue operator, wedding planner or a couple planning your own special day then, for more information or to discuss booking us to officiate for you please contact us here or use the similar link at the bottom of this page.

The policy of St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church is that 2 consenting persons may proceed to the sacrament of Catholic Holy Matrimony provided that such a service is permitted by law in the jurisdiction concerned and all legal requirements have been complied with.

We have no requirements for 'marriage preparation' classes. No requirements that both partners are of the same denomination nor that either person will 'promise' or 'guarantee' to bring any children up in any one denomination or the other.

Obviously, if this is a Christian wedding, both potential parents are looking to bring the children up as Christians but, for us this will occur in the denomination of the parents and ultimately that child's choice. Not our choice nor that of anyone outside of this couple as they exercise their agency as parents.

We have no annulment procedures nor do we make couples wait for such things. These are civil matters. We only require that the couple come to us with the required documentation and meeting all other legal requirements (that this is the free choice for each partner, that neither is under the influence of drugs or alcohol and that both are legally in a position to marry/remarry and, of course, that they have with them a legal marriage licence with valid dates to allow us to proceed). Surely those are enough conditions!

Marriage/union is not to be undertaken lightly. The clergy person should in each case satisfy him or herself that the couple are fully aware of the solemn and lifelong nature of the promises which they are to make, and of the duties of christian family life, particularly with regard to the upbringing of children within the broad umbrella of the Christian faith and, where applicable, specifically a catholic faith.

All of these requirements are easily satisfied by simply meeting with each person individually (to ascertain free choice) and then with them as a couple prior to the rehearsal or the marriage ceremony itself for a brief question and answer session. Marriage can be stressful enough. This meeting, unless clear problems are encountered, should be brief, light and candid.

We say again, at St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church this is not a demand to bring children up in a specific denomination rather and only that if the couple choose to have and are blessed with children that they will bring them up to uphold Christian/Catholic values and practice their faith in the Christian denomination of their choice.

Catholic Holy Matrimony: Legal Considerations

Clergy must ensure that the parties concerned have registered correctly with the registrar and that all legal formalities of the ceremony concerned have been followed.

St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church clergy will bless ceremonies of civil marriage or civil partnership between members of the same or opposite sex.

St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church will submit divorce and remarried persons and those whose previous civil partnerships have been dissolved to these ceremonies provided that the minister concerned is satisfied that the moral intentions of the couple concerned are in keeping with christian matrimony or partnership.

Clergy at or above the order of pastor or priest may celebrate same gender marriages and blessings of civil partnerships if they wish and if permitted by law in the jurisdiction concerned, but they shall not be compelled to do so. In the event that they do not wish to accept an invitation they shall refer it to their Ordinary for redistribution to another clergy member if possible.

Priests acting as chaplains/marriage commissioners may conduct religious yet interfaith/interdenominational and non denominational marriages while still acting as clergy. This is critical particularly in unions of mixed religious backgrounds. Such couples should not be refused the sacrament of matrimony just because one or other is not in full standing as a Catholic and should receive the full blessings, albeit without the same,full religious trappings and with Mass being an option, as opposed to an expectation, for these services.

If you are a venue operator, wedding planner or a couple planning your own special day then, for more information or to discuss booking us to officiate for you please contact us here.

Catholic Holy Matrimony through St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church

Catholic Holy Matrimony: Legal Considerations

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