PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE___________________________

Preparations, Procedures and Documents required by the Church

and the Public Registry before marriage.

Age

Both partners must be 16 years of age or over to marry, and if one of them is not
yet 18, he/she must obtain the parents consent. This is required by both the
Church and the Public Registry.

What is required by the Church?

Six months before the wedding:

The couple are to inform their respective Parish Priests of their intention to
marry. During this visit the Parish Priests will ensure that
they have a sound knowledge of the Catholic faith
they know what the Church expects of married couples
they are certain of their love for one another
there is nothing that could stop them from getting married.

As part of their ongoing formation, the Parish Priests will then invite the couple
to attend the pre-marriage meetings organised by the parish. The aim is to gain a
deeper understanding of their faith, with great emphasis on the significance of
the Sacrament of Marriage, and its implications in their married life.

Two months before the wedding:

Once again the couple must visit their respective Parish Priests to fill in the
necessary forms and take the oath. They are to take with them
the certificate of the Cana Course
Baptism and Confirmation certificates.

(If they had received the sacraments of Baptism and/or Confirmation in a
different parish, they have to collect the certificates from that parish, informing
the Parish Priest of that locality of their intention to marry).

Next the couple have to deliver
the forms filled in by the Parish Priests and
the Baptism and Confirmation certificates
to the Marriage Office, The Archbishops Curia, Floriana (open from Monday to
Saturday, except Thursday, from 9.00 a.m. to noon). This must be done not less
than one month before the marriage is due.

The Bans

At the Curias Office, the couple will be given one form which they have to take
back first to the womans Parish Priest who puts up the wedding bans on the
Church notice board. The same form is then taken to the mans Parish Priest
who does the same on his notice board. The bans remain on the boards for two
Sundays.

If the wedding ceremony is not being held at the fiancees parish, her Parish
Priest must give his consent (in writing) for the wedding celebration to be held
elsewhere.

Plan Well

In that case the Parish Priest of the locality where the wedding ceremony will be
held has to be informed well beforehand of the date and of the priest chosen by
them to administer the Sacrament of Marriage. The couple would do well to
discuss and plan out the wedding Mass with the celebrant a few weeks in
advance. This would help them on the day to concentrate more on the actual
celebration so unique in their life.

During the ceremony the couple should not give too much attention to the
photographer and video cameraman and should advise them not to move around
too much during Mass so as not to disturb this very special occasion. Remind
the photographers that they are not allowed on the altar to take photos.

Finally, to be fully prepared to receive the Sacrament, the couple should also go
to confession.

On Wedding Day

The couple, relatives and other guests should not leave confession to the very
last moments.
Twenty minutes before Mass the groom and witnesses have to go to the
sacristy to fill in some forms.
The bride has to be at the churchs door 5 minutes before the beginning of
Mass.
All those attending the ceremony should be decently and suitably dressed for
church and for the celebration of a Sacrament.
The same applies for all wedding outfits. Beauty, elegance and style should
be combined in a way that the dress dignifies the person wearing it. Indecent
clothing is not acceptable and could mar the long awaited celebration.

After Mass

Right after Mass the couple, their witnesses and the Priest who married them,
must sign the two Acts of Marriage.

The Popes Blessing

The Cana Movement offers a service whereby a couple may receive the Popes
Blessing for a wedding, wedding anniversary or other occasions.

Those interested in applying for the Popes Blessing may do so at the Cana
Movement, 2
nd
floor, Catholic Institute, Floriana.

It is imperative that they apply at least 3 months before their celebration is due
for the Blessing certificate to arrive in time. When it arrives, the applicant will
be notified by the Cana Movement to collect it.

There are several types of certificates of the Popes Blessing a couple may
choose from. They may see them and place their order at the Cana Movements
Reception office or online by clicking here. The following are a few examples:

SP 3 Lm 4.00 M 13 Lm 5.00 M 40 Lm 6.00 M 43 Lm 6.00
SP 9 Lm 5.00 M 41 Lm 5.00 M 42 Lm 6.00 M 50 Lm 8.00


What is required by the Public Registry?

Before going to the Public Registry:

Before going the couple must settle with the Parish Priest the date and place
where the ceremony is being held, and time of Mass. The Registry must be
notified at least 3 weeks before the wedding day of any changes in the venue.

When do you go?

The couple must go to the Registry together between 6 weeks and 3 months
before the wedding, taking with them their ID Cards and Birth Certificates.
There they have to declare under oath that, to their knowledge, there is nothing
to impede them from getting married. It is only after this declaration that the
civil bans will be published.
In some circumstances, the Registrar has the right to request other documents he
deems necessary. It is the couples responsibility to produce these certificates.

The Brides Surname

The bride-to-be must declare which surname she would be taking after marriage,
whether that of her husband or her maiden surname. Her decision would be
final, and the Law does not provide for her to go back on that decision.

The Witnesses

A witness must be 18 years of age or over. The following information has to be
provided regarding the witnesses:
a) Name and Surname
b) Identity Card number
c) Date of Birth
d) Place of Birth
e) Village/town where he/she lives

Ten Days Before

After the civil bans have been made public, that is ten days before the marriage
is due, one of the couple must go to the Curias Marriage Office to collect the
Bans Certificate and two Acts of Marriage which have to be handed over to the
Parish Priest where the wedding ceremony is to take place. Whoever goes to
collect these three documents must take with him/her the Identity Card and the
receipt showing payment has been made.

If the bride-to-be chooses her husbands surname, and needs to change her
passport because she would be going on her honeymoon right after the wedding,
she needs to provide a copy of the Bans Certificate to the Passport Office.
Anyone of the couples parents may collect her new passport on the eve of the
wedding.

Other cases

It is very important for those marrying a foreigner, or in other special cases, to
contact the Public Registry as early as possible to find out what other documents
would be required.




Addresses:

MALTA: Cana Movement: Catholic Institute (2
nd
Floor)
Floriana
Tel: 21238068 / 21238942
Fax: 21250052
E-mail: info@canamovement.org

Marriage Office: The Archbishops Curia
Floriana
Tel: 21245350 / 21245352
Fax: 21242971

Public Registry: Marriage Registry Office
197 Merchants Street
Valletta
Tel: 21221775 / 21245896
Fax: 21249234

GOZO: Cana Movement: Cana Centre
Fortunato Mizzi Street
Rabat
Tel: 21556513 / 21566095

Marriage Office: Bishops Curia
Republic Street
Rabat
Tel: 21551211 / 21556427 / 21560474
Fax: 21551278

Public Registry: Marriage Registry Office
139 Republic Street
Victoria
Tel: 21556470 / 21553732 / 21553716