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Wed - Sat: 9.30am - 1pm
Sunday: 10am - 1.30pm

* Six months minimum notice to be given;
* Arrange an appointment with priest of the parish where you are currently resident;
* Book date for Marriage to be established only within appointment with priest and not by phone;
* Marriage preparation course attended (details available below)
* Recent copies of Baptismal Certificate (date of issue within six months of first appointment)
* Confirmation Certificate
* Declaration of Freedom (one each) to be signed before a Commissioner for Oaths or a Solicitor.
* Dispensations: these are church permissions applied for in the case of a Catholic marrying a person from another Christian tradition or a non-baptised person, or for a couple who were married civilly but want to share now the Sacrament of Marriage (convalidation). There are other areas that may require a dispensation so it is important that these matters are addressed at the earliest possible time and before a date is set.
* There is a charge of £40 for documents that have to be processed through the Chancery Office of the Diocese.

Pre-Marriage Course
The parish provides a pre-marriage course every year, in April/May. There are four sessions on Tuesday evenings from 8pm till 9.30pm in the Parish Centre. The cost for the course is £30 per couple. Cheque payable to: “Sacred Heart Church”.

There are other pre-marriage courses available around the diocese; some are day courses on a Saturday. You are required by most dioceses to attend a course as part of your preparation for marriage.

Civil Registration: Certificate for Marriage
Must be applied for by each couple from each couples respective Council Registration Office. You must make an appointment and be interviewed. The Certificate for Marriage document is held and displayed publicly for 21 days after which you must collect them. It is advisable to begin the process of obtaining your Certificates for Marriage at least four months before your wedding. Both Certificates for Marriage documents should be given to the priest as soon as you receive them. You cannot be married without them.

Marrying in another City or Country
If you are planning to marry outside the Archdiocese of Westminster, i.e. in another city or in another country and you have lived in your current location for more that six month, the priest is required to gather all your documents and forward them through the Chancery (Diocesan Office) who then send them on to diocese and church in which the marriage is to take place.

Civil Requirements for another Country
If you are getting married in another country, you must find out all that you need to do to comply with the Civil Authorities requirements for your marriage. Contact the relevant Embassy of High Commission for information.

Time of Wedding at Sacred Heart Church
Usually Saturdays earliest 2pm and latest 4pm
Weddings can take place on weekdays but not on Sundays.

Rehearsal
A rehearsal will be arranged for a few days before the wedding. It is important the all the main people involved should be present. Readers should also be present at practice. This is an appropriate time to bring envelopes with the registrar’s fees and offerings for the Church, priest and sacristan. The Rehearsal is the best time to bring the offerings and fees for the Wedding day.

Costs
Priests often hear the question, “How much does a wedding cost, Father?” The answer, of course, is that there is no charge for the sacraments. The sacraments are dispensed by the Church as gifts from God to the community. There is, however a long standing custom of free will offerings made by the faithful on the occasion of certain sacraments. These offerings reflect both gratitude to God and appreciation of the ministry of priests.

Sacred Heart Church is served by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and your offering should recognise the expense a parish incurs in connection with all involved with your marriage. The offering should be in proportion to the other costs of the wedding celebrations. The Offerings are not for the priest but for the Oblate Mission.

Registrar
The official fee for the registrar is £40. Cheque payable to ‘Margaret Kiely’

Church Offering
An offering of £150 towards the cost of providing church facilities is suggested. Cheques made payable to “Sacred Heart Church”

Flowers
By arrangement with Ann Palmer 7624 9680
Cost of flowers agreed with Anne and £50 charge for preparing flower arrangements.

Sacristan
An offering of £20 is suggested

Music
Negotiate directly regarding fee:
Mario Alphonso – Piano/Organ – (m 07960 550 693) 020 7624 1701
Helen Blake – Organ/Piano (m 07946 533 776) 020 8933 2512
Roy Emerson – Organ (m 07973 517 788) 020 7267 5858
Christopher Matthews – Organ 020 8458 6262 (cm@londonmail.com)

Time Keeping
Please keep to the time you agreed. Lateness is very disrespectful and delays everything else that follows your wedding in the Church. It is common courtesy to arrive on time. Allow for traffic, fittings, hair styling, and above all photographs. There is no excuse.

Recording and Photography in Church
Only the official appointed photographer should move around on the sanctuary and only agreed with prior approval of the ministering priest.

Confetti
Bio-degradable confetti may be used but only outside the church.

MARRIAGE COURSE
Please book for the 4 sessions on Thursdays, 19th & 26th April and 3rd & 10th May beginning at 8pm. Call the parish office for a booking application. Sessions take place in the presbytery Conference room. 

It is advisable to give at least one months notice.

Sunday 9am Mass is not available as it is the obligatory Intention for the people of the Parish.

If you have booked a week day Mass, 10am or 12.15pm, please note that if a Funeral Mass is arranged it will take precedence over all booked Masses and your Mass Intention will be offered at another time and you will not be informed.

The usual offering given for Mass is between £5 and £10. Masses not offered at the Sacred Heart Church, along with your offering are transferred to one of our Oblate Missions.

Please have your school documents completed.

Parents are reminded that the school admission criteria dictates the admission or not of your child, not the priest.

All admission criteria for catholic schools expect the child to be baptised and with the parents to be practicing, that is attending Sunday Mass and being involved in the life of the parish community.

Parents who are not practicing nor involved in the parish community cannot expect the priest to support the application and they must take up the issue with the school authorities and the Diocese.