St. Paul said: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church…. This is a great mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the Church” ( Eph 5:25, 32).
The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. By its very nature it is ordered to the good of the couple, as well as to the generation and education of children. Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to the dignity of a sacrament.
The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life (Catechism of the Catholic Church).
For a couple to be married at St Anne’s at least one of the parties should be a baptised Catholic who is either resident in the parish or has a parent who is resident. You are recommended to give about twelve months’ notice to the parish priest. Marriage enquiries from outside this parish of St Anne are also presented to your local parish priest.
Phone 01932 562375 and ask for an appointment to meet with the parish priest. During your first meeting you will be given information about the parish and diocesan preparation programme.