Marriage
In every situation that presents itself, “the Church is conscious of the need to offer a word of truth
and hope… The great values of marriage and the Christian family
correspond to a yearning that is part and parcel of human existence”
Pope Francis, Amoris Leititia 48
Congratulations!
Many congratulations on your upcoming nuptials!
Every marriage matters, because marriage comes from the hand of God. God brings a man and a woman together to love and support each other. Their love becomes visible in the children they bring into the world and in their acts of generous service.
In Catholic teaching, the valid marriage between two baptised Christians is also a sacrament as the love between the spouses symbolises Christ’s love for the church. For more information on marriage in the Catholic Church, download the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Frequently Asked Questions booklet.
If you are looking for the perfect church to hold your ceremony, the Diocese of Cairns has a choice of over 40. To start organising your wedding, select the church you want to be married in and contact your local parish priest.
There are two types of Catholic marriage ceremony. One is with Mass and celebrates the Eucharist, which lasts for about an hour. The other is without Mass and only takes about 20 minutes. Your parish priest will be able to go through all these details with you.
Pre-Marriage Preparation
A marriage is such a special gift from God, and one that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
That’s why the Diocese recommends the pre-marriage program 'FOCCUS' – delivered by Centacare FNQ - for couples who genuinely wish to be prepared for marriage and see the value in receiving personalised training.
FOCCUS is a training program designed to help couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship. The program involves asking each partner to respond to a comprehensive set of statements, thus allowing the facilitator to identify strengths and areas of growth through feedback sessions. Read more about FOCCUS at Centacare FNQ here.
Contact Centacare FNQ on (07) 4044 0130 or .
The Pre-marriage Program offers you as a couple the opportunity to take the time to prepare for what will undoubtedly be the most important relationship of your lives. Amongst the excitement (and stress) of preparing for a wedding, it is very wise to take the time to prepare for a marriage. The commitment you will make to each other is a solemn and binding agreement that takes all of 2 minutes to say, but a whole life time to work out.
Taking the time to prepare for this important relationship not only helps you to be aware of the workings of this type of relationship, but, also helps you lay the foundations for the type of marriage you both want to establish.
Services & Ministries
