Marriage Preparation Forms Orientation for Marriage Ministers in

Marriage Preparation Forms Orientation for Marriage Ministers in the Diocese of Trenton

TO FIND RESOURCES: www. dioceseoftrenton. org/marriageresources

REFERENCES FOR PASTORAL MINISTERS

HANDOUTS FOR ENGAGED COUPLES FOCCUS, Inc. USA www. foccusinc. com

PRENUPTIAL INVESTIGATION During Stage one, before the wedding date is set, before Stage Two (ideally one year before the ceremony). Requires date and Bride and Groom signatures. After Stage two, ideally NLT six months before the ceremony. Requires date and Bride and Groom and pastoral minister signatures, and parish seal. As soon as the documents are received (1 -2); after Stage Two and NLT six weeks before ceremony (3 -5); after the wedding (6 -8). Part III, #5 requires PM signature, position, date and parish seal.

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • • If residence after marriage is known, fill in address info in Part III, #8. PP&G page 18 suggests a “referral card” with sample.

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • • • If both are Catholic, move on. Review Section II Particular Ecclesial Situations in Marriage Preparation (PP&G pp 20 -31). Review p. 30 to determine Permission/Dispensation needed. Prepare & submit Form D-1 Marriage Permission or Dispensation Form D-1 requires parish seal. When granted, complete Section III #2 of PNI.

Permission from “sui juris” bishop Permission (See p. 22) Dispensation Permission

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • • If both are 18 or over, move on. If under age 18, complete Form A-2 Parent’s Permission for the Marriage of a Minor. If under age 18, and parent does not give permission, complete Form D-1 Marriage Permission or Dispensation Petition Form. When permission is granted, complete Part III, #2.

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • • If “none” box is checked, move on. Form A-3 Information Concerning Each and Every Prior Marriage. Note bold print at bottom of form. Check annulment decrees for conditions. For any prior marriage not annulled, refer to advocate. If civilly married, Form A-4 Convalidation. (Remarriage license required by NJ law. ) Copies of all documents go in marriage file.

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • • If in assigned parish, check “by assignment box in Part III #3. If in another diocese, “Testimonial of Suitability”. If in any NYC borough, “Certificate of Marriage Officiant Registration”. If in another Diocese, file needs Visum review (e. g. , couple prepared in DOT, married in Archdiocese of Philadelphia): Completed file is to be sent to DOT for review, DOT reviews and sends to AOP, AOP reviews and sends to parish of wedding for filing).

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • • If not in Catholic Church, Form D-2 Dispensation From the Canonical Form of Marriage. (accompanied by Form D-1) If not in Catholic Church, Form D-3 Permission For a Priest or Deacon to Witness Marriage Outside of a Catholic Church. (accompanied by Form D-1) D-2 and D-3 require signature and parish seal. When Permission/Dispensation is granted, complete Part III #2.

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • Form D-3, check “otherwise” box in Part III #3. • Form D-3, make sure the marriage is recorded in the parish specified.

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • If both are Roman, move on. • Check baptism certificate against list of Churches sui juris (PP&G page 21). • If Eastern Rite, see guidelines under “Discussion” in PP&G pp. 21 -22, and pp 30 -31. (no deacons need apply). • Church sui juris dispensations, permissions, delegation, etc. (available for priests only) are obtained through DOT chancery to local sui juris ordinary. • We recommend you consult with the tribunal staff when processing Sui Iuris marriages.

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • Obtain Baptism certificates issued w/in past 6 months by parish of Baptism. • If no certificate, Form B-1, Affidavit Verifying that a Person has been Baptized. • If not baptized, Form B-2, Affidavit Verifying that a Person has never been Baptized. • If not baptized, Form D-1 Marriage Permission or Dispensation Form (Dispensation). • When Dispensation received, record in Part III #2.

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • If not Baptized Catholic, Form A-1 Affidavits Verifying Couple’s Freedom to Marry. • N. B. - A Notation on Baptism certificate indicating marriage requires Death Certificate/Divorce Decree and Annulment Decree. • Check Baptism certificate also for sui juris rite.

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • If the answer is no, move on. • Certain degrees of the following relationships are impediments to marriage: • Consanguinity (blood) • Affinity (in-law) • Adoption (legal) • Form D-1 Marriage Permission or Dispensation Petition Form. • When filling in the tree on Form D-1, use the following chart (see next slide):

MATCHING FORMS WITH LINES ON THE PNI • Dispensations from Religious vows are reserved to the Apostolic See for pontifical right institutes, the local ordinary for diocesan right institutes. Rarely granted. (cc 1088) • Dispensations from sacred orders are reserved to the Apostolic See. (cc 1087) • If they do not have a dispensation, advise the couple to confer with the Tribunal staff, and expect to have a long wait.

• After completing Part I of PNI (Initial Meeting) • Complete and discuss before starting Stage Two: “Marriage Catechesis and Formation” • For reference in Stage II • NLT six months before wedding • Before completing Part II of PNI • Place FOCCUS Completion Certificate in file

May lead to discovery of information related to Special Circumstances (Especially questions 4, 5, 8, 10, & 12) Form E-1, Evaluation Referral Process for a Special Circumstance Marriage Requires parish seal on both signature lines

• A “yes” answer to any of these questions requires a Form D-1. • Dispensation is from “marriage of persons with natural obligations to a third party or to children”.

FOCCUS FOCCUS

• For use when PM and pastor cannot resolve issue with couple. • Ask for consult through Associate Director for Marriage Ministries (609 -403 -7156). • When consult recommends referral, or if PM feels referral is advisable, use Form E-1, Evaluation Referral Process for a Special Circumstance Marriage. • Other forms that may be involved are: • FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Facilitation Summary Form, and • Form E-2, Episcopal Prohibition of the Celebration of Marriage.

• Get info for Part III #1 from the couple and the documents they provided. • Keep documents in the file.

• #2. Enter information here from any D-1 forms. • If more than 2 Permissions/Dispensations, copy this part blank and add them. • #3. • If celebrant is assigned to the parish, check first box. • Use second box for celebrant not assigned to parish. Can be delegated by pastor or any clergy assigned to parish. • Use “Otherwise” box for e. g. , Form 3 Delegation.

• #4. PM records observations. • Requires parish seal on signature line. • #5. Obtain information from bride and groom.

• 6. License must be completed and signed by the two witnesses and the presiding clergy. Completed license must be mailed to originating office in envelope provided. • 7. Completed by office staff(? ) • 8. Form C-1, Residence of Couple after Marriage. Form C-2, Letter to the Pastor of the Couple’s Parish of Future Residence. Form C-3, Notification to Churches of Baptism for each baptized person. • •

Marriage Preparation Forms Orientation for Marriage Ministers in the Diocese of Trenton