The following documents must be provided to the place preparing your
file.
- Prenuptial Questionnaire: The
prenuptial questionnaire for the bride and groom will be completed by
you
and either Gesu Parish’s Marriage Preparation Coordinator,
the Marriage Preparation Coordinator in
University Ministry at Marquette University, or a priest or deacon.
- Baptismal Certificate(s) with notations:
Both parties must submit Certificates of Baptism if they are
baptized.
If the party is Catholic, the
certificate must be newly-issued by the church of baptism within the
last six
months. The certificate must bear the seal of the church issuing it,
and show the date it was issued.
Notations concerning the person’s celebration of confirmation
and/or previous marriage will be indicated on
the certificate.
If the party is baptized but not
Catholic, any copy of a certificate is fine. If no certificate exists,
then an
affidavit is to be filled out by someone who witnessed the baptism.
- Affidavits concerning the freedom to marry.
Each individual must secure testimony of at least one person
who knows him/her very well (e.g. parents, relatives, friends who have
been close since adolescence or
before) and can attest under oath that the individual is free to marry
and intends to live a Christian marriage.
The testimony may be taken by either a Catholic priest or by a public
notary. The marriage preparation
coordinator provides the couple with affidavit forms; completed
affidavits are returned to wherever the file is
being prepared.
- When a marriage takes place between a Catholic and a
non-Catholic, a dispensation or permission is
required.
- Certificate from approved marriage
preparation event: Upon completion of your Engaged Enrichment
retreat, submit the original certificate of attendance to the place
preparing your file.
- Verification of participation in FOCCUS:
Verification that the couple has participated in the FOCCUS
inventory or a similar experience must be present.
All of the information listed in numbers 1-6 above
should be submitted to the Marriage Preparation Coordinator
at least TWO MONTHS prior to your wedding.
- Permission for Presider Delegation:
This is a letter from the pastor of Gesu Parish indicating his
willingness
to delegate the presiding priest or deacon of the marriage.
- When the presiding priest is not from the Archdiocese
of Milwaukee, he must attach documented proof from
his diocese or religious order indicating that he is a priest in good
standing.
- Civil Marriage License (see brochure enclosed in
wedding packet, or visit the ). See also here.
NOTE: We cannot marry you without a civil marriage license. It is
essential that you have one. Please
bring it to your rehearsal. It will be signed then. In Milwaukee
County, it takes a minimum of eight days to
get a license. Also, you cannot apply more than 30 days in advance.
Please be aware of this window of
opportunity.
WEDDING CEREMONY WITNESSES
Two witnesses (best man and maid/matron of honor) are
required. In an interfaith marriage, one witness may be non-Catholic.
