Marriage Programme – 2021
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Welcome to the Marriage Preparation “Sycamore” Course
We are delighted that you have decided to get married and have your love for each other sealed, deepened and strengthened by God. Your sacred marriage vows will be some of the most important words that you will ever say in your earthly lives and they will transform you as individuals and as a couple. At the same time your love for each other will be open to the creation of new life.
Therefore, it is important that couples have an opportunity to reflect together on the unique meaning of the vows that they will make before God and His Church. It is for this reason that we have created this online course to allow couples to reflect more deeply on the sacredness of marriage and its relationship to the life of faith. This is also important if there is a non-Catholic partner. They must understand and accept the sacred vows that they are making and, at the same time, come to know something about the faith of the person they are going to marry.
You will be asked to watch a Sycamore video. We highly recommend that you do this together as a couple. Rather than binge watching all the videos in one go, we advise you to watch just one video a week and reflect upon its content with an open mind and heart. If there are things that strike you in the video, make a note of them and ask God to help you gain a better understanding of the things that have inspired, moved or challenged you in some way. It might be helpful to have a notebook where you can scribble down responses to the questions in the video and any questions or observations that you might have. But the most important thing is to give time to each video and to reflect honestly upon the content.
It would also be helpful for supplementary reading to own a copy of The Bible (we recommend the English Standard Version-Catholic Edition (ESV-CE), the Catechism of the Catholic Church and YouCat. You will be able to purchase these online. 
There are ten videos covering the following topics:
(1) THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS [“Film 1” in Series: click here to view] The impossibility of sitting still. What is happiness? How to press the pause button.
(2) THE EXISTENCE OF GOD [“Film 2” in Series: click here to view] Why bother thinking about religion? Five reasons not to believe in God. Arguments for the existence of God?
(3) A GOD WHO SPEAKS? [“Film 3” in Series: click here to view] The hiddenness of God. When God broke the silence. Discovering the face of God.
(4) WHO IS JESUS? [“Film 4” in Series: click here to view] He came to bring life to the world. The Saving Death of Jesus. The light of the Resurrection.
(5) THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH [“Film 5” in Series: click here to view] How the Holy Spirit can change your life. No one gets into heaven alone. Why we need signs, symbols and sacraments.
After watching the 5th video, please contact Clergy House to arrange an online meeting with the member of clergy who is celebrating your wedding or looking after your paperwork. This will be an opportunity to discuss the videos and try to answer any questions that you might have.
(6) THE BIBLE [“Film 6” in Series: click here to view] What is the bible? Can we trust the bible? How the bible can change your life.
(7) THE GIFT OF FAITH [“Film 7” in Series: click here to view] What is faith? Are Christians just stupid or are there good reasons to believe? How to take a step of faith.
(8) THE POWER OF PRAYER [“Film 8” in Series: click here to view] What is prayer? Does prayer make a difference? How to pray.
(9) FINDING TRUE FREEDOM [“Film 9” in Series: click here to view] Is there such a thing as right and wrong? Where can we find moral guidance? How do you discover your true identity?
(10) THE MEANING OF LOVE [“Film 10” in Series: click here to view] What is love? How to love your neighbour. Knowing the love of God.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
May this time of preparation for marriage, also be an opportunity for you to draw close to God who is the source of your vocation of love and calls you to live no longer to as two, but to live as one.
Fr Martin |
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Fees Registrar A registrar will be provided for your wedding; the fee for the registrar is £50. This fee must be paid before the wedding.
Donation for priest or deacon celebrating your wedding This is your personal gift to the priest or deacon who has taken the time to journey with you to your wedding day and who will celebrate your wedding. An average donation would be around £150.
Suggested offering for Brentwood Cathedral A suggested offering would be around £150 for to help with the ongoing upkeep, maintenance and running of the beautiful buildings of Brentwood Cathedral and Holy Cross. |