1. What is to be done when one Catholic party comes to a diocese in India from abroad without bringing any papers and wants to marry a Catholic in India?

Unless the party from abroad brings a letter of free state, and an authorisation from his/her parish priest or pastor giving permission for the parish priest of the diocese in India to prepare the papers and conduct the marriage, such a request should not be entertained.

2. If two non-baptised persons who are validly married want to embrace the faith, is it necessary to renew their consent after their conversion?

No. If their marriage was valid and both parties embraced the Catholic faith, their marriage automatically becomes a sacramental marriage. (It is advisable in such cases to put a note in the remarks’ column of the Baptism Register that the parties were validly married before their conversion.)

3. Can a non-catholic be a witness for a marriage?

Yes. A non-catholic can be a witness to a Catholic marriage.

4. What is the procedure to be followed if I want to get married in the Church?

a. Meet the Parish Priest and decide the date of Marriage

b. Attend the Marriage Preparation course conducted either in Muktisagar Prabodhan Kendra, Uttan or any other designated centres.

c. The process of formalities begins from girl’s Parish. So the girl should meet the Parish Priest 3 months prior to the wedding. The Parish Priest will issue a PNE request letter which should be handed over to the boy’s Parish Priest.

d. The Parish Priest of the boy’s Parish fills the PNE form and hands over to the boy to be given to the girl’s Parish. The girl’s Parish Priest then fills her PNE form and sends a letter for reading of the Banns. After the reading of the second Bann, the boy’s Parish Priest issues a NOC which should be handed over to the girl’s Parish Priest.

5. What procedure should I follow to attest my Church Marriage certificate by Marriage Registrar

a. Get the latest (not more than six months old) Marriage Certificate from the Church where the marriage was solemnized.

b. Check for accuracy of spellings of names of all those mentioned in the certificate. Pay particular attention to the identity proofs of both husband and wife.

c. A photograph of the husband and wife (8 x 5 cm printed on Matt finish paper) is to be pasted on the rear of this Church Marriage Certificate.

d. Get the Marriage Certificate attested by the Chancery of the Archbishop’s House, Fort.

e. This certificate is also to be attested (on the reverse side) by any authorized public Notary.

f. Get this certificate photo-copied on both sides after completing the above steps.

g. Next, the certificate needs to be counter signed by the Christian Registrar of Marriage appointed by the State Government of Maharashtra, Mr. Louis Sequeira, Cell phone number 9969608609, (office: New Administrative Building, 9th Floor, Opp. Mantralaya, Churchgate). He is available in the office only between 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. After this you need to get the certificate attested by the Section Officer appointed by the Home Department, Government of Maharashtra, who is also on the same floor.

h. Please carry with you original identity proof with one copy of each of the following documents: Passport, PAN card, Aadhar card, Driving Licence. The identity proofs should have the same names with the same spelling as on the Marriage certificate.

i. in case the name of either/both the spouses have been changed subsequent to the marriage, please take along a copy of the Govt. Gazette to that effect.

j. In case you bring along the certificate of your deceased parent to be attested, you will have to bring along an Affidavit stating you are the daughter/son of the names mentioned on the certificate and carry relating proof of documents.

k. If the certificate to be attested belongs to a relative/close associate please ask the person concerned to provide a letter of authority stating name, address, contact number of both sides.

(sourced from the Chancery, Archbishop’s House, Fort, Mumbai)