Following are the dates and venues for the official Southwark diocesan marriage preparation courses during 2024. They comply fully with diocesan guidelines.

A certificate confirming completion of the course is provided at the end of the course and is recognized worldwide.

Courses fill up very quickly so early booking is advisable and reservations can be made by contacting the relevant pastoral area coordinators as listed below. Make sure to quote your full home address, your parish and when and where you are getting married.

 

 

Before Booking a Marriage Preparation Course...

As soon as possible, a Catholic intending to get married must contact the priest or deacon in the parish where they live. That applies whether you attend Mass in that parish or not and regardless of whether the wedding will take place in that parish or elsewhere or abroad.

The diocesan policy on marriage states that "at least six months’ notice of marriage is normally required". But if you are getting married outside the United Kingdom it is advisable to give more notice, ideally nine months. This is to allow preparation to be undertaken by the couple and the required paperwork to be completed. It is the responsibility of the relevant priest or deacon to ensure that all the necessary documentation is in hand and to see that the documents are sent to the place of marriage.

To avoid possible complications, no wedding date should be fixed until after the first meeting with the priest or deacon. This is to ensure that you have a full understanding of all of the requirements necessary for celebrating your wedding in the Catholic Church and to prevent you from losing non-refundable costs if the wedding date needs to be changed.

This initial visit will determine if both of you are free to marry in the Church and allow the priest or deacon time to guide you through the marriage preparation process.

If your wedding is to take place outside the UK it is essential that you contact your local parish priest or deacon before any arrangements are made with a priest or deacon in the other country.  This is to allow time for essential documentation to be completed and sent in advance of the wedding.

Marriage papers for weddings taking place in other countries travel via the Chancery Office at Archbishop’s House in Southwark Diocese to the office of the relevant overseas bishop, before finally being sent to the place of marriage. Hence the need for additional notice, ideally 9-12 months.


Dates and Venues

2024

May 1 or 8+10/11                         Welling (SE London)

May 10/11                                     Online/Tenterden (Kent)

June 15                                          St George's Cathedral (SW)

July 5/6                                          Online (Kent)

July 11 or 18/19/20                     Beckenham (SW London)

July 27                                            St George's Cathedral (SW)

September 13/14                         Online/Ashford (Kent)

October 19                                    Purley (SW London)

November 12 or 13+15/16         Welling (SE London)

November 23                                Online (SW London)

 

  • Courses in the Kent Pastoral Area include on online session on the Friday evening as well as a face-to-face session all day Saturday.
  • Courses in the SE London Pastoral Area are all held face to face and include sessions on the preceding Wednesday and Friday evenings as well as all day Saturday.

Contacts

SW London Pastoral Area

Deacon Philip & Mrs Mary Pond

T: 020 8651 2477

E: mflsw@rcaos.org.uk

SE London Pastoral Area

Mrs Lisette Blanchet Ball

T: 07505 305 297

E: mflse@rcaos.org.uk

Kent Pastoral Area 

Mrs Carole Batty

T: 07983 524727

E: mflkent@rcaos.org.uk

 

Powerpoint Presentations

(used on South West London pastoral area courses)

Further Reading

Active listening

Attitudes to money 1 of 2

Attitudes to money 2 of 2

Children - our love made flesh

Choice in marriage

How not to communicate

Inter-church marriages

Managing money

Natural family planning

Please just listen to me

Responsible parenthood

What if love dies..

Your need for intimacy

Marriage and Family Life

More to explore

Marriage Preparation Courses

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Building a Better Marriage

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Bereavement Ministry Training

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The Marriage and Family Life Team

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The Annual Marriage Mass

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Natural Fertility Awareness

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Parenting Courses

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Grief in Loss - Hope in Christ

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