Troubled about marriage

[CraigSimbarashe]

I am a baptized and confirmed Catholic who recently got traditionally married to a non-Catholic – (baptized in a Pentecostal Church). My wife is still in Zimbabwe and i am in South Africa but will be moving to Johannesburg sometime next month.

I have strong desire to get married in the Catholic Church before we start family. However I still have a lot of questions that I need answers to:

1. How long do we have to take marriage lessons for?
2. Is it possible to get married in the absence of her parents? (her parents are in Zim and won’t be able to come), my parents are deceased.
3. is a “quiet” weeding allowed? wedding now then celebrations later?

If there is anything else I need to know about Catholic marriage, please let me know.

Please help

 

[Trishie]

Dear Craig,

Welcome to CatholicsAnswers Forum.

if you as an *already Baptised *Catholic were married in a non-Catholic Church your wedding isn’t valid, so you will need the Catholic Sacrament of Marriage.
As you are moving in soon to Johannesburg soon, you will be able to speak to a priest there to arrange any necessary instructions.
It is not essential for parents to be present for a marriage to be valid.
Celebrations aren’t necessary to make a marriage valid so may occur any time you choose, therefore a quiet wedding without celebrations is fine.

Approaches to marriage instructions (Pre-Cana) vary among Catholic dioceses and parishes. Usually six weekly sessions are led by a priest with support of a married Catholic couple.

Best wishes.
God bless you
Trishie

 

[CraigSimbarashe]

Dear Craig,

Welcome to CatholicsAnswers Forum.

if you as an *already Baptised *Catholic were married in a non-Catholic Church your wedding isn’t valid, so you will need the Catholic Sacrament of Marriage.
As you are moving in soon to Johannesburg soon, you will be able to speak to a priest there to arrange any necessary instructions.
It is not essential for parents to be present for a marriage to be valid.
Celebrations aren’t necessary to make a marriage valid so may occur any time you choose, therefore a quiet wedding without celebrations is fine

Best wishes.
God bless you
Trishie

Thank you Trishie for your response. i appreciate that

 

[Ndulaga]

The Sacrament of marriage is the only sacrament that is administered betweeen a man and a woman(Matrimonial concent).The Priest is there as a witness to the sacrament.I believe you are of a mature age and able to freely express your intention to marry.The presence of her parents is not not required for the celebration of your marriage in Church.Currently your marriage is not valid according to church law.It is important that your quickly marry in church for you to continue living a sacramental life.Marrying a non Catholic puts you and your faith in a very difficult position.The Church demands that all the children born in that marriage should be brought up in the Catholic faith.Besides that there are some christian churches whose baptism the Catholic Church does not consider to be valid.I therefore, recomend that you check with your Parish Priest for a detailed marriage programmee.I wish you all the best.

 

[CraigSimbarashe]

The Sacrament of marriage is the only sacrament that is administered betweeen a man and a woman(Matrimonial concent).The Priest is there as a witness to the sacrament.I believe you are of a mature age and able to freely express your intention to marry.The presence of her parents is not not required for the celebration of your marriage in Church.Currently your marriage is not valid according to church law.It is important that your quickly marry in church for you to continue living a sacramental life.Marrying a non Catholic puts you and your faith in a very difficult position.The Church demands that all the children born in that marriage should be brought up in the Catholic faith.Besides that there are some christian churches whose baptism the Catholic Church does not consider to be valid.I therefore, recomend that you check with your Parish Priest for a detailed marriage programmee.I wish you all the best.

Thanks Ndulaga, i appreciate your help