"But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh.'  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." (Mark 10:6-9)

Ø  Sacred Scripture opens with the story of creation of man and woman, who are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). This story reveals that God himself is the author of marriage.

 Ø  Marriage is a sign of God's love for people and an unbreakable covenant .

 Ø  It is a covenant by which a man and a woman form an intimate communion of life and love with each other.

 Ø  Marriage involves a major commitment. Together a man and woman join in a lifetime partnership to support one another, to accept children lovingly from God, and to serve others in their capacity as husband and wife.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION CHECKLIST REQUIREMENTS FOR BRIDE AND GROOM

·         Not less than 6 months in advance of the anticipated date of the wedding, the couple should meet with the priest who will assist to attend the marriage preparation course conducted by the Family Comission on every second Saturday and Sunday of months except in the month of May.

·         The parents are to attend the seminar on the second day and it is mandatory for conducting the procedures before marriage.

·          Within 6 months of the wedding date, the couple should request newly issued baptismal certificates from their church of baptism to present to the parish priest for writing of banns for the marriage.

REQUIREMENTS FOR OFFICIATING PRIEST

Officiants with faculties within the Diocese of Coimbatore are expected to guide the engaged couple through the marriage preparation process required by the Diocese of Coimbatore.

 Required documents are:

· Prenuptial Inquiry - Should be completed, signed, and documented with your church seal.

· Dispensations - Necessary for any previous marriages and/or mixed religions. A marriage between a catholic and non-baptized person must obtain a dispensation from Disparity of Cult and may not be celebrated within the context of Mass.

· Baptismal Certificates

· Certificate of Marriage Preparation Program Attended

· Pastor Permission Letter – From the Pastor of the bride or groom or the Catholic party’s parish (mixed religion) for couples who reside outside the Cathedral Parish.

 Anointing of the sick

Is there anyone sick among you? He should ask for the presbyters of the church. They in turn are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. This prayer uttered in faith will reclaim the one who is ill, and the Lord will restore him to health. If he has committed any sins, forgiveness will be his. (James 5:14–15)

Some frequently asked questions about the sacrament:

Q: Who should receive the Anointing of the Sick?
A: Anyone who is ill, about to have or has had surgery, the chronically ill, those suffering terminal or other illnesses.

Q: When should the sacrament of the sick be administered?
A: It is not necessary to wait until a person is dying before calling a priest. The Anointing of the Sick "is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death" (CCC 1514).

Q: I have been anointed in the past, and I am ill again. May I be anointed again?
A: If some time has passed and you are experiencing another illness, you may receive the sacrament again.

At St. Michael’s Cathedral Anointing of the Sick is available upon request. Please call the parish priests’ Office, well in time and need not wait till one gets into danger of death.