Baptism
Offering of $50.00. You bring to the office, in advance, the certificate of the pre-baptism talk, the birth certificate, and photocopies of the ID of the parents and godparents. Four godparents at most.
Sacraments and events
Baptisms, weddings and special Masses at the parish
What can be celebrated here, what each one requires, and where to start.
Where do I start?
At the parish office. That is the way in for everything: baptisms, first communions, confirmations, weddings and special Masses. The secretary holds the requirements, the catechesis start dates and the friars' diary, so she is the one who can give you the exact information for the current year.
Catechesis programmes do not always begin on the same date. The parish works to an annual plan, so sometimes they start in March and sometimes in April. It is worth asking early.
Two paths
Community celebrations and outside requests
There are two kinds of celebration in the parish. On one side are the sacraments that belong to the ordinary rhythm of parish life: formation, catechesis, baptisms, first communions, confirmations and the weddings of people who are part of the community.
On the other side are requests from outside. People who live nearby, or who simply love the church and want to marry or baptise here, and institutions, above all schools, that ask for the church with an offering in order to celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving, for example at the end of the school year.
Requirements
What each sacrament asks for
First communion and confirmation
A baptism certificate is required to begin either catechesis programme. After that comes the catechetical process itself and the corresponding offering.
Marriage
Eight requirements, among them the baptism and confirmation certificates of both partners, the civil marriage certificate and the certificate of the marriage preparation talks. Documents are handed in at the office two months before the wedding.
Special and thanksgiving Masses
A golden anniversary, a quinceañera, a school's end of year, or a company celebration. You check the date with the office, say whether you are bringing your own priest or would like a friar of the community to celebrate, and agree the offering.
The complete, current list of requirements, the formation dates and the amount of the offering are given by the parish office. If you are already in the process, the parish can send you the link with all the detailed information for your celebration.
Marriage preparation
How long does preparing for marriage take?
Less than many couples fear. The Matrimonios en Victoria movement runs a one day intensive retreat to speed up the process for young couples: it starts at 8 in the morning, the day is given to talks, retreat and formation, and it finishes at 5 in the afternoon. The whole formation is covered in a single day.
At the end, the parish issues a certificate confirming that the couple has completed the formation, and any other parish will accept it. The dates of the next retreats are To be confirmed.
The process, step by step
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Contact the parish office
By WhatsApp, by phone or in person. Say what you would like to celebrate and when.
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Confirm the date
The office checks the church diary and the availability of the friars. If you are bringing your own priest, this is the moment to say so.
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Meet the requirements
Documents, formation or catechesis, depending on the sacrament. The office gives you the exact list.
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Agree the offering
The parish tells you the amount for your celebration.
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Celebrate
With the date booked, the requirements met, and the community alongside you.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about sacraments and events
Can I get married here if I am not from this parish?
Yes. The parish welcomes both those who worship here and people from outside who want their wedding in this church, with an offering for the use of the church. In both cases the marriage file and the marriage preparation are required.
Is the marriage preparation valid in another parish?
Yes. At the end the parish issues a certificate confirming that the couple has completed the formation, and any other parish will recognise it.
When does catechesis for first communion and confirmation start?
It changes every year, because the parish works to an annual plan. Sometimes it starts in March and sometimes in April. The parish office always has the current year's calendar.
Can I bring my own priest?
Yes. You just need to say so when booking the date and confirm who he is. If you would rather a friar of the community celebrates, the office checks the friars' availability for that date and time.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the celebration. A baptism has an offering of $50.00. For the others, the parish office tells you the exact amount when you book the date. The wedding offering is non-refundable.
Can an institution or a company book the church?
Yes. Schools commonly celebrate their end of year Mass of thanksgiving here, and companies or families also book the church for a special Mass. It is arranged with the office according to the diary.