Use of Good Shepherd Parish Churches
Not a parishioner/from out of state

 
All paperwork and preparation needs to be completed in your local parish.  If you are not registered in any parish you may be required to do so.
 

1. Schedule an appointment with the priest or his delegate at your home parish to complete the Pre-Marital Investigation form (PMI).  This will determine your freedom to marry.  If one of you is not Catholic or unbaptized, additional paperwork is necessary.  If one or both of you are divorced and that marriage has not been declared null and void an annulment is necessary. This paperwork is required from you and needs to be completed in your home parish.  The wedding cannot take place unless we receive this information.

2. Enroll in a marriage preparation program.  Your home parish will help you with this process.

3. All completed paperwork including the PMI, baptismal certificates and any permissions, dispensations, or annulment declarations along with your marriage preparation certificate should be forwarded to the local chancery in your area by the parish preparing you.  (If you reside in a diocese other than the Diocese of Portland your parish must forward all paperwork including the PMI, baptismal certificates, and any permissions, dispensations, or annulment declarations to your local chancery.  They in turn will forward all paperwork to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, The Tribunal,  510 Ocean Avenue, Portland ME 04104. We at Good Shepherd Parish will receive this information only after both your local chancery and the chancery in Portland, Maine approves the file.  Again, your wedding cannot take place until Good Shepherd has this information.

4. Call Good Shepherd Parish to inquire about your marriage date and church of choice.  The receipt of the $275 deposit of the $550 fee will reserve the church for you in any of our Good Shepherd Churches except St. Brendan.  The cost to reserve St. Brendan is $375 half of $750.00. (May 25-Columbus Day)  If a formal case annulment is in process the date cannot be reserved until a decision is granted.

 
**If a priest or deacon not from the Diocese of Portland will preside at your wedding, your diocese must forward a “letter of suitability” to the office of the Bishop of Portland. You can include this letter in the file.