December 11, 2024
The Parish Priests and Clergy Teams
Diocese of Nashik
My dear collaborators,
I am writing this circular in response to various queries received from my brother priests regarding the publication of Marriage Banns in the context of Mixed Marriages.
The Church always encourages marriage between Catholics. This is in order to preserve our Catholic Faith. While we do permit marrying outside the Catholic Faith, we see this as an exception and as per the Church practice, marriage banns are not to be read for marriages outside the Catholic Faith - whether with an unbaptized (Hindu, Muslim, etc.) or even a baptized non-Catholic (Protestant, etc.).
I thus wish to emphasize that marriage banns are not to be read in the Church unless both the parties are baptized in the Catholic Faith.
In addition, please note that the Marriage Rite is to be done before the Mass. The Mass follows after the Marriage Rite is concluded.
Thanking you for all the wonderful work you are doing in the parishes of our Diocese. God bless you and with every good wish,
Yours in Christ,
+Barthol Barretto
Bishop, Diocese of Nashik