𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗚𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗔

29/09/2025

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR A WEDDING IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

When you ask a Catholic why they are not wedded in the Church, one of the common responses you get is that it is too expensive. And I often personally wonder how they came to such a conclusion.

Of the three common marraiges avaliable to a Christian, the others being traditional (customary) marriage and civil/registry (court) marriage, the Church marriage is in fact, the cheapest.

What exactly is required to be married in the Church? How expensive is it? Oya let's break it down to the ESSENTIALS.

1. Registration for Marriage Course - This is the 3-6 class/course that prepares intending couples for the sacrament they're about to receive. Duration usually depends on diocesan policy. It is just like catechism before Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. In many parishes, registration is free, however, some parishes collect between 2k - 5k (in rare cases, up to 10k) with which they offer a stipend to the instructors.

2. Stole Fee - The stole fee is a gift offering made to a priest or other minister who celebrates a Sacrament, as an appreciation for his services. Stole fee is collected for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist and Marriage. The amount varies according to diocese, and even within the same diocese, it is not the same for every parish, depending on the financial capacity of the parishioners. This is usually between 1k - 2k (in some places, it may be as high as 5k).

3. Certification - Couples are normally issued a Certificate of Marriage and most parishes ask that they pay for it. The amount is rarely above 2k.

4. Banns of Marriage - The banns is a public announcement of the intention of the couple to marry. The aim is to ensure that there is nothing preventing them from having a valid and licit marriage. There is no charge for announcing banns of marriage; it is FREE!

Take note however, that in some parts of the country, they have a practice of "clearance" where the intending couple are required to get clearance from certain organs of the Church such as CYON before their banns are published. The argument here is that the intending couple have not been a member of the Organisation, so they calculate supposed dues that is presumed to have accumulated over time and ask for it to be cleared.

A simple remedy to this is, as a young Catholic, join CYON wherever you are, and also identify with those in your village Church so that through that means, you can contribute to the growth and development of your Church (this is a moral and legal duty we owe to the Church). Don't wait until time for wedding or burial for them to frustrate you.

5. Medical Certificate of Fitness/Compatibility - There are certain necessary medical checks that must be done by the individuals to ensure that they're fit and compatible to be man and wife such as fertility tests, HIV screening, DNA and blood group compatibility (some people focus only on DNA without even knowing that their blood groups can also be incompatible). All these are to protect the mutual interest of the couple. In any case, even without the intention to do a wedding in Church, this is a necessary thing do before any marriage, Church or otherwise.

So, if you calculate all I have mentioned here, using the maximum amounts, you will see that you don't need up to 20k to do your wedding.

The following are usually what people spend money on, and they are completely at the discretion of the couple, as the Church has no interest in them per se. With or without them, the marriage can take place if the above conditions are met. They include:
1. Wedding gown and suit (come to church with any decent clothing; just sha don't be naked).
2. Asoebi girls and men on suit
3. Lavish reception party after Mass
4. A large crowd of people to attend (you only need two witness and a priest or deacon)
5. Photo and video coverage (if you can't afford it, beg a friend who has a good phone to use it and snap you)
6. An expensive wedding ring (you can even use finger Rosary, na still ring e be).
7. Choir (if you can't afford to pay for their services, use hymn book and sing jejely)
Etc, Etc.

I hope this helps

© Fada Ameh, 2025

18/09/2025

Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things, and, that we may feel the working of your mercy, grant that we may serve you with all our heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

03/04/2025

We invoke your mercy in humble prayer, O Lord, that you may cause us, your servants, corrected by penance and schooled by good works, to persevere sincerely in your commands and come safely to the paschal festivities. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, God forever and ever. Amen

17/03/2025

St. Patrick
Feastday:March 17
Patron of Ireland
Birth:387
Death:461

St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints.

Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.

Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone's Irish.

There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story.

Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.

As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.

During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote

"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family.

He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."

He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.

Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message.

Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.

He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.

Why a shamrock?

Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.

In His Footsteps:

Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

18/02/2025

🚨 BREAKING NEWS:

The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis’ condition has worsened, now diagnosed with a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection. Recent tests reveal a complex clinical picture, requiring an extended hospital stay for the 88-year-old Pontiff in Rome.

Let us unite in prayer for his health and recovery, entrusting him to the mercy and care of Our Lord.

Long Live Papa Francisco
copied from

—Augustine Mario

19/11/2024

With Fada Ameh – I'm on a streak! I've been a top fan for 3 months in a row. 🎉

27/09/2024

St. Vincent de Paul
Feastday:September 27
Patron of charitable societies

St. Vincent was born of poor parents in the village of Pouy in Gascony, France, about 1580. He enjoyed his first schooling under the Franciscan Fathers at Acqs. Such had been his progress in four years that a gentleman chose him as subpreceptor to his children, and he was thus enabled to continue his studies without being a burden to his parents. In 1596, he went to the University of Toulouse for theological studies, and there he was ordained priest in 1600.

In 1605, on a voyage by sea from Marseilles to Narbonne, he fell into the hands of African pirates and was carried as a slave to Tunis. His captivity lasted about two years, until Divine Providence enabled him to effect his escape. After a brief visit to Rome he returned to France, where he became preceptor in the family of Emmanuel de Gondy, Count of Goigny, and General of the galleys of France. In 1617, he began to preach missions, and in 1625, he lay the foundations of a congregation which afterward became the Congregation of the Mission or Lazarists, so named on account of the Prioryof St. Lazarus, which the Fathers began to occupy in 1633.

It would be impossible to enumerate all the works of this servant of God. Charity was his predominant virtue. It extended to all classes of persons, from forsaken childhood to old age. The Sisters of Charity also owe the foundation of their congregation to St. Vincent. In the midst of the most distracting occupations his soul was always intimately united with God. Though honored by the great ones of the world, he remained deeply rooted in humility. The Apostle of Charity, the immortal Vincent de Paul, breathed his last in Paris at the age of eighty. His feast day is September 27th. He is the patron of charitable societies.

23/09/2024

23/09/2024