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Ann Joseph
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
I have the following situation at hand.
I was baptized and confirmed at a Catholic Church in India and had certificates from the ceremonies back then.
Now that my fiancé and I are getting ready for our Pre-Cana prep meetings, I realized:
- I have lost my Baptism and Confirmation certificates!, and
- the Church in India somehow doesn't have a record of me receiving both of these sacraments.
A lack of paperwork is not that surprising for India! I am freaking out now and I don't know what to do! We are scheduled for our Pre-Cana prep meetings in a few weeks.
Please advise!
Ann Joseph
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What should I do if, before our Pre-Cana program, we have lost both sacramental certificates? }
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Bob replied:
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Ann,
Don't freak out. You can still go through your Pre-Cana prep meetings and get married.
This happens more often than you know.
Talk to your parish and they will help you work through the procedures.
God loves you and your husband-to-be and will bless your Marriage so be at peace.
God bless,
Bob Kirby
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Fr. Jonathan replied:
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Dear Ann,
The Church should accept two affidavits taken before a priest in substitution for the Baptism Record.
To be more specific, your diocese should have these forms – the affidavit is for:
“Baptism and Freedom to Marry”
Your two witnesses bring this form to their parish priest and they make an oath before him and sign it in his presence. The parish priest signs as a witness and places the parish seal on it.
That will do for the immediate troubles; however, at the same time you could communicate with the Church in India and see if they are willing to place a notation in their Baptism record based upon the same two affidavits.
Fr. Jonathan
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