Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask one of our priests, or one of our welcome stewards present at Masses (those wearing the unmistakable badge). Or you can enquire via the contact us section of this website. We are used to welcoming people from many different backgrounds so don't worry, no question is too strange to ask.
Below, for your convenience, is a list of questions that are frequently asked, along with the 'standard' answers.
How do I arrange a church wedding?
Matrimony (marriage) in the Catholic church is a solemn commitment exclusively between one woman and one man, involving significant practical considerations for both parties. We therefore require that couples approach one of our priests directly, at least six months ahead of their intended wedding date, allowing time for the stages of preparation. See Matrimony, under the Sacraments section of this website.
How do I arrange a baptism ('Christening')?
Baptism is a joyous, yet very serious and profound event in a person's life, as it is the foundation event of the whole Christian life—the gateway to true life in the Holy Spirit. Whilst Baptism is given freely to anyone who sincerely asks for it (or to the child of any parent who asks for it), it is not given lightly. We expect, therefore, that anyone requesting baptism for themselves or their children will turn up at one of the Sunday masses in the first instance. After the Mass, please then speak to one of our priests, or to one of our welcoming stewards (who wear an unmistakable badge), and we'll take it forward from there. See Baptism, under the Sacraments section of this website.
My child/children can become restless, would we still be welcomed in church?
Many of us have raised children and we know only too well how restless young children can become, and at the least convenient moments. So yes, we positively welcome families with young children and we recognize the need for tolerance. If they're having a really bad day, you can take babies and young children into the narthex at the back of churches until they settle, or to other spaces that are made available from time to time.
How do I become a Catholic?
By definition, the Church has room for every human person, regardless of their history or background. But the same Church is a custodian of truth and teaching given to the world through Jesus Christ. There has never been a time when all of that teaching was easily digested by everyone, and from time to time, various aspects can become unfashionable in some cultures. For those and other reasons, the Church ordinarily takes adults and older children through a process called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) to prepare them for the sacrament of Confirmation (See the Becoming a Roman Catholic section of this website; also, see Confirmation, under the Sacraments section). If you are considering becoming a Catholic, either see one of the priests after any Mass/divine service or use the contact form in the Contact Us section.
How do I make a complaint?
Disputes, grievances, misunderstandings and mistakes can and do arise in the best of organizations, and in keeping with the teaching of Jesus Christ we always encourage those involved to come together and resolve matters among themselves where possible. But there are sometimes genuine reasons for not taking this approach. In those cases, you can contact the parish priests via the Contact Us section, or go to the Feedback section. If you feel it is necessary, you can contact the bishop for the Diocese of Salford.