We’re getting married. How do we proceed?
PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE
Preparing for your marriage is one of the most important events of your lives which requires careful consideration of all the details relating to the RELIGIOUS aspects of the day. The following guidelines are meant to aid you in your preparations and put before you all the requirements of the parish for your marriage celebration. The parish priests will be most happy to help you in any way to plan this important day of your life. Please feel free to discuss any questions, problems or concerns with them.
1. Marriage Policy at St. Justin’s :
Church law dictates that the normal place in which a marriage should take place is the parish of the bride or groom. Consequently, St. Justin’s restricts weddings to:
a) Parishioners who live within the parish boundaries
b) Registered parishioners who live outside the boundaries but have attended Mass at St. Justin’s for at least 3 months.
2 Booking Dates For Marriage :
The couple must contact the parish at least ONE YEAR in advance of the proposed marriage date, so that they will have adequate time to meet the other requirements given in this package. Pre-nuptial investigation and the beginning of the marriage forms are filled out at the first interview with the couple. The date of the wedding is set at this interview - it CANNOT be booked over the phone beforehand.
3 Times For Marriage :
The following times are set aside for the celebration of weddings - Saturday’s at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Weddings may be scheduled from Monday to Friday from 12 noon onwards (except Wednesdays). Weddings are forbidden on Sundays in the Archdiocese of Toronto.
4 Marriage Instruction :
No marriage may be celebrated until the couple has completed a course of instruction on marriage. Several of these courses are conducted in the parish during the year. The priest will inform you of the dates, length of course and fee when you book your wedding date at your first interview. Some couples ask about the weekend marriage courses that are conducted at retreat centres. These courses are intended for those who cannot take a parish based program. All couples who wish to be married here at St. Justin Martyr should count on taking one of our parish courses.
5 Priest For Marriage :
The parish priest with whom arrangements are made for the wedding and who conducts your first interview will mostly likely be the one who will perform the marriage ceremony.
6 Documents Required :
a) Baptismal Certificate
Every Catholic being married must produce a current certificate of Baptism, that is, one that has been issued within six months of the marriage. The parish of baptism should be contacted in due time. A non-Catholic party, if baptized, should also provide proof of baptism. This need not be a current document, the original will suffice.
b) Certificate of Marriage Preparation
Proof of completion of a marriage preparation course is required. If you take a marriage course at the parish the presenters will notify the priests. If you take a course outside the parish you will be given a certificate that should be given to the priest on your second interview. It will be placed in your marriage file.
c) Previous Marriages
If a previous marriage existed, the following documents are required; I) a death certificate or a divorce decree; ii) an official confirmation from the proper ecclesiastical court with regard to the dissolution or nullity of the marriage. No date for marriage can be given until freedom to marry has been documented and approved by the Archbishop’s office.
d) Parental Consent
Parents (or guardians) must be consulted if one of the persons to be married is under 21 years of age.
7 Spiritual Preparation :
It is earnestly recommended that the couple prepare themselves for marriage spiritually through prayer, scriptural meditation, regular participation at Sunday Mass and reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).
8 Interfaith Marriages :
Marriage between a Catholic and non-Catholic or an un-baptized person is celebrated without Mass. This allows both parties to participate fully in the Marriage Rites along with their family and friends.
9 Planning the Liturgy :
The couple is encouraged to make their marriage celebration personal by planning the ceremony with the presiding priest. The couple will be given the opportunity to choose a number of prescribed scriptural passages, prayers and blessings. At the end of the parish marriage preparation course the couple will be given a booklet to help them make these choices. The selections will then be finalized with the parish priest at the second interview.
a) Lector’s (Readers)
The couple may choose a mature person to proclaim the first and second readings, as well as the prayers for the faithful. The readers should be baptized Christians and be able to proclaim the readings clearly and devoutly.
b) Altar Servers
St. Justin’s usually provides servers for a wedding mass. However, if a couple has a relative they would like to serve at the wedding, the parish priest should be consulted in advance. The standard offering for a parish server is $20.00.
c) Music
Music is an important part of the wedding celebration. It should reflect the sacredness of the celebration. For this reason secular songs or show tunes are not allowed in a wedding ceremony. It is the responsibility of the couple to review music selections with the priest celebrating the wedding. Each musician will charge a fee on an individual basis. A list of musicians is available through the parish office.
d) Flowers
Flowers for the wedding are the sole responsibility of the bridal party. When there is more than one wedding on the same day, the parties concerned may wish to contact each other about the possibility of sharing expenses. Please keep the floral arrangements simple. NO FLORAL ARCHES OR LARGE FLORAL CANDLE STANDS OR UNITY CANDLES allowed since they tend to block the view of the congregation and distract from the solemnity of the liturgy.
Flowers for the church (normally the flowers in front of the altar) are considered an offering in thanksgiving for what God has given and should not be removed following the wedding.
e) White Runner
No runners are allowed (regardless of their material) due to insurance restrictions.
f) Photographer and Videographer
The photographer should be unobtrusive and as inconspicuous as possible. At the very least, the photographer should check with the priest 10 minutes before the ceremony for any guidelines and restrictions.
The videographer is to remain in a fixed position during the ceremony. They may move about only at the opening and closing processions. NO BRIGHT LIGHTS OR EXTRA LIGHT STANDS ALLOWED.
g) Confetti
The use of rice or confetti is forbidden in the church or on the church grounds.
h) Suggested Church Offering
The suggested wedding offerings are as follows
- The church offering is $350.00
- The offering for the altar server is $20.00
These offerings should be placed in separate envelopes and given to the priest on the night of the wedding rehearsal, along with the Music Directors fee. Unfortunately the government will not allow these offerings as tax deductions so we cannot issue income tax receipts for them.
i) Parish Hall
The parish hall at St. Justin Martyr is not available for rent.
CONCLUSION :
We trust that these guidelines will aid you in planning your wedding. May the time between now and your wedding day be used to ask God’s blessing on your newly-chosen vocation. May your wedding day be one of peace, joy and happiness.