Marriage
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Together you have decided to begin a great journey of love. The Catholic community of Watertown rejoices with you and your families and friends on your decision to be married in the Church. The contents of this pamphlet have been designed to help you prepare for the celebration of your wedding. Please feel free to call on us at any time if you have any questions. After you are married and settled in your new home, we urge you to seek out the parish where you live. Introduce yourselves to the staff of the parish, register as parishioners, and most importantly, be active in your parish. Our prayers and best wishes are with you on this journey. Peace!
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Preparation
Many people will be involved with your preparation for this happy occasion. Each will have something important to offer. All are motivated by a single desire, to prepare you for the mystery and reality of Holy Matrimony. In addition to meeting with one of the priests, you will be required to take part in a marriage preparation program – sometimes called "Pre-Cana." These programs are offered in various formats in many locations throughout the Archdiocese of Boston during the year. The Parish Office will help you to find one that is suitable for you. Also contact the Family Life Office of the Archdiocese: www.bostoncatholic.org/FamilyLife. Also Espousal Retreat Center in Waltham and the Paulist Center in Boston.
In preparation for your wedding liturgy, you will work with the priest to choose readings and prayers that are appropriate for the wedding liturgy. Our Collaborative Music Director, Patrice Buckley, will assist you in choosing music which will enhance your wedding liturgy. Please call the office for information as soon as you have secured a date and time for your wedding.
Our collaborative priests will preside at your wedding; however, visiting priests and deacons are also welcome. Please ask them to contact us. If the priest or deacon lives outside of Massachusetts, he must obtain special permission from the State House.
Our parishes provides the services of a Wedding Coordinator, Annette Clark. She will conduct the wedding rehearsal and be with you at the church on the day of your wedding. She will ensure that everything is set up as you want and helps organize the procession.
Please call Annette and schedule your rehearsal after you have met with one of our priests and have confirmed your wedding date and time.
If your address or telephone numbers change during the time of your engagement, please notify the Collaborative Office so that you will receive all updated information.
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The Celebration
Since the celebration of marriage is an event for the entire church, and especially for our parish community, the liturgical celebration will express the faith of the Catholic Church and the local customs of the parish. The choice of prayers, readings, exchange of consent, and exchange of rings, nuptial blessing, and the homily all express this same faith.
Music
Music chosen for the wedding should express the faith of the church. It should be appropriate for a liturgical celebration.In order to be sure that your wedding is a beautiful celebration of the faith, our Collaborative Music Director, Patrice Buckley, will offer suggestions and guidance. If you wish to engage other musicians, please contact us, as soon as possible, to make these arrangements. Please understand that the request for family members or friends to provide music, however well intentioned, can create problems – especially if the person is not professionally trained. Please consult the Collaborative Office before any such requests are made.Readings
The Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Word consists of three readings: one from the Old Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures), one from the New Testament, and one from the Gospels. You may choose any reading from these three options. The Church as suggested readings which you will find in your "Together for Life" booklet which is given at the first meeting with the priest or the deacon. Again, these are only suggested, and any reading from the Scriptures can be chosen.- Choosing Readers: A couple is encouraged to invite two people to do the first two readings. That choice is up to the couple and can be anyone. Our only suggestion is that you are confident that the persons you choose can read well in public and will not be too nervous.
- Prayers of the Faithful: It is also fine to have someone read the Prayers of the Faithful. Please inform the priest of your choice and he will work out the details with you.
Photographs. You are welcome to have a professional photographer and a professional videographer at your wedding. We ask that the photographers speak with the priest prior to the ceremony for local parish guidelines.
Donation Offering
The suggested donation to the Parish is $700.00. It covers the cost of the Music, Wedding Coordinator and Parish expenses. Please make out the check to Sacred Heart or Saint Patrick Parish. Thank you.ALSO, it is customary to give a small stipend to the altar servers; we suggest $20.00 each placed in separate envelopes.
FLOWERS
You are free to purchase flowers for the church, if you so desire. At certain times of the year, the church is specially decorated and no more flowers would be needed, i.e., Christmas and Easter. Please make arrangements to have all pew decorations removed immediately following your ceremony. Flowers should remain on the altar. We do request that no flowers or petals be strewn in the aisles; it is a serious slipping hazard, as well as very difficult to clean up before the next event. If there is more than one wedding on the same day, we encourage you to join together in purchasing flowers, etc. This will enable you to save some money. Aisle runners have become a tripping hazard and are prohibited.The tossing of flowers, confetti, rice, or birdseed is strictly prohibited both inside and outside of the church. Again, this is a slipping hazard and very difficult to clean before our next event.
The celebration must start on time. Depending on the Mass schedule of the parish, time is often limited, so we ask that you please keep this in mind when arriving at the church. Being late is not only rude to your guests and others involved with your celebration, but can cause problems with services scheduled after your wedding.
The consumption of any alcoholic beverages inside or outside of the church is not appropriate and is against public drinking laws in Massachusetts.
LICENSE
Each couple married in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is required to obtain a marriage license. One month before the ceremony go together to the clerk in any city or town hall in the state and explain that you are applying for a marriage license. You will need a picture identification. This license must be brought to your wedding rehearsal.REHEARSAL
Rehearsals are usually scheduled the evening before the wedding. Other arrangements are fine and should be worked out with our Wedding Coordinator. We suggest having the rehearsal as early as possible.Please bring the following:
- Marriage license
- Donation offering for church and stipends for the altar servers
- List of grandparents and family members who have died, by name, to be noted in a special way in the Prayers of the Faithful.
- Also, you may note someone who is sick as well so the community prays for their health.
CHURCH INFORMATION ( for directions)
Saint Patrick Church
212 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
Sacred Heart Church
770 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472
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Order for the Program
Wedding Ceremony
Gathering Rite
Prelude
Attendants Processional
Processional
Opening PrayerLiturgy of the Word
First Reading
Responsorial Psalm (Sung)
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
HomilyCelebration of Marriage
Exchange of Wedding Vows
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
General Intercessions (Prayers of the Faithful)
The Lord' PrayerConcluding Rite
Final Blessing
RecessionalORDER FOR THE PROGRAM
Nuptial Mass
Gathering Rite
Prelude
Attendants Processional
Processional
Opening PrayerLiturgy of the Word
First Reading
Responsorial Psalm (Sung)
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
HomilyCelebration of Marriage
Exchange of Wedding Vows
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
General Intercessions (Prayers of the Faithful)Liturgy of the Eucharist
Preparation of the Gifts
Preparation Song (Hymn)
Holy, Holy
Memorial Acclamation
Amen
The Lord's Prayer
Nuptial Blessing (Optional)
Sign of Peace
Lamb of God
Communion HymnConcluding Rite
Final Blessing
Recessional
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