Marriage and Marriage Preparation Information
Congratulations on your up-coming Wedding! The Sacrament of Marriage, as with all sacraments, is an action of God, expressed in the context of the faith community. For this reason, it is our policy that weddings scheduled at Blessed Sacrament Church are for parishioners and their family members. Parishioners are those that have been registered with and attend mass at Blessed Sacrament Church. This is necessary to fulfill some of the requirements of Canon Law pertaining to this sacrament. Weddings dates are reserved for parishioners on a first come, first served basis. Weddings are scheduled for Saturdays, but not during the seasons of Advent and Lent or on Holy Saturday. The Archdiocesan policy requires that couples approach the church to begin their marriage preparation process at least one (1) year in Advance. This is also our policy at Blessed Sacrament Church. During this time, there are three programs that the couples are involved with: The FOCCUSS (inventory to help couples recognize the strengths and weaknesses of their current relationship and to plan realistically for the future), God’s Plan for a Joy- filled Marriage (an archdiocesan program) and Natural Family Planning. These last two programs are scheduled through the Archdiocesan Marriage and Family Life office. These courses will be explained at the first meeting with the pastor as will be an overview of the Sacrament of Marriage, filling out some of the necessary papers for this sacrament and scheduling the couple who will be administering the FOCCUSS. This is the time when many of the couple’s questions are addressed. It is at this time also that the church can be reserved for the date of the marriage, however all the programs, paper work, and necessary documents must be completed by that date. The couple will receive a book to help them plan their marriage ceremony. It is important that the Catholic partner(s) send away for a recent copy of their baptismal certificate (dated around the time of the first meeting). Fees are also discussed at this first meeting. Weddings are celebrated on Saturdays at Blessed Sacrament at the following times: Rehearsals are scheduled on Friday at 5:30pm. The parish has its own cantor and organist. The cantor (music director) will assist the couple in their selection of music appropriate to this sacrament. The parish also has a wedding coordinator. She will assist the couple in their wedding plans as well as assist at the rehearsal and during the wedding ceremony. If an outside musician is used, please clear your choices with the music director or pastor. An outside musician is expected to call the parish director to clear the use of the organ, keyboard and sound system. Any person considering marriage for the second time must complete the archdiocesan requirements for an annulment. This pertains to either or both of the parties even if one of them is not Catholic. Archdiocesan law prohibits the scheduling of a wedding until the annulment procedure is completed and the annulment is granted. The pastor will be more than willing to assist in this process. After the couple has filled out the book to assist them with planning their marriage ceremony, they will set up a meeting with the pastor to go over their wedding ceremony details. A nuptial mass is the usual form of celebration for the Sacrament of Marriage between two Catholics. A marriage between a Catholic and a baptized Christian (or an unbaptized person) is celebrated outside of mass. The couple may have a priest who is a friend of the family come in as the celebrant. There is no problem with this situation. Please email the parish office or call us at 303.355.7361 to schedule your first meeting.
