1150 West Centre Ave., Portage, Michigan 49024

269.327.5165 www.stcatherinesiena.org

Planning for

Holy Matrimony

Guidelines for Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage

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Introduction………………………………………………………………..3

Marriage Preparation……………………………………………...3-5

Planning the wedding……………………………………………….6-7

The Church Environment.…………………………………...……..8

Scripture & Music Selection………….………………………...9

Professional services ……………………………………….…….10

Other considerations……………………………………………….11

Couple Timeline for marriage preparation …………….12

Table of Contents

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We congratulate you on your decision to join with each other in the Sacrament of Marriage. This is a major decision, and we promise our support and our prayers for you both.

Marriage preparation takes place with the engaged couple, parish clergy, and lay parishioners. We entreat you to spend time in preparation because we value marriage and family so highly. We want your marital relationship to be full, holy, and live-giving. This sacrament doesn’t happen only on your wedding day, but is lived out every day.

To begin preparation, please contact Marianne Verner, our office supervisor, who will assist you and answer your questions. Later in the process, a wedding assistant will help plan the ceremony itself.

Tricia Tetzlaff, our Director of Music Ministry, is available to discuss music for weddings. Call her at 269-978-2333 to set up an appointment.

Couples are asked to participate in a pre-marital retreat. The Joy-Filled Marriage Weekend is offered through the Diocese of Kalamazoo. To obtain a current schedule, contact Socorro Truchan at 269-903-0199 or go to diokzoo.org/marriage-preparation.org

Introduction

Marriage Preparation

Paperwork

All couples must meet with the priest or his representative to determine their freedom

to marry before a wedding date can be reserved.

A Pre-Nuptial Investigation must be completed. It is a questionnaire concerning

freedom to marry and the understanding of marriage.

Baptismal certificates issued in the last 6 months, with notations, from the church of baptism are required. In mixed-faith marriages the Catholic will sign a form stating

their intention to maintain his/her faith and to share that faith with his/her children. The form requests the Bishop’s permission for a mixed faith marriage.

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Marriage Preparation

(Continued)

Marriage Preparation Courses

There are tools that help add richness to your relationship and marriage

preparation. Couples preparing for marriage at St. Catherine complete the

following steps:

FOCCUS is an online survey completed by each person through a personal email provided by bride and groom. The couple registers online and the first person to

sign on the FOCCUS (www.foccusinc.com ) will pay the $20.00 registration fee.

When the completed results are ready, the couple will be called to schedule their appointments with the priest or his representative for discussion. The couple

should plan on at least 5 meetings for preparation with the priest.

Discuss with the priest performing your marriage prep about which options are

available that best fit you as a couple.

Weekend Seminar - Our couples are asked

to participate in a Joy-Filled Marriage

weekend seminar. JFM weekends in 2020

January 25-26 March 28-29

May 30-31 September 19-20

November 21-22

Couples register at a cost of $130.00 for online classes or a weekend through the

Diocese of Kalamazoo. Contact Socorro Truchan (269-903-0199 or STruchan@diokzoo.org) or visit https://www.diokzoo.org/marriage-preparation for

more details.

Couples need to attend the Natural Family Planning one-day introduction class

through the Diocese of Kalamazoo. An online class option is also available. Contact

Socorro Truchan (269-903-0199 or STruchan@diokzoo.org) for more details.

Or log on to www.diokzoo.org and search under Diocesan Marriage Prep Process.

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Marriage Preparation

Facilities

St Catherine of Siena parish offers the use of church facilities for weddings to Catholic

couples if they meet the following qualifications:

Bride and/or groom is a registered adult member of St. Catherine’s for at least 6 months

prior to reserving the wedding date

OR

Bride’s and/or groom’s parents or grandparents are active members of St. Catherine’s

Parish.

Ministers for the Celebration

Ordinarily, a parish priest or deacon presides at the wedding. With the permission of

the pastor, the couple may invite a guest priest or deacon to preside. For priests from

outside the Kalamazoo Diocese, permission must be obtained from the bishop and the

pastor. We will help you arrange this. This arrangement should be made as early as

possible to allow for appropriate civil and ecclesial delegation. Visiting priests are to

observe church law and follow parish policies regarding weddings. In the case of

interfaith marriages, there are a number of options for involving clergy from both

faiths.

Readers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may be selected by the

couple in accordance with Church guidelines. You may use altar servers at weddings

celebrated within the Mass.

(Continued)

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Planning the Wedding

Indoor/outdoor ceremony

In the Diocese of Kalamazoo, marriages must take place in a parish church.

Weddings are not permitted in homes, gardens, parks, etc.

Church Hours and Wedding Dates

The policy of the Diocese of Kalamazoo is that Saturday weddings may begin no later

than 2 pm. Weddings are not scheduled on Sundays. Weddings also may be

celebrated on a Friday evening or another weekday or evening. There are some times

in the church year when the liturgical calendar discourages or prohibits the

celebration of weddings. For example, the season of Lent is a penitential season and

that spirit affects all parish liturgies between Ash Wednesday and Easter.

Wedding Assistant

St. Catherine’s requires the use of one of our assistants for all weddings. They will be

present and direct the rehearsal, and provide assistance before, during, and after the

ceremony. They will assist you by helping in any way so the ceremony runs

smoothly. This includes answering questions, organizing the order of the procession,

handling emergencies, and anything else that arises.

Wedding Rehearsal

If your family and wedding party would like to have the priest available for

confessions at the rehearsal please notify the wedding assistant.

Normally, the evening before the wedding there is a rehearsal for all members of the

wedding party as well as readers and servers (if they are selected by the couple.) The

rehearsal is directed by the wedding assistant. All members should arrive ten

minutes before the rehearsal is scheduled to begin. Rehearsals begin on time and are

limited to one hour in length.

Reminder: no alcoholic beverages or smoking are allowed in the church and behavior

appropriate for church is expected of everyone present.

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Stipends and fees

St. Catherine of Siena Church offers the use of church facilities for weddings to

Catholic couples if they meet qualifications (see page 5).

If the couple has no immediate family connection (parent/grandparents) or if neither

the bride or groom have been members of St. Catherine’s six months prior to reserving the wedding date then there fee is $1,500.00 which is paid when securing the church

for the wedding date. Along with a $300.00 preparation fee.

Planning the Wedding

All couples are responsible for the payment of the following fees:

Wedding Assistant $150.00

Sacristan/Assistant Helper $75.00

Server (celebration within Mass) $25.00

Materials, postage & miscellaneous expenses $50.00

Stipends are to be paid by check or money order made payable to each recipient

(labeled envelopes are provided in your Wedding Planning folder) and are due in the

parish office 14 days prior to wedding rehearsal.

One check made out to St. Catherine for the Presider and Musician

Presider (current average honorarium) $150.00

Musician Fees $300.00

Instrumentalist/Soloist (optional) Additional fees (Varies)

Marriage License

Bring all copies of the license and the return envelope due to the parish office by the

Monday prior to wedding rehearsal.

(Continued)

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The Church Environment

Environment

Your wedding assistant will help you to create a beautiful environment for your

celebration. Your assistant has the expertise to be mindful of the sanctity of the

sacrament of marriage and the church surroundings.

The environment within the church changes periodically, depending upon the

church season. This décor remains during weddings, although some adaptations

may be permitted. The narthex displays/tables may not be moved without

permission.

Runners are NOT allowed (people slip and fall). The wedding assistant will obtain

approval for additional decorations from the Director of Music Ministry or the

Director of Liturgy.

You may decorate before the rehearsal or on the wedding day (depending on other

events scheduled in the church). The parish has some items available for use,

such as aisle candles, a unity candle stand and holders. Please contact your

wedding assistant for more information.

Facilities

The Church may be used from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm for a Saturday wedding. If it

is a Friday wedding typically the wedding starts at 6:00 pm the church can be

used till 8:00 pm. Plans for taking pictures should be made accordingly.

Preparation rooms are available for dressing and must be cleaned and vacated

immediately after the wedding. A member of the wedding party will be assigned by

the wedding assistant to clean up. No alcohol or smoking is allowed in the

building. Sanctuary furnishings are not to be moved. All rented items, such as

candelabras, must be removed immediately after the wedding.

Musical instruments are for the use of the wedding musicians only. For safety

and for environmental reasons no rice, birdseed, confetti or any other items may

be used inside the building. Outside, only dried flower petals may be thrown and

bubbles may be used. No balloons may be released outside.

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Scripture & Music Selection

Liturgy and Music

As a couple, you are invited to select scripture readings and music that express

your love and commitment.

Catholic liturgy is expressed in signs, symbols, gestures, words, and music. It is

sacred and communal. In weddings, the prayerful rejoicing in the couple’s loving

exchange of vows is a symbol of God’s relationship with his people.

Prayers and music are chosen in consultation with the Pastoral Associate of Music

Ministry. To assist your planning, you will be provided with a worksheet. An

appointment should be made with the associate three months prior to the wedding,

preferably after meeting with the clergyman. The readings are chosen in

consultation with the presider. You may also include special liturgical elements

such as family/ethnic traditions after discussing them with the presider.

Liturgical music serves two functions. At times it accompanies a ritual action such

as a procession. At other times the music is the ritual action, calling for

participation by all present, such as the singing of the Psalm. It must follow general

church and diocesan guidelines for music in liturgy. The Associate will also prepare

the program for the ceremony. Sample programs are available by request. You can

reach Tricia Tetzlaff at 978-2333 or email her at ttetzlaff@stcatherinesiena.org

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Professional Services

Florist

Please check with the wedding assistant regarding the time and place of your flower

delivery because other scheduled activities may require special arrangements.

Decorating may take place the hour before the wedding. Flowers may be placed

around the altar, but never on it, nor should they hide the altar, or hinder movement

around it. Flower arrangements should not harm church furniture (e.g., no wire,

sticky tape). Nor should they ever be placed on the piano.

Photographers and Videographers

Because your wedding ceremony is primarily a spiritual experience, we know you

want only the very best recording of the event. Therefore, we strongly encourage you

to hire a photographer and/or videographer who has an understanding of the

meaning and tradition of the Catholic Church. This will enhance the liturgy for you

as well as those whom you have invited to participate.

Please communicate the following information to your photographer and videographer:

We do not allow videographers to “plug into” our system for their audio. No one, other than St. Catherine staff, is allowed to touch the sound board. No exceptions . The sound board contains sophisticated equipment which could easily be upset in the

hands of strangers.

Posed pictures may be taken before or after but not during the wedding. The official

photographer may take pictures during the wedding as long as he/she remains on the

periphery and does not interfere in any way. No flash photography is allowed during

the liturgy. Videotaping is permitted provided the camera (s) remains unobtrusive. At

no time may the photographer or videographer enter the sanctuary (approach the

altar) or be situated in front of the congregation. No one may move any furniture in

the Church without specific permission from the priest or the wedding assistant.

All photographers and videographers must check in with the wedding assistant upon

arrival for your wedding. All equipment must be removed by 4:00 pm for a Saturday

wedding. For a Friday wedding equipment must be removed by 8:00 pm. The priest or

wedding assistant may bar any photographer from participating at St. Catherine’s if

these policies are not followed. Please present this information to your photographer

before the wedding so there will be no misunderstandings.

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Other Considerations

Unity Candle

Some couples choose to use the symbol of lighting a unity candle during their

wedding ceremony. The couple by exchange of their vows, and the blessing and

exchange of their rings, stand as a symbol of unity between Christ and His

Church. However, it is not part of the liturgical tradition and a more appropriate

use of the unity candle may be at the wedding reception.

Flowers to Mary

If a couple wishes to observe the pious custom of seeking the intercession of Our

Lady, it normally occurs at the end of the ceremony but before the final blessing.

The couple may place flowers by the sculpture of the Holy Family and spend a

few moments in prayer. Discuss this with your wedding assistant.

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Couple Timeline for Marriage Preparation Please keep your information updated as you complete the items below.)

Name_____________________________________ Name_______________________________________ Groom Bride

Witness Names

Male______________________________________ Female_____________________________________

_____ Baptismal Certificates (with notations) requested within the last six months. Send to: St. Catherine of Siena Church • 1150 West Centre Avenue, Portage, MI 49024 ATTN: Marianne Verner, Office Supervisor

_____ Witness Affidavits (as needed) signed and witnessed Groom ____ Bride _____

_____ FOCCUS registration paper and return to clergyman or Marianne Verner, Office

Supervisor mverner@stcatherinesiena.org. _____ FOCCUS survey online. Then make an appointment with presiding clergyman or lay

facilitator couple.

_____ Desert Streams counseling -- if recommended by the priest or deacon.

_____ Natural Family Planning Seminar (required) — schedule through the Diocese of

Kalamazoo www.diokzoo.org or contact Socorro Truchan 269-903-0199 or STruchan@diokzoo.org for more details.

_____ Marriage Preparation Class “Joy Filled Marriage” weekend seminar (required) schedule through the Diocese of Kalamazoo www.diokzoo.org Contact Socorro Truchan 269-903-0199 or STruchan@diokzoo.org for more details.

_____ Ceremony planned with priest or deacon. Selection of prayers, Scripture readings

and other planning is completed at least one month prior to the wedding date. _____ Meeting with Tricia Tetzlaff, Pastoral Associate for Music Ministry, to discuss music

after wedding is set. Email her at ttetzlaff@stcatherinesiena.org.

_____ Meeting with the wedding assistant three months prior to wedding date.

_____ Names, address, and phone number of any other ministers and institutions

involved with the wedding, and letters of permission obtained by the clergy. _____ Marriage license brought to parish office 14 days prior to marriage (please include

witness names in legible writing).

_____ Wedding stipends paid by money order or check to each individual recipient and are due to parish office 14 days prior to marriage.

Updated March 2020