Marriage Preparation Guidelines Immaculate Conception Church North Easton, Massachusetts
Congratulations on your recent engagement!
As your parish community, we rejoice with you and pledge to you our prayers and support. As Catholics, we believe that marriage is a sacred covenant, and as such, is a sacrament; a visible sign of Christ’s presence which empowers us with His grace. In the living out of this sacrament, God’s love is present in our world.
Of all the many preparations which you will make over these months prior to the wedding, none is more significant than your spiritual preparation. Please make time to pray together by coming to Mass each week and for those who are Catholic, to avail yourselves to the sacramental life of the church. During our time together we will discuss not only the details of the wedding, but, more importantly, we will assist you to prepare for your life together as husband and wife.
A wedding is a day; a marriage is a lifetime.
The slogan above, a familiar refrain in the Marriage Preparation programs, is short but it speaks volumes. A wedding and a marriage are not the same thing. Your family and all the other people who have nurtured you in love, if given a choice, would want for you a happy and fulfilling marriage rather than the picture perfect wedding day. This is also the wish of the pastoral team and the people of Immaculate Conception Parish. The celebration of this holy sacrament of Marriage on your wedding day should be the start of a happy and holy life together. We offer you all the resources of this family of faith. Our goal is that you and the whole congregation you will bring together will experience a memorable time of worship and prayer.
The steps for marriage preparation at Immaculate Conception Parish are based on the guidelines issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River.
Who can be married at Immaculate Conception Church?
Both the bride and the groom must be free to marry in the Catholic Church according to the church’s practice. This also includes a non-Catholic person or an unbaptized person.
At least one of the parties must be a practicing Catholic, and, must reside in the parish or be currently registered as a parishioner. Other couples may need to obtain permission from the pastor of the parish in which they reside.
If there exists a prior marriage for one or both of the parties, please contact the pastor for more information.
Step 1: Initial Appointment:
At least 8 months before the wedding, the bride and groom themselves should make an appointment with the pastor. At this first appointment the date will be arranged in the parish calendar and the necessary documentation will begin. No dates will be discussed or arranged over the phone or by e-mails. Nor will arrangements be discussed via third parties.
The following documents are required to complete the pre-marriage questionnaire.
A recently issued Baptism and Confirmation record for both parties. These are only issued by the parish at which the sacraments were celebrated. They must be dated close to the date of the initial meeting and must include the embossed seal of the parish. To locate records of churches which may have been merged or closed, call the Immaculate Conception parish office.
If there is one party who is baptized but not Roman Catholic, he/she must submit a Certificate of Baptism or Christening issued by the church where the sacrament was celebrated.
If one party is unbaptized, procedures will be discussed at the initial meeting.
At this initial appointment, you will also be provided with an information packet containing:
Ceremony Preparation Booklet - "Together for Life" by Fr. Joseph Champlin
Marriage preparation requirements for the Diocese of Fall River.
While many couples already have a particular date in mind, please remember that no firm commitments to other venues should be made until after this first meeting. Because of the schedule of parish Masses and other events, weddings are scheduled at the following times;
Friday: afternoon/evening
Saturday: 11am – 1pm
Sunday: 2 pm – 4 pm (Sunday weddings may require the use of specific scripture readings and other prayers determined by the church’s liturgical practice).
A couple where both parties are Catholic generally will be married at a Nuptial Mass. A marriage of a Catholic and someone of another faith tradition may celebrate the Rite of Marriage outside of Mass.
After this initial meeting, the process of preparation will involve several meetings to deepen a couple’s understanding of the sacrament as well as to deepen their knowledge of each other.
To schedule an appointment, call the parish office at 508-238-3232 ext. 307
Step 2: FOCCUS process
(Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study.)
This process is required by the Diocese of Fall River for all couples. It is a self-diagnostic inventory designed to help couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship. The FOCCUS survery is completed on-line. For this purpose, the bride and groom must provide separate email addresses which our office uses to set up a couple's log-in access. You will receive an email with all the information you need to login and complete the survey.
Remember: The survey must be completed individually and alone. Discussing the survey invalidates it. There is a fee per couple to process the scoring of the results, payable at the login process.
Step 3: FOCCUS follow-up The results will be sent to the pastor's email, which you must provide in your logon information. When Father receives the information, you will be contacted to make an appointment to review the results.
Step 4: Sacramental Certificates Catholics are asked to provide a Baptism Certificate with notations from your church of baptism, dated within 6 months of your initial meeting with the Parish Priest. Non-Catholics, who are baptized, are asked to provide a photocopy of their baptismal certificate.
Step 5: Marriage preparation program
There are several programs to choose from which are sponsored by the parish and/or the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation. You can register for the marriage preparation program by going to the website of the Diocese of Fall River. Click on the link at the upper left of this page. Once in this website, click on the "Marriage" tab. After completing the program, please provide our Parish with a copy of the Certificate of Completion.
Step 6: Meeting with the pastor
Soon after your participation in one of the Marriage Preparation Programs, you should contact the pastor. At this time, you will be invited to discuss your participation in the program you attended. Also, we will then begin discussion about the wedding ceremony using the booklet given to you at the initial meeting, “Together for Life” by Joseph Champlin, published by Ave Maria Press.
Step 7: Marriage License Couples are required to apply in person to ANY town or city hall in Massachusetts. The license is valid for 60 days, therefore, please do not apply too early as it may expire prior to the wedding date. There is a 3-day waiting period before the license can be issued. The marriage license must be provide to the Parish office at least one-week prior to the wedding.
Step 8: Music All liturgical celebrations in our Parish require the use of our Music Director. Please contact our Music Director, Mashall Connolly, at 774-218-0049 as soon as you set your date. Marshall will make arrangements to meet with you to discuss and plan your wedding music, including the possibility of other musicians or soloists. Please pay fees directly to Marshall and outside musicians and/or soloists.
Step 9: Rehearsal
The rehearsal is directed by the priest. If you have hired a private wedding planner, please notify them that, at the church, our wedding coordinator is responsible for all details of the rehearsal and the ceremony. Generally, the rehearsal is scheduled one or two nights before the wedding.
Please be on time.
All involved in the wedding party should attend the rehearsal.
Readers should be prepared to rehearse the selections.
Decide who will seat the mother and father of the bride and groom.
Decide how your attendants will eb coupled and walk down the aisle.
Step 10: Sacrament of Reconciliation Please give consideration to receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) prior to your wedding. This sacrament will allow you to review your past as a single person and reflect on the new opportunities your married life will give you to know, love and serve the Lord as a couple. This Sacrament is available on Staurday mornings at 9am or by appointment.
Step 11: Your Wedding Day!! This is the day you have been waiting for. We are looking forward to celebrate this joyful day with you and your family and friends.
Donation to the Church: The suggested donation to the parish is $350. Please make your check payable to Immaculate Conception Church and send to the Parish office as soon as you reserve your date. This will serve as confirmation fo your wedding date. An honorarium for the priest is appreciated and may be made separately from the donation to the Church at the rehearsal or day of your wedding.
Other items:
Flowers and decorations: It is customary, although not required, for the wedding party to provide flowers for the sanctuary. It is appropriate that flowers used to adorn the sanctuary should remain in the church following the wedding ceremony. During some seasons, particularly the Easter or Christmas seasons, the church is already extensively decorated and no additional flowers are needed. Seasonal decorations in the church will not be re-arranged, changed or removed under any circumstances. Please plan your decorations accordingly. If your florist has never worked at Immaculate Conception Church before, he/she should contact us to know what is approved. Decorations may not be placed on the altar, nor should any standing arrangements impede free movement around the altar. Decorations on the pews must be attached only with materials that will not mar or damage the pews or the finish. No adhesives, tape, metal, or tacks are permitted.
Aisle Runner: Please do not use an aisle runner. They constitute a safety hazard for the congregation.
Wedding favors/rice throwing: Throwing of rice, bird-seed, confetti, or any other substances inside or outside the church is prohibited. Distribution of wedding favors should be reserved for the reception.
Photographer/Videographer: The photographer or videographer is required to introduce himself/herself to the celebrant upon arrival to the church. Protocols will be explained at that time.
If there are any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact the rectory at 508-238-3232, or [email protected].