WEDDINGS: Corpus Christi Parish, Sandwich&Sagamore, MA, Cape Cod

Wedding Guidelines

Dear Engaged Couple:

Congratulations on your decision to get married. We share your joy as you prepare to celebrate this Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in which you will share in the unity and love of Jesus Christ and His Church. Your marriage in the Church is a sacred moment; a moment at which the grace of God will assist you in deepening your commitment to each other in Christ. We are pleased to assist you in preparing for this lifetime commitment, and this sacrament which is not only a visible sign of God’s invisible blessings, but a special communication of His Grace in your lives.

At Corpus Christi, great care is taken to see that the prayers for your special moment are reverent, graceful and memorable. Our celebrations of each sacrament, including marriage, are always rooted in listening to God’s word in the Sacred Scriptures from which we draw spiritual nourishment. We always celebrate as a community, and we invite our brothers and sisters in faith to join us, and ask for their prayerful support.

Corpus Christi Parish provides the following guidelines for celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in our Church.

General Guidelines:
It is presumed that the bride or the groom is a registered member of Corpus Christi Parish/St. Theresa Chapel, and the Catholic parties are practicing the faith. It would be our hope that Catholics are faithful to the weekly celebration of the Eucharist.
We at Corpus Christi, due to high volume, request that you contact our parish office eight months prior to the wedding date. The couple who intend to wed, should expect to meet with the priest or deacon several times prior to marriage.
The couple will be required to take part in the Marriage Preparation Program of the Diocese of Fall River, as a part of their spiritual and human development in preparation for marriage. Those who live outside of the Diocese of Fall River will need to submit proof upon completion, if the Preparation program is completed outside of the Diocese. Those whose residence is outside of the Diocese of Fall River will need to seek the proper permission to marry here at Corpus Christi. The officiating priest or deacon will help the couple in determining what must be done.

Music: Every communal celebration of faith, including weddings, should include music and singing. Arrangements should be made six months prior to your wedding to meet with our Music Director and select the music for your ceremony. Selections must be musical, liturgical, and an expression of faith which fit the occasion. Our Music Director will review all selections to determine their acceptability for your ceremony, and is available to make suggestions in accordance with the Diocesan guidelines. All music is provided by the Director of Music Ministries of the Parish. If outside musicians and/or singers is desired, please contact our Director at 508.888.0209.
Please note that pre-recorded music is not permitted!

Flowers, Decorations and Customs: You may wish to provide flowers for the sanctuary for your wedding, although it is not required that you do so. It is never possible to place flowers directly on the altar. It is possible to place bows and/or flowers on the pews, if you so desire, only ribbons and elastic bands may be used to fasten the decorations. Adhesive tape or anything that might damage the pews is strictly prohibited. A runner may not be placed in center isle of the Church for safety issues. Likewise, the use of the “unity candle”is not allowed during the wedding ceremony as it is not a part of the rite. The throwing of rice, confetti and/or bird seed at the end of the ceremony is not allowed. Bubbles may only be blown outside of the Church building.

Time of Celebration of Marriage: Weddings are usually scheduled on Friday evenings and between the hours of 10AM and 2PM on Saturdays. A Saturday evening (after 6PM) or Sunday afternoon (after 2PM) wedding can be scheduled at the discretion of the priest or deacon who will be presiding.
Photographers/Video: Most couples like to have a photographic remembrance of their wedding. As a matter of courtesy, the photographer/videographer should speak with the wedding coordinator prior to the ceremony and abide by the parish guidelines. As regards video-recording, we ask that only available light be used.

Offering to the Church: It is customary to make an offering to the Church on the occasion of a marriage in support of its wider mission. It is suggested that the offering be proportionate to the emphasis and expense placed on the other aspects of the wedding, since the availability of the Church and her ministers is possible only through the great sacrifices of her parishioners. To this end, the requested donation for registered parishioners is left to the discretion of the parties involved. For those who are not registered parishioners, the requested donation is $500. There are various fees for the director of music, the wedding coordinator and the altar servers. There are also added items such as the wall candles at the anointing plaques which can be utilized for an additional offering. If the couple wishes, a donation may also be made to the officiating priest or deacon.

Other Priests and Ministers: If you have a relative or a close friend who is a bishop, priest or deacon, and you want to invite this person to witness your marriage, you are most welcome to do so. Please discuss this with the parish priest/deacon so that the necessary permissions, both legal and ecclesiastical might be obtained.
If one of the parties is a non-Catholic and would like his/her minister to be present for an ecumenical service, please arrange this with the priest who is preparing you for marriage.

Planning Your Wedding Ceremony: During the course of your marriage preparation with the priest or deacon, you will be given a booklet to assist you in preparing for your marriage ceremony. There is, with this booklet, a form in which you might indicate your choices for the various prayers and readings. You are encouraged to invite members of your family and friends to assist in the reading of scripture at the wedding ceremony.
Rehearsal: The wedding coordinator will schedule and direct your wedding rehearsal. In addition to the wedding party, those who will be readers and those who will present the gifts should be in attendance at the rehearsal.
We ask that all be present at the wedding rehearsal, and that they be on time, as other rehearsals could very well follow your rehearsal.

Marriage License: it is preferable that the marriage license be presented to the officiant one week prior to the wedding.

Checklist of things that you will need:
•   Baptism Certificate for both the bride and groom. Please note that the Certificate of Baptism must have been issued within six months of the date of marriage.
•   Arrangements to attend one of the Marriage Preparation Programs offered by the Diocese of Fall River (or another suitable pre-Cana Program outside of the Diocese.)
•   Marriage license.
•   Enroll in a parish after marriage. Since you will be a new family after your wedding, it will be your responsibility to register in the parish where you will be living, whether it is Corpus Christi or another parish.

It is our desire to make your special day memorable and indeed a celebration. To this end, we at Corpus Christi Parish, avail ourselves to you in making decisions and preparations for your wedding day. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the parish office, Monday through Friday, 9:30AM-12:30PM and from 1:00PM until 4:30PM at 508.888.0209

We know that all of us need God’s blessings at all times; at the time of their engagement to be married, Christians are in particular need of Grace as they prepare themselves to form a new family. We pray, then, for God’s blessings to come upon you, our brother and sister: that as you await the day of your wedding, you will grow in mutual respect and in your love for one another; that through your companionship and prayer together, you will prepare yourselves for marriage.

Parish Office 508-888-0209 pastor@corpuschristiparish.org

Parish Office
508-888-0209
pastor@corpuschristiparish.org