Marriage Preparation Guide

September 2000

Congratulations!

. . . on your recent engagement!

The St. Barbara's Parish Family extends its very best wishes to you upon the recent announcement of your engagement. The priests and people of this parish pledge their support to you as you begin to prepare for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
This page was produced to help you plan for your wedding. It identifies some of the things you will have to do so that your wedding day will be an enjoyable and happy experience for you, your families and your friends.
For more information, see the Marriage Preparation page of the Family Life Apostolate. It contains information on the WHYs, HOWs, WHENs, WHATs, and WHEREs of Marriage Preparation in the Archdiocese of Boston.

	Contents
	Take responsibility. Give yourselves time. Attend a Pre-Cana Program. Choose the officiant. Schedule the time. Consider a Nuptial Mass. Select your music. Pick your flowers. Do not litter. Don't forget these things. Go to rehearsal. Support your local parish. Invite a priest to dine. Ask questions.

Church	St. Barbara's Parish 138 Cambridge Road Woburn, MA 01801	933-4130
Pastor	Fr. Vin Mellone	e-mail address
Parochial Vicar	Fr. Tom Reilly
Secretary	Rita Coyne	e-mail address
Pre-Cana Program	Deacon Bill Kerns	e-mail address
Leader of Song	Dave Cronin	e-mail address
Organist	Kerry Flaherty	e-mail address

For your information . . .

1. Take responsibility.

All marriage arrangements at St. Barbara's are the personal responsibilities of the bride and groom.

2. Give yourselves time.

Archdiocesan guidelines direct that weddings be scheduled at least six months prior to the actual date of marriage. Please make an appointment with one of the parish priests as early as possible to reserve a date and time for your wedding. These arrangements should be made in person only, not by telephone.

3. Attend Pre-Cana Program.

Since it is important to prepare not only for your wedding day, but also for your married life, prospective brides and grooms will be asked to attend a Pre-Cana (marriage preparation) program. The parish priests and deacon will be happy to advise you as to the times, dates, locations and content of these programs. For detailed information on schedules and locations of Marriage Preparation classes, see the Marriage Preparation page of the Family Life Apostolate.

4. Choose the officiant.

Ordinarily, the priest who makes the arrangements with you will be the officiant at your wedding. If you wish to have a particular priest as officiant, you are certainly free to request him. Also, clergy from outside of the parish whom you want to perform your marriage are most welcome.
In the case of an Ecumenical Marriage, we recommend that a minister of the non-Catholic party be invited to participate with us in your wedding. If the clergyman is from outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, mention this to the priest making the arrangements and he will inform you of what steps must be taken for him to obtain delegation from the State.

5. Schedule the time.

Your wedding may be scheduled for any time of the week with the following qualifications:

A marriage ceremony or Nuptial Mass may be scheduled for Saturdays, only between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Sunday weddings may be scheduled in the afternoon with minor restrictions.

Weddings are scheduled allowing sufficient time for traffic to flow into and out of the parking area. Your promptness will ensure less confusion with parking arrangements on your day.

6. Consider a Nuptial Mass.

A Nuptial Mass is the best possible way of celebrating the beginning of your married life. We highly recommend this form of celebration to all engaged Catholics. Catholic brides and grooms should receive the sacrament of Reconciliation by going to confession before the wedding and the sacrament of the Eucharist at communion on the day of the wedding. As a special blessing at a Nuptial Mass, the bride and groom can receive the Eucharist under both species - Body and Blood.

7. Select your Music.

The music for your wedding is in the capable hands of our Organist. Vocalists are available through our Leader of Song. Both will be happy to meet with you and advise you in the choice of appropriate music.

8. Pick your flowers.

Flowers of your choice may be placed on and around the altar for your wedding. They are an expression of your devotion to the place where our Father will bless your union. You may extend this expression into the week by leaving the flowers on the altar after the wedding or by returning them after the reception. Couples who are being married on the same day may share the costs by using the same floral arrangements for each of their weddings. The procurement of a white carpet may be made through the florist.

9. Do not litter.

The use of rice or confetti of any kind either inside or outside the church is not allowed. In the past, it has taken hours to clean up after such a demonstration. Please notify your friends of this policy.

10. Don't forget these things.

When you first meet with the priest, he will set an approximate date for you to contact him and make arrangements to fill out the necessary papers. In preparation for this meeting, please obtain from the church(es) at which you received the sacraments:

a certified copy of your baptismal record dated within 6 months of your wedding,
a Confirmation certificate.

If you received either of these sacraments at St. Barbara's, please ensure that the record is on file. You do not need to obtain a copy.

11. Go to rehearsal.

You will be contacted by a married couple from St. Barbara's Marriage Preparation program to set a time for your rehearsal. There may be a number of rehearsals in the course of the evening (and the Marriage Prep couple may have other plans for that night), so please be prompt! Also, please bring to the rehearsal:

the marriage license,
your selection of prayers and readings for the service,
the offerings you want to make to the parish and the altar servers.

12. Support your local parish.

Two altar servers will be assigned to assist the priest at your wedding. The customary offering for them is $5 - $10 to each server. There is no fee for the celebrant. All offerings go to the support of the church. The archdiocesan recommended offering is $100. However, we trust that when couples realize how much they invest in other parts of their wedding day, they will be equally generous with their parish. Please make the offering payable to St. Barbara's Church, not to the individual priest. It is not a gratuity.

13. Invite a priest to dine.

If you want the priest to attend your reception, please send him an invitation. He will be happy to attend, if possible.

14. Ask questions.

If you have any questions, please contact one of the parish priests. Another good resource is the Marriage Preparation page of the Family Life Apostolate.

Church St. Barbara's Parish
138 Cambridge Road
Woburn, MA 01801 933-4130

Pastor Fr. Vin Mellone e-mail address

Parochial Vicar Fr. Tom Reilly

Secretary Rita Coyne e-mail address

Pre-Cana Program Deacon Bill Kerns e-mail address

Leader of Song Dave Cronin e-mail address

Organist Kerry Flaherty e-mail address

Return to St. Barbara's Parish Home Page

1.	Take responsibility.
	All marriage arrangements at St. Barbara's are the personal responsibilities of the bride and groom.
2.	Give yourselves time.
	Archdiocesan guidelines direct that weddings be scheduled at least six months prior to the actual date of marriage. Please make an appointment with one of the parish priests as early as possible to reserve a date and time for your wedding. These arrangements should be made in person only, not by telephone.
3.	Attend Pre-Cana Program.
	Since it is important to prepare not only for your wedding day, but also for your married life, prospective brides and grooms will be asked to attend a Pre-Cana (marriage preparation) program. The parish priests and deacon will be happy to advise you as to the times, dates, locations and content of these programs. For detailed information on schedules and locations of Marriage Preparation classes, see the Marriage Preparation page of the Family Life Apostolate.
4.	Choose the officiant.
	Ordinarily, the priest who makes the arrangements with you will be the officiant at your wedding. If you wish to have a particular priest as officiant, you are certainly free to request him. Also, clergy from outside of the parish whom you want to perform your marriage are most welcome. In the case of an Ecumenical Marriage, we recommend that a minister of the non-Catholic party be invited to participate with us in your wedding. If the clergyman is from outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, mention this to the priest making the arrangements and he will inform you of what steps must be taken for him to obtain delegation from the State.
5.	Schedule the time.
	Your wedding may be scheduled for any time of the week with the following qualifications: A marriage ceremony or Nuptial Mass may be scheduled for Saturdays, only between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Sunday weddings may be scheduled in the afternoon with minor restrictions. Weddings are scheduled allowing sufficient time for traffic to flow into and out of the parking area. Your promptness will ensure less confusion with parking arrangements on your day.
6.	Consider a Nuptial Mass.
	A Nuptial Mass is the best possible way of celebrating the beginning of your married life. We highly recommend this form of celebration to all engaged Catholics. Catholic brides and grooms should receive the sacrament of Reconciliation by going to confession before the wedding and the sacrament of the Eucharist at communion on the day of the wedding. As a special blessing at a Nuptial Mass, the bride and groom can receive the Eucharist under both species - Body and Blood.
7.	Select your Music.
	The music for your wedding is in the capable hands of our Organist. Vocalists are available through our Leader of Song. Both will be happy to meet with you and advise you in the choice of appropriate music.
8.	Pick your flowers.
	Flowers of your choice may be placed on and around the altar for your wedding. They are an expression of your devotion to the place where our Father will bless your union. You may extend this expression into the week by leaving the flowers on the altar after the wedding or by returning them after the reception. Couples who are being married on the same day may share the costs by using the same floral arrangements for each of their weddings. The procurement of a white carpet may be made through the florist.
9.	Do not litter.
	The use of rice or confetti of any kind either inside or outside the church is not allowed. In the past, it has taken hours to clean up after such a demonstration. Please notify your friends of this policy.
10.	Don't forget these things.
	When you first meet with the priest, he will set an approximate date for you to contact him and make arrangements to fill out the necessary papers. In preparation for this meeting, please obtain from the church(es) at which you received the sacraments: a certified copy of your baptismal record dated within 6 months of your wedding, a Confirmation certificate. If you received either of these sacraments at St. Barbara's, please ensure that the record is on file. You do not need to obtain a copy.
11.	Go to rehearsal.
	You will be contacted by a married couple from St. Barbara's Marriage Preparation program to set a time for your rehearsal. There may be a number of rehearsals in the course of the evening (and the Marriage Prep couple may have other plans for that night), so please be prompt! Also, please bring to the rehearsal: the marriage license, your selection of prayers and readings for the service, the offerings you want to make to the parish and the altar servers.
12.	Support your local parish.
	Two altar servers will be assigned to assist the priest at your wedding. The customary offering for them is $5 - $10 to each server. There is no fee for the celebrant. All offerings go to the support of the church. The archdiocesan recommended offering is $100. However, we trust that when couples realize how much they invest in other parts of their wedding day, they will be equally generous with their parish. Please make the offering payable to St. Barbara's Church, not to the individual priest. It is not a gratuity.
13.	Invite a priest to dine.
	If you want the priest to attend your reception, please send him an invitation. He will be happy to attend, if possible.
14.	Ask questions.
	If you have any questions, please contact one of the parish priests. Another good resource is the Marriage Preparation page of the Family Life Apostolate.