Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!  This is an exciting time in your life.  Your love for one another has led you to make this Sacramental marriage commitment! 

  Please contact Fr. McDonald nine months before your wedding date to meet as a couple where he will explain the marriage preparation process with you.  

When a couple is married in the Catholic Church, we as Catholics, believe that they not only commit themselves to one another, but they make a marriage commitment to God and to the Catholic community.  The marriage is not a private affair.  In turn, the community and God commit to support the couple in their marriage.  This, in part, is why all marriages take place within the St. Anne Church building.  Even more important, because the marriage covenant is grounded in faith and will only be successful lived in faith, it is essential that the couple be practicing and living their faith within a parish community.

The use of ethnic or other traditions not officially sanctioned in Catholic Liturgies
 

1.The Unity Candle is not used in the Catholic Nuptial Liturgy: The so-called “unity candle” is a commercial product of which no mention is made in the Liturgical books of the Catholic Church.
2.Remembering deceased family members is allowed during the Prayers of the Faithful.

 

Appropriate Wedding Attire

 

1. At the rehearsal: Casual dress such as long pants and sports shirts or blouses is allowed. However, athletic wear, short shorts, tank tops, etc. are not allowed in the Church building. It is the House of God and appropriate reverence in attire and demeanor is demanded. Please remind anyone in the wedding party not to bring food or drink into the church building and not to chew gum in the church at any time.
2. At the Wedding Liturgy: Garments for the bride and her attendants must be modest and keeping with Catholic sensibilities in the House of God. Dresses that fall above the knee are not allowed. Respect for the House of God and the Church’s worship during the Nuptial Liturgy must take precedence over current style or fads.

The Groom and groomsmen may wear tuxedo or formal suit with tie or bow tie.  For both men and women the desire for modesty should be the motivating desire.

 

Planning your Nuptial Liturgy

 

1. There are two Forms for the Nuptial Liturgy.
2. Within Mass: this would be like a Sunday Mass, except after the homily, the exchange of vows and blessing and exchange of rings occur and the Mass continues with the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Only practicing Roman Catholics who are properly disposed and are free of any unforgiven mortal sin may receive Holy Communion. Confession should be requested prior to the wedding by the Catholic bride or groom and any Catholic wedding party who desire to receive Holy Communion
3. Outside of Mass: this would be like the first part of Mass (The Liturgy of the Word). After the homily, the exchange of vows, blessing and exchange of rings and the blessing and dismissal.
4. When a Catholic marries someone who is not Christian or not baptized a Nuptial Mass is not allowed, only the Nuptial Liturgy outside of Mass is permitted.
5. A Nuptial Mass is allowed when a Catholic marries a baptized Christian. However, only Roman Catholics may receive Holy Communion. The non-Catholic spouse may not receive Holy Communion. For this reason the Nuptial Liturgy outside of Mass may be more suitable to your circumstances.
6. It is highly recommended that when two Catholics marry, that the Nuptial Mass be celebrated. However, for a good reason, the Nuptial Liturgy outside of Mass can be chosen also.

 

Preparation

2. The priest or deacon preparing you for marriage will give you a booklet that will enable you to select the various readings and prayers for the Nuptial Liturgy. Only the choices given can be used.  The Scriptures must be from the Lectionary of the Catholic Church which is approved by the Catholic Church for Liturgical use.
3. Under no circumstances may the bridal couple write their own vows. Only those offered by the Church may be used.
4. When the Nuptial Mass is celebrated, the lector(s) chosen must be Confirmed and practicing Catholics capable of proclaiming the Scriptures well. Only Commissioned Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion can be selected to help distribute Holy Communion.  Extraordinary Ministers from other Catholic parishes are welcome to perform this ministry at your Nuptial Mass.
5. A practicing baptized Christian may serve as a Lector at a Nuptial Liturgy outside of
6. The Minister of the non-Catholic bride or groom may be invited to participate in the Nuptial Liturgy. The minister may read a Scripture reading if the Nuptial Liturgy is not a   He/she may also read the General Intercessions.
7. Pets are not allowed to be a part of the procession or ceremony.
8. The use of alcohol prior to the wedding is forbidden and no alcoholic beverages may be brought to the church campus or consumed.
9. Drunkenness by anyone in the wedding party prior to the Nuptial Liturgy will lead to that person being asked not to participate and by the bride or groom will lead to the cancelation of the wedding.
10. Please be sure that any ring bearer or flower girl is mature enough for their role and will not be a distraction during the Nuptial Procession and during the Liturgy.

To set your wedding date, please contact Fr. McDonald at (912) 756-3343, press 8.