Marriage
The parish family at Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha welcomes you and congratulates you on your forthcoming wedding. We look forward to serving you as you prepare for this blessed occasion. Please consider these guidelines as you continue your plans.
In the Roman Catholic tradition, Marriage is a Sacrament. The bride and the groom establish their marriage covenant in the presence of God.
For a marriage to be sacramental, two baptized persons, at least one being Catholic...
- Freely enter into a vowed commitment of respect, reverence and love
- Make this promise for a lifetime
- Promise fidelity
- And have an openness to bearing children, providing for their good and bringing them up in the faith.
Wedding Guidelines
1. Download our Wedding Pamphlet and contact Ann Chodak at least six months prior to your anticipated wedding date. Ann will provide you with an overview of the marriage preparation process and put you in contact with a priest to discuss the sacrament of marriage. After meeting with the priest, your wedding date will be confirmed and reserved in the church’s calendar.
2. You will be asked to take a FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study) relationship inventory, a tool designed to assist your preparation for Marriage in the Catholic Church. The 150+ statements and your responses to them will help you as a couple to take an objective look at your strengths and at those areas where you might need to do some work. After your responses are processed, Ann Chodak will designate some-one to meet with you to discuss the results.
3. The Diocese of Rochester expects that couples preparing for marriage will attend a Pre-Cana marriage session. While we encourage you to attend one of the two opportunities held in our parish, there are many others held throughout the diocese. Refer to the diocesan website (www.dor.org) for a list of Pre-Cana dates and locations. Please contact Ann Chodak for information.
4. You will be expected to meet 2 to 3 more times with the priest preparing you for marriage. At these meetings you will fill out necessary forms, discuss FOCCUS and discuss your marriage liturgy.
5. A parish wedding coordinator will assist you with the details involving your wedding ceremony. The coordinator will attend the rehearsal and is responsible for facilitating a smooth and harmonious ceremony.
6. The music for your wedding is a beautiful reflection of your love for each other and your love for God. Because music is an integral and important part of the marriage liturgy, diocesan and parish guidelines have been created. A wedding music planning meeting held each spring will assist you in your music selections. If you have questions prior to this meeting, please contact Sarah Mancini.
Frequent and regular attendance at weekend Mass is an excellent foundation for spiritual growth in married life. The church ceremony should be the centerpiece of the wedding day. It will help you appreciate the seriousness of the vows that you make. It can also be a wonderful reminder to those who attend of the sacredness and beauty of married love that has been consecrated by the sacrament of Matrimony. Toward this goal, it is helpful to remember:
- Less is more.
- Hospitality is a fundamental form of loving.
- Good taste should direct choices and plans.
Planning the Liturgy
Discuss the date and time of your wedding with the office staff or priest. Most of our weddings are scheduled early Saturday afternoons. The rehearsal is usually scheduled for the preceding Thursday or Friday evening. Rehearsals begin promptly and should take 1 hour depending on wedding size. Please bring the wedding license to the rehearsal.
(It is strongly advised that those attending a Friday night rehearsal at SC park in the Brower Road parking area to avoid being blocked by those attending Bingo on Friday evenings. Please advise your wedding party of these arrangements.)
Fees
The wedding fee is $500. This fee includes the standard parish offering as well as services provided by the wedding coordinator, organist and cantor. Please bring a check made out to “Blessed Kateri” to give to your wedding coordinator at the rehearsal.
Baptismal Certificates
If you are Catholic, please contact the church where you were baptized and request a new, raised-seal copy of your baptismal certificate. It is usually obtained by contacting the parish secretary.
Flowers
Floral pieces may not be placed on the altar table. Pieces may be left as a donation, or you may designate someone to take them after the ceremony.
Wedding License
Please bring a New York State Wedding License to the rehearsal. Be aware that marriages in New York State may not take place until 24 hours after the time that the license is issued. Licenses are valid for two months.
Photography/Videography
You will have approximately 20-30 minutes after your wedding for pictures. We ask that you give your photographer/ videographer the diocesan guidelines, which you will receive prior to your wedding.
Miscellaneous
Please keep in mind that rice, confetti or birdseed may not be thrown inside or outside of the church. Candles and runners are not allowed in the aisle as they are a safety hazard. Since you have limited time after the ceremony for photos, we strongly recommend that you have your receiving line at the reception.
May God be with you during these exciting months as you prepare for this important day. Please be assured that you are in our prayers that the Lord will bless you with many happy years of married life!
