(1-802-864-4166)
(FAX
1-802-863-6065)
(E-mail: SJVianneySBVT@aol.com)
WEDDING
GUIDELINES
WELCOME!
We are happy that your have
expressed a desire to be married at
We have written these guidelines to
help you prepare well for your wedding day.
Please read these guidelines very
carefully. In the midst of all the
physical preparations we remind you of the deeper, spiritual aspects of
these
months that will lead to your wedding day. We want to assist you in
highlighting the Christian dimension of your relationship and to help
you make
your wedding day not only a celebration of love but also a celebration of faith
and
a time of prayer to God who has brought you together.
NORMS FOR MARRIAGE IN THE
Catholics who want the Church to
witness and bless their marriage must fulfill the following:
1.
Be
free to marry
(Have never been married or have obtained an annulment).
2.
Be
mature enough
to make this commitment, and understand the meaning of Catholic
Christian
marriage.
3.
Complete
the
FOCCUS inventory with a priest, deacon or other designated minister in
their
parish.
4.
Participate
in a program of marriage preparation
(Pre-Cana, Engaged Encounter or another program – the priest will
assist you in
finding and registering for one.)
5.
Fill
out the
Pre-Marriage Questionnaire with the priest – for this it will
necessary to
obtain a recently-issued certificate
of Baptism. You will also need the
date and place of your First Communion and Confirmation.
6.
If
one of the
parties is not Catholic, he or she must have the “Affidavit of Freedom
to
Marry” form filled out in the presence of a priest.
The Catholic party must promise to do all in
his or her power to raise children in the Catholic faith by having them
baptized. Dispensations for mixed
marriages are obtained from the Bishop.
7.
The
couple must
also fulfill the civil requirements by obtaining a marriage license
from
the town clerk of the residence of either party.
8.
Make
proper
spiritual preparation through daily prayer, regular attendance at
Sunday Mass
and the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance prior to the wedding.
SPECIAL NOTES FOR MARRIAGE AT
ST. JOHN
VIANNEY
1.
We
encourage
couples to reserve the church as early as possible.
This is done by contacting the pastor. We ask
for at least a six month notice and will not perform a wedding in less
than
three months after being notified. This
is for the purpose of making proper preparation.
2.
Weddings
are usually celebrated on Saturdays until
PREPARING THE WEDDING LITURGY
1.
We
are happy to
assist you in preparing a ceremony that will be a celebration of your
love and
of your faith. We recommend the book Together
For Life by Fr. Joseph Champlin as a
good guide
for choices of readings and prayers. It
may be obtained from your parish or local Catholic bookstore.
2.
Enclosed
is a
list of musicians and some music guidelines for the wedding. Please note that music for the Wedding
Liturgy should enhance the spirit of faith and prayer; thus secular
songs are
not appropriate for use during the ceremony.
Anyone you ask to perform music for your wedding must be
familiar with
the Rite of Marriage and with the
3.
Two witnesses are required for your wedding.
This is the role of the best man and the maid of honor. It is not required to have bridesmaids or
groomsmen, although we recommend that you have ushers. (Children
in the wedding party must be at
least six years old.)
4.
We
recommend that
you choose family members or friends to read the first two readings at
your wedding. When Mass is celebrated we
recommend that
someone be invited to bring up the gifts of bread and wine for the
Eucharist.
5.
Normally
a rehearsal
is scheduled on the night before the wedding.
All the members of your wedding party must be present for the
rehearsal
and should be there on time. Please
allow 30 to 45 minutes for the
rehearsal.
6.
Some
couples like
to light the Unity Candle during their wedding.
Although this is not part of the Catholic Liturgy of Marriage,
it may be
done after the exchange of the vows and the rings.
The couple is responsible for purchasing the
Unity Candle and the two accompanying candles.
7.
Flowers
may be
placed in the sanctuary, but not on the altar table itself. It is appreciated when couples leave a flower
arrangement in the church after the ceremony.
No flowers may be used during Lent.
Though not recommended, an aisle runner may also be used.
8.
Photographers
and
videographers are welcomed provided they are discreet.
They must speak with the priest before the ceremony;
we recommend that they attend the rehearsal.
9.
We do
not allow confetti,
birdseeds, etc. to be thrown on church property.
10. Please remember that the church is a place of
worship;
the gowns of the bride and bridesmaids should be modest.
Low-cut, strapless gown are not appropriate
attire in church; shoulders should be covered.
FEES: According
to diocesan policy the stipend for a wedding
is $75 for parishioners.
We ask $250 from non-parishioners.
NOTES FOR COUPLES WHO DO NOT
LIVE IN
We are very happy to welcome couples
from out of state. However, your
situation demands special attention. We
want to serve you as best we can. Please read the following guidelines very
carefully, and show them to the priest who will be working with you,
especially
no. 3.
1.
Complete
and
return the “Application Form” with a deposit of $35 as soon as you can. Without this form we will not reserve the
church for you.
2.
You
must fulfill
all the requirements for Catholic marriage as stated above. Please note that in case of inter-faith
marriages the dispensations are obtained from your own Bishop (the
Bishop of
the Diocese where you live now.). The
priest/deacon in your parish will take care of getting it for you.
3.
We must receive a written permission from
your pastor for you to be married
here. In this letter he must indicate
his willingness to guide you through the months of preparation. He will help you to find and register for
Pre-Cana. He will fill out the
Pre-Marriage
Questionnaire with you. In the event that you are marrying someone who
is not
Catholic, your pastor will obtain the necessary dispensations. Proof
of attendance at a marriage-preparation course and all necessary papers
should be
mailed to St. John Vianney at least three weeks before the date of
marriage.
4.
You must obtain a Marriage License; no
priest can officiate without this document.
This license is obtained from the City Clerk of South
Burlington; the
phone number is 1-802-846-4105. (
5.
A
couple may
invite a priest from another parish to officiate. If
he is not a resident of
SPECIAL CONCERNS
1.
Can the wedding be in a place other than a
Catholic
Church? Two Catholics must
be married
in a Catholic Church. In the case of a
mixed marriage (one is Catholic and one is not) it is possible, with
permission
from the Bishop, to be married in the church of the non-Catholic party. The priest will help you obtain the proper
permission. Special exceptions may be obtained for Catholic-Jewish
ceremonies.
2.
Couples living together:
This
situation presents special pastoral concern.
Although it is common in our culture for couples to live
together before
marriage. It is against Catholic moral
teaching and is considered seriously sinful. (People living with
another person
outside of marriage may NOT receive Holy Communion.) Our
concern is all the greater because recent
studies indicate that there is a higher instance of divorce among
couples have
lived together before marriage. These
matters should be discussed with the priest who is helping you prepare
for
marriage. Couples who are living
together are strongly encouraged to find a way of living apart for the
months
that precede the wedding.
3.
Mass attendance:
Participation in the
Eucharist
every Sunday is a serious obligation. Individuals who have not been attending Mass for
a while,
ought to begin going to church regularly again.
This is especially important as you prepare for the sacrament of
marriage. Prior to the wedding Catholics
ought to make proper spiritual preparation by going to Confession
(the Sacrament of Reconciliation).