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Your Wedding is a special time in your life and in the life of our Faith Community. Weddings are a special time, and our parish community shares your joy. We are glad that you have chosen The Good Shepherd Parish as you prepare to celebrate this important event. We want to assure you of our prayerful support and assistance as you plan this special day.
For Roman Catholics, a wedding is not simply a ceremony but a sacrament and an act of worship, a communal prayer addressed to God by the gathered community during which we acknowledge the presence of God in a special way through the public exchange of your vows.
Great care is taken to see that the prayer for this special moment is reverent, graceful, beautiful, and open to the movement of God’s Spirit among us. We celebrate the sacraments as a community. We gather with our brothers and sisters in faith and ask for their prayerful support. It is important that readings, music, and actions are consistent with the liturgical practices of the Catholic Church.
Therefore, we provide the following guidelines for celebrating weddings here at The Good Shepherd Parish:
• SETTING THE DATE OF THE WEDDINGCouples are expected to contact the parish for an initial interview at least six months in advance of the proposed wedding date. At this time, a tentative date for the wedding may be set once it is determined that both parties are free to marry in the Church. At this time the Parish will gather the preliminary information needed by the Church.
• SCHEDULING THE TIME OF THE WEDDINGThe Parish will do its utmost to accommodate the date requested for the marriage, but couples must realize that this depends on the availability of that date and the availability of Ministers. Weddings can be scheduled for any day of the week, however, if you request your Wedding on a Saturday, the celebration can be set at no later than 2pm. Weddings are permitted in the Parish on Sundays.
• MARRIAGE PREPARATION
Canon Law and the Diocese of Bathurst requires marriage preparation for any engaged couple. This preparation must take place prior to the marriage and a certificate of completion must be presented to the Parish.
Here is a website that offers a Marriage Preparation Program accepted by the Parish:• NECESSARY DOCUMENTS
When a marriage request is presented to the Parish, a preliminary information form will be completed by parish staff. This form consists mostly of biographical data and your testimony of being free to marry. Please note: If one of the individuals has been previously married, please bring this to the attention of the staff, the priest or the deacon immediately. An annulment from the previous marriage may be required. If you are a widow or widower, you must supply a copy of your former spouse’s death certificate.
Here is a list of the necessary paperwork needed before a marriage is celebrated:
- Pre-Nuptial Investigation – This will be filled out with the priest or deacon during an interview session with both parties. This interview is normally done in person, however it can also be done via Zoom or Skype if necessary.
- Baptismal Certificates – A baptized Catholic party will be asked to provide a current, dated copy (no more than six months of the wedding date) obtained from the parish where the baptism occurred. A non-Catholic party will be asked to provide a copy of their baptismal certificate or, if not available, for example if the church is no longer in existence, some type of proof of the baptism or affidavits testifying that the person was baptized.
- Affidavits – In the case where there is lack of proof that one of the parties is not free to marry, the Parish will require an affidavit (usually parents) to testify that the prospective bride and groom are free to marry.
- Dispensations or Permissions – Please note, in some instances, such as marriage to a non-Catholic party or marriage to a non-baptized party a dispensation, or permission, to marry is required from the Bishop. These additional forms must be filled out and sent to the Bishop as soon as possible. A positive response from the Bishop is required in these instances to be able to proceed with the marriage.
• CIVIL REQUIREMENTS
The couple is required to obtain a marriage license by contacting Service New Brunswick in their area. The marriage license must be presented to the Parish at least 3 weeks before the wedding date. Please note : A marriage license in New Brunswick is only valid for three months from its date of issue.
• MINISTERS OF THE CELEBRATION
In the Roman Catholic Church, the bride and groom minister the sacrament of Holy Matrimony to one another. A priest or deacon, and at least two other witnesses, are also required to be present. Ordinarily, one of the parish priests or deacons will preside at the wedding. However, if a couple has a special relationship with another priest or deacon they are welcome to ask him to witness the marriage vows. In this case, the couple should mention this to the priest or deacon early in the preparation process.
Please note: In order for a priest or deacon from another parish within the Diocese of Bathurst to officiate at a wedding he needs to be delegated by the pastor of the parish and a “Letter of Permission” will be required. Additionally, if the priest or deacon is from another Diocese, a “Letter of Good Standing” from his Bishop or religious Superior will be required. Without this document he will not be allowed to officiate at the wedding.
OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
• ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
A priest or deacon cannot allow a wedding to take place if either the bride or groom, are impeded and unable to freely enter into marriage, or if the official witnesses are unable to carry out their assigned tasks. Therefore, these parties should refrain from any large consumption of alcoholic beverages the night before as well as prior to the marriage ceremony.
• CHURCH DECORATING
Good taste and liturgical guidelines dictate the décor of a church with respect to weddings. Flowers are permitted in the sanctuary, though you may wish to use flowers that are already in the church for the liturgical season in order to save money.
The delivery of flowers should be scheduled no more than one hour prior to the wedding so as to not disrupt other ceremonies taking place in the church.
Pew bows are permitted at the end of the pews. It is required that they are attached with elastic bands and not wire or tape so as to not scratch the wood.
Also, under no circumstances, are flower girls permitted to drop flower petals, or anything else, in the aisle.
• WEDDING MUSIC
Music can include instrumental and vocal selections. Organ, piano, guitar, strings, and flute are all appropriate instruments for the celebration. The parish has a piano and organ available for use. Secular music is not permitted under any circumstances.
The name and telephone number of our parish music director will be provided to you. It is your responsibility to schedule an appointment with her to plan the music for your wedding.
There is a fee for the music director and the cantor. You are to pay them directly.