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Table of Contents
Pre-Marriage
Preparation
Making vows
for a lifetime is no small matter. The necessity of careful and thorough
preparation cannot be overemphasized. In a world where careers are only
begun after several years of study, some think only a license is
required to begin married life. But for such
an important decision, the Diocese of Rochester requires attendance at a
pre-marriage program:
-
Pre-Cana,
or
-
Engaged
Encounter
(Schedules for
both programs are available at the parish office.)
In addition,
the priest who witnesses your wedding will meet with you several times
using the Focus Inventory to reflect with you on the importance
of the vows that you are soon to celebrate.
Wedding dates
are scheduled by a personal appointment of the couple with one of the
parish priests.
Preparation
for marriage is not only material, financial and emotional
- it should
also be spiritual. Marriage between those baptized is considered a
Sacrament. 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:
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Wedding Coordinator
St. Cecilia’s
Wedding Coordinator will assist you in your plans, carefully review the
ceremony and discuss the guidelines for weddings at St. Cecilia’s. In addition,
the Coordinator will be with you at the rehearsal and the wedding
ceremony itself to provide for a smooth and organized celebration.
Please
contact the Wedding Coordinator, Vivian Villareale, as soon as your
wedding has been scheduled at St. Cecilia’s:
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Planning the Liturgy
Weddings can
be scheduled at St. Cecilia’s for Saturdays at 12 noon or
2:00 p.m. 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 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.
The bride and
groom are encouraged to participate in the planning of the wedding
liturgy. The parish will provide the couple a copy of Together for
Life by Father Joseph Champlin, which contains all the Scripture
readings and prayers that may be selected for the ceremony.
The music
used at the ceremony is an important element of the service and should
be selected with care. Since the wedding will take place within a sacred
context, secular music is normally out of place and should be saved for
use at the reception. The Music Director at St. Cecilia’s , can be most helpful in assisting
you with the musical planning.
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Programs
Some couples
prepare a wedding program for the ceremony as a way of personalizing the
wedding. Although St.
Cecilia’s is not able to provide a program, our Wedding Coordinator can
be helpful in sharing some sample copies that may be useful.
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Church Decorations
It is
advisable to contact your florist as soon as your wedding date has been
scheduled. To assist you
in your planning, please note the following:
-
For those
using an aisle runner, St. Cecilia’s aisle is 90 feet.
-
There are
twenty-five pews on each side of the Church.
-
For safety concerns, candles are
not permitted in the aisles.
-
A three
candle holder for the "Unity
Candle" ceremony, but we do not provide candles.
-
St.
Cecilia’s is grateful to the many couples who leave their flowers
after the ceremony for use at the weekend Masses. Our Wedding
Coordinator will be happy to advise you of other weddings scheduled
that day should you be interested in sharing flower expenses.
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Flower Girl and Ring
Bearer
Young people
chosen for the role of flower girl and ring bearer should be mature
enough to fulfill their roles without distracting from the service.
Flower petals may not be strewn on church floor.
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Rice and Confetti
Please advise
members of the bridal party and guests to refrain from using rice or
confetti in or near the church building and adjacent property. We
discourage the custom of throwing petals in the aisles.
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Photographers/Videographers
Please ask
the photographer to speak with the wedding coordinator before the
ceremony to review guidelines for taking pictures and/or use of video
camera. In so far as possible, all photography should be concluded
within forty-five minutes of the ceremony. This is particularly
important when another wedding is scheduled to take place.
This is particularly important when another wedding is scheduled to take
place. Due to the
scheduling of confessions, all photography in the church must be
completed by 4:00 p.m.
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Fees
The fee for
weddings at St. Cecilia’s is $400.00, for use of the
church, wedding coordinator and St. Cecilia's organist. This fee, payable to St. Cecilia’s, is due
within one month after the wedding has been scheduled. Any fee offering
to the clergy performing the ceremony is optional. Fees for any outside
organist as well as any musicians and/or vocalist used should be
arranged directly with the musicians. The name and telephone number for
the parish organist can be obtained from the parish office or Wedding
Coordinator. Suggestions
for vocalists and/or musicians are available from the Music Director or
Wedding Coordinator. Normally
altar servers assist at a wedding Eucharist and a voluntary offering for
their services may be left with the wedding coordinator at the
rehearsal.
If a priest
or deacon from outside of the parish officiates at your ceremony, you
may wish to make a separate offering.
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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!
February
2008
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