General Guidelines

 

It is presumed that either the bride or the groom is a member of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish and that the Catholic party/ies is/are practicing their faith. It would be our hope and expectation that Catholics are faithful to the weekly celebration of the Eucharist.

The Guidelines for the Diocese of Fall River in regard to the sacrament of Marriage state that those wishing to marry are to notify the parish priest at least eight months before the requested wedding date. Further, the couple is required to have an initial meeting with the parish priest in order to secure a wedding date.
 

Church law requires that both parties be free to marry and that it is the parish priest that must ascertain this fact. Therefore, no wedding date can be established or confirmed over the phone, nor can it be arranged by anyone other than the parties themselves. Both parties must be present for this initial meeting with the parish priest.  Please note:  For pastoral reasons weddings are not celebrated on Saturdays any later than 1:00 pm and are not celebrated on Fridays or Sundays.

As soon as a wedding date is secured with the parish priest, the couple is required to take part in the Marriage Preparation Program of the Diocese of Fall River which includes Pre-Cana and The Foccus program, as part of their spiritual preparation for Marriage. Please Note: Attending the Marriage Preparation Program should be done no later than six months before the wedding date.

 

Required Diocesan Documentation

 

Once the Marriage preparation Program has been completed the couple is expected to contact the parish office (508-399-8440) to arrange a second appointment with the parish priest to complete the required Diocesan documentation and pastoral planning for the Liturgical celebration of the Sacrament.

Please Note:  Arranging this appointment with the parish priest is to be completed no later than seven months before the wedding date even if participation in the Marriage Preparation Program has been delayed for some reason.

Each couple must obtain a valid Marriage License from any city or town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The process of obtaining this license should be undertaken one month prior to the intended wedding date. In the event that a couple decides to postpone or cancel a wedding date, we would ask that they notify the parish office as soon as possible.
 

Music:
 

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish follows the guidelines for wedding music established by the Diocese of Fall River. All guest musicians must follow these guidelines.

Please Note: Secular (Non - Church) music is not suitable or appropriate for the Liturgical Celebration of Marriage. Diocesan guidelines regarding music are available from the parish office.

Ms. Jo-Anne Olean, our Parish Director of Music, is the musician for parish weddings. Couples are responsible for scheduling their celebration with Ms. Olean.  Ms. Olean may also arrange for additional instrumentalists and vocalists.  All wedding programs must be approved by Ms. Olean before the wedding celebration. Musician stipends and fees are arranged between the couple and the musicians and should be given before the marriage celebration.
 

Flowers and Decorations:
 

Often, the wedding couple would provide flowers for the altar at the time of their wedding. If you choose to do so, it is the expected and accepted practice that these flowers remain in the Church after the wedding. More than just decoration, these flowers are an offering to the Lord and should continue to adorn the altar.

Bows / flowers for pews or the use of programs or other items must be brought to the attention of the parish priest no later than one month before the wedding.

Any other type of floral arrangements should be discussed with the parish priest prior to contacting the florist. For example: Candles placed within any floral arrangements may not be lit due to fire regulations and parish policy. Please be sure to discuss your plans with the parish priest well in advance of your wedding date.
 
Aisle runners are not allowed. These cloth and/or paper runners pose a safety hazard and are not necessary. Decoration of the outside railings is allowed. Please remove the decorations following the wedding celebration. Wreaths or other hangings may not be nailed to the doors of the church.
 

Photographers and Videotaping:

 

The Photographer, as well as, the person Videotaping, as a matter of courtesy should speak with the priest celebrant before the Liturgy begins. The photographer is welcome to take pictures throughout the celebration, as long as the celebration is not disrupted in any way. In no case is the photographer or videographer allowed within the inner sanctuary area of the Church.
 

Rice Throwing:
 

The throwing of rice, bird seed and/or confetti is not allowed within the Church building or outside on the grounds due to very serious problem of safety and cleaning.
 

Offering to the Church:
 

The offering for the Church is exactly what it means, an offering.  Please keep in mind that your offering for the Church includes compensation for the overtime of our parish janitor / sacristan and for the other expenses that the Church incurs during this celebration.
 

Altar Servers:
 

If you would like to have servers for your wedding you will need to inform the parish priest at the time you meet with him Every effort will be made to accommodate your request, however, please understand that the number of servers are  very limited and we are not able to guarantee your request.
 

Wedding Rehearsal:
 

The Parish Wedding Planer will direct the rehearsal, and all are expected to be on time.  Please remember that the rehearsal will take place inside the Church in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The stipend for the Wedding Planer is fifty dollars. Arrangement for date and time for this rehearsal would be made directly with the Wedding Planner.
 
Those who attend the rehearsal should be: The bride and groom; best man and maid of honor; the brides’ maids; the ushers; ring bearers; flower girls and the father/parents of the bride. In addition, those who are doing the readings and /or bringing up the gifts for the celebration should attend as well. Parents of the groom, grandparents and any other party that will be formally seated or participating in any way should be present for the rehearsal.
 
A note in regard to ring bearers and flower girls: If you do select very young children for these roles (under age 7), you run the risk of their not understanding where to go and what to do. Experience has made this very clear to any person involved in wedding preparations. Please consider an older child in fairness to them and to the celebration.
 

Guest Clergy:
 

Clergy relatives or friends of the couple are cordially invited to be a part of the wedding celebration. Catholic priests witnessing a marriage should contact Fr. Cambra prior to the rehearsal. Anyone officiating at a wedding from outside of the Diocese of Fall River must obtain a letter of suitability from their Chancery one month before the wedding. If the Guest Priest is in residence outside of the   Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he needs to get permission from the Commonwealth to witness the marriage. Such permission is granted from the Secretary of State’s office in Boston.
 

Wedding Reception:
 

Please do not assume that the parish priest will be able to attend your wedding reception. Being the only priest in the parish, this is usually not possible because of the parish schedule on Saturdays as well as other commitments. If you would like to see if there is any possibility, please be sure that you speak with the parish priest well in advance of the time of the wedding rehearsal.
 
 

THINGS THAT YOU WILL NEED:
 

For the appointment with the parish priest you will need baptism and confirmation certificates for both the bride and groom (unless you have received these sacraments at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, St. Mary or St Stephen). In order to provide necessary documentation regarding the freedom to marry, the certificate of baptism must have been recently acquired. Prior to your appointment please call the parish office of the Church of your baptism and request a baptism certificate. Please inform them at that time that this is for Marriage. In order to facilitate this, you may pick this up and bring it with you to the appointment.
A valid marriage license, and the offering for the Church is to be given to the Parish Wedding Planner at the wedding rehearsal.
 
 

Our warmest wishes and prayers for you:
 

We congratulate you on your upcoming wedding and urge you to consider the sacredness of marriage. Besides being a very meaningful social occasion for you and your families, it is a profoundly sacred reality, as you are receiving the Sacrament of Marriage.
 
By your marriage in the Church you are making a public statement of your faith and your love and fidelity to each other and to Christ, within the community of the Church. Please take this time to spiritually prepare yourselves for living out the Sacrament of Marriage