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Congratulations!
It is a great joy and responsibility for the Pastoral Staff and members of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish to support engaged couples who decide to have their wedding at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.
Your decision to be married in the Church is indeed an important one. In doing so you proclaim to the Christian community and to God your love for one another. Being married in a church is a public celebration. You ask for and are guaranteed the prayers and support of the Christian community.
To be married in the Church implies you understand marriage is a sacrament, a gift of God’s love, blessing and presence. Because your marriage is a sacrament, you and the parish share the responsibility of sacramental preparation. That is why you participate in a Marriage Preparation Program (Pre-Cana) as well as scheduled meetings with the priest or deacon working with you. We are not going to tell you what your marriage will be like; we will help you prepare for receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony.
As you prepare for marriage we hope you grow even closer. For this reason we urge you to worship together, regularly, participating in Mass and praying together, asking God to bless you both and keep you free from worry, full of happiness and anticipation before your wedding.
For More Information, please contact Chris Muldoon at 781-784-2265 to begin the process of planning your wedding. -
How to Schedule a Wedding
Starting the Arrangements
If you are interested in having your wedding here at Our Lady of Sorrows, first check our parish calendar to see if the date you are considering is available. Then call Lee Smolinsky at 781-784-2265 ext. 1005 to schedule an appointment.
Possible Wedding Times
Our policy is to have a 1-½ hour time slot for each wedding. Scheduling for each event is done on this same basis. Thus, the times for weddings are preset for Saturdays at 10:00 or 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. On Sundays, it is typically possible to have a wedding at 2:00 pm. Unfortunately, you may not get the exact time you desire. Please understand that this method is necessary—we speak from experience. You would not want tight scheduling to affect your own celebration. -
Marriage Preparation Process
Outline of meetings and requirements for marriage
- The first meeting will be held to meet with the priest or deacon so as to set up dates in the parish calendar and to get to know each other better. At this meeting, you will have to fill out necessary legal paperwork with the priest or deacon. The Preliminary Interrogatory establishes the fact that you are free to marry in the Catholic Church. If you are Catholic, you will be asked to call the church of your baptism and ask the parish to send a recent copy of your baptismal record to the priest or deacon who is assisting you in your marriage preparations. If you are baptized in another tradition, you will give the priest or deacon a copy of your baptismal record.
The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program for those who are interested in learning and experiencing more about the Catholic faith. People who come from other faith denominations are invited to join our gatherings. Catholics who were baptized but who did not receive other sacraments are welcome to come and to receive other sacraments. Simply inquire with the priest or deacon for more details. - Meet with priest or deacon to discuss marriage preparation program and the sacrament of marriage.
- In addition to meeting with the priest or deacon, you will be asked to attend a Marriage Preparation Program (Pre-Cana); these are designed to help you prepare for marriage with the assistance of other married couples. Our parish program is conducted in the fall and spring. To register for the parish program, use the form in your folder; give it, with the fee, to your presider. More information is available about other Pre-Cana programs in the area. You can also go online to the Archdiocesan website to get information about programs throughout the diocese. We expect that you complete the program at least 6 months prior to your wedding.
- Meet with priest or deacon officiating at your wedding to discuss the ceremony itself. We have literature to help you in making choices.
- The first meeting will be held to meet with the priest or deacon so as to set up dates in the parish calendar and to get to know each other better. At this meeting, you will have to fill out necessary legal paperwork with the priest or deacon. The Preliminary Interrogatory establishes the fact that you are free to marry in the Catholic Church. If you are Catholic, you will be asked to call the church of your baptism and ask the parish to send a recent copy of your baptismal record to the priest or deacon who is assisting you in your marriage preparations. If you are baptized in another tradition, you will give the priest or deacon a copy of your baptismal record.