Sacrament of Marriage
Congratulations on your up-coming marriage! Our parish shares in your joy, and we look forward to helping you prepare not only for the wedding day, but also for your lifetime together.
All marriage arrangements are the responsibility of the bride and groom. Contact the parish at least six months prior to the proposed date of the wedding to arrange an initial appointment with the priest or his delegate to discuss your marriage plans. It is advisable to do so even earlier, so that you may have a better chance of reserving the date you desire. It is necessary for the couple to come to the parish center and schedule their wedding personally with the priest or his delegate. Please arrange the wedding date and time with the church prior to booking a hall for the reception. No wedding dates may be reserved over the telephone.
All marriage arrangements are the responsibility of the bride and groom. Contact the parish at least six months prior to the proposed date of the wedding to arrange an initial appointment with the priest or his delegate to discuss your marriage plans. It is advisable to do so even earlier, so that you may have a better chance of reserving the date you desire. It is necessary for the couple to come to the parish center and schedule their wedding personally with the priest or his delegate. Please arrange the wedding date and time with the church prior to booking a hall for the reception. No wedding dates may be reserved over the telephone.
Wedding Times
Marriages take place at Saint Bonaventure's on:
Saturdays: between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, or at 5:30 PM or thereafter or Sundays: after 1:00 PM
Marriage Preparation
Prospective brides and grooms are required to complete a Marriage Preparation Program that provides engaged couples an opportunity to gather together with married couples and consider important issues concerning married life for reflection and discussion. Information about the various programs offered in the Plymouth area and around the wider metropolitan Boston area will be provided by the priest or his delegate working with you. Please enroll in a program as soon as possible as sessions fill up very quickly.
Planning the Ceremony
After the initial meeting with the priest or his delegate and completion of the Marriage Preparation Program, schedule a second meeting to fill out the necessary papers. Planning the ceremony is the most important part of your wedding day. The priest or his delegate will assist you in selecting the prayers, readings, blessings, and other ways which will personalize your ceremony. The last meeting includes reviewing these choices and finalizing the particulars of the wedding ceremony.
Spiritual Preparation
Prayer is an active part of your preparation to give yourself to one another as a free gift before God and to receive one another as a gift from God. Couples do well to prepare for a common life of prayer by attending Mass together, reading scripture, and celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to their wedding day. Please talk to the priest or his delegate who works with you if someone is in need of completing their initiation into the Catholic church through the sacrament of Confirmation, or if one of the parties is considering becoming Catholic.
Visiting Clergy
Ordinarily, the parish priest officiates at your wedding. However, priests who are relatives or friends of the bride and groom are welcome to officiate.
If the visiting clergy comes from outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he must receive an official document of permission from the Commonwealth. Please explain this to him well in advance of the wedding date. Such authorization can be obtained by calling the Office of the State Secretary, Division of Public Records, Commissions Section, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108, telephone: 617-727-2836. They will provide papers for him to complete and return.
Marriage License
A civil license is necessary for marriage. It can be obtained from any city or town clerk in Massachusetts. Both parties must be present to apply. Once the license has been issued, it is valid for 60 days. Give the license to the priest or his delegate arranging your marriage at the time of the rehearsal. After the wedding, he will complete his section of the license and forward it to the city/town hall where it was obtained.
Music
The bride and groom and all visiting musicians need to contact the Director of Music, Mr. Christopher Ricci at 508-224-3636, Ext. 151, at least 3 months prior to your wedding. Mr. Ricci plays the organ at all weddings here at St. Bonaventure's and arranges for a soloist if needed. In planning your music, Mr. Ricci will help you make choices that reflect the Church's liturgical guidelines and the religious nature of the sacrament you are celebrating.
Rehearsal & Photography
The priest or his delegate who is assisting you schedules your rehearsal at a mutually convenient time. There, you will meet our wedding coordinators, who will guide you through the logistics for your ceremony. Your photographer and/or videographer needs to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the wedding, introduce him/herself to the wedding coordinators, and they will work with the presider at your wedding to ensure your wedding ceremony is captured properly.
Flowers & Decorations
Flowers are placed within the sanctuary by the florist or your delegate upon delivery. It is the responsibility of the florist or person you have chosen to see that floral arrangements and decorations are in place at least one hour before the ceremony. Nothing may be placed on the altar. Use of any type of confetti, rice, flower petals, or other materials of this kind, either inside or outside of church, is not allowed. Please notify your family and friends of this ahead of time.
Offerings - Payable at the Rehearsal
Church - $600.00
Check payable to St. Bonaventure Parish. This offering includes a $10.00 stipend for the priest officiating at a Nuptial Mass. No part of offering goes to the priest who celebrates your wedding.
Director of Music, Christopher Ricci - $270.00
Check payable to Christopher Ricci.
Wedding Rehearsal Coordinators - $100.00
Check payable to Cash
Marriages take place at Saint Bonaventure's on:
Saturdays: between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, or at 5:30 PM or thereafter or Sundays: after 1:00 PM
Marriage Preparation
Prospective brides and grooms are required to complete a Marriage Preparation Program that provides engaged couples an opportunity to gather together with married couples and consider important issues concerning married life for reflection and discussion. Information about the various programs offered in the Plymouth area and around the wider metropolitan Boston area will be provided by the priest or his delegate working with you. Please enroll in a program as soon as possible as sessions fill up very quickly.
Planning the Ceremony
After the initial meeting with the priest or his delegate and completion of the Marriage Preparation Program, schedule a second meeting to fill out the necessary papers. Planning the ceremony is the most important part of your wedding day. The priest or his delegate will assist you in selecting the prayers, readings, blessings, and other ways which will personalize your ceremony. The last meeting includes reviewing these choices and finalizing the particulars of the wedding ceremony.
Spiritual Preparation
Prayer is an active part of your preparation to give yourself to one another as a free gift before God and to receive one another as a gift from God. Couples do well to prepare for a common life of prayer by attending Mass together, reading scripture, and celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to their wedding day. Please talk to the priest or his delegate who works with you if someone is in need of completing their initiation into the Catholic church through the sacrament of Confirmation, or if one of the parties is considering becoming Catholic.
Visiting Clergy
Ordinarily, the parish priest officiates at your wedding. However, priests who are relatives or friends of the bride and groom are welcome to officiate.
If the visiting clergy comes from outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he must receive an official document of permission from the Commonwealth. Please explain this to him well in advance of the wedding date. Such authorization can be obtained by calling the Office of the State Secretary, Division of Public Records, Commissions Section, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108, telephone: 617-727-2836. They will provide papers for him to complete and return.
Marriage License
A civil license is necessary for marriage. It can be obtained from any city or town clerk in Massachusetts. Both parties must be present to apply. Once the license has been issued, it is valid for 60 days. Give the license to the priest or his delegate arranging your marriage at the time of the rehearsal. After the wedding, he will complete his section of the license and forward it to the city/town hall where it was obtained.
Music
The bride and groom and all visiting musicians need to contact the Director of Music, Mr. Christopher Ricci at 508-224-3636, Ext. 151, at least 3 months prior to your wedding. Mr. Ricci plays the organ at all weddings here at St. Bonaventure's and arranges for a soloist if needed. In planning your music, Mr. Ricci will help you make choices that reflect the Church's liturgical guidelines and the religious nature of the sacrament you are celebrating.
Rehearsal & Photography
The priest or his delegate who is assisting you schedules your rehearsal at a mutually convenient time. There, you will meet our wedding coordinators, who will guide you through the logistics for your ceremony. Your photographer and/or videographer needs to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the wedding, introduce him/herself to the wedding coordinators, and they will work with the presider at your wedding to ensure your wedding ceremony is captured properly.
Flowers & Decorations
Flowers are placed within the sanctuary by the florist or your delegate upon delivery. It is the responsibility of the florist or person you have chosen to see that floral arrangements and decorations are in place at least one hour before the ceremony. Nothing may be placed on the altar. Use of any type of confetti, rice, flower petals, or other materials of this kind, either inside or outside of church, is not allowed. Please notify your family and friends of this ahead of time.
Offerings - Payable at the Rehearsal
Church - $600.00
Check payable to St. Bonaventure Parish. This offering includes a $10.00 stipend for the priest officiating at a Nuptial Mass. No part of offering goes to the priest who celebrates your wedding.
Director of Music, Christopher Ricci - $270.00
Check payable to Christopher Ricci.
- Cantor - $200 (approximate offering; speak with Christopher Ricci to confirm amount.
Wedding Rehearsal Coordinators - $100.00
Check payable to Cash
For more information or questions, please contact Monique Hubbard at (508) 224-3636 Ext. 120
or by email at stbonoffice1@verizon.net
or by email at stbonoffice1@verizon.net
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. -- 1 Corinthians:13