Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding! May it be for you a time of rejoicing as well as an affirmation of your faith in Jesus Christ, who blessed the wedding feast at Cana. To assist you in planning and celebrating the religious dimension of your total wedding celebration, this handbook is based on the most frequent questions people ask concerning weddings at Christ the King Church. Your questions and comments are most welcome, as this handbook is continually updated. May God bless your forthcoming marriage in Christ!
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the grace of the sacrament of Matrimony:
1641 "By reason of their state in life and of their order, [Christian spouses] have their own special gifts in the People of God." This grace proper to the sacrament of Matrimony is intended to perfect the couple's love and to strengthen their indissoluble unity. By this grace they "help one another to attain holiness in their married life and in welcoming and educating their children."
1642 Christ is the source of this grace. "Just as of old God encountered his people with a covenant of love and fidelity, so our Savior, the spouse of the Church, now encounters Christian spouses through the sacrament of Matrimony." Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another's burdens, to "be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ," and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. In the joys of their love and family life he gives them here on earth a foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb: How can I ever express the happiness of a marriage joined by the Church, strengthened by an offering, sealed by a blessing, announced by angels, and ratified by the Father? . . . How wonderful the bond between two believers, now one in hope, one in desire, one in discipline, one in the same service! They are both children of one Father and servants of the same Master, undivided in spirit and flesh, truly two in one flesh. Where the flesh is one, one also is the spirit.
In order to properly prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage, it is asked that at least 9 months prior to your wedding date, make arrangements to meet with the pastor, Fr. Peter Jarosz. Please do not put a deposit down on a hall without first meeting with Fr. Peter Jarosz. It is imperative to ensure that you are both free to enter into the state of matrimony. Annulments from previous marriages must be cleared prior to setting a date.
The normal process is to meet with Fr. Peter Jarosz, then meet with a married couple. There is a Pre-Cana to attend along with a NFP class. Closer to the wedding, you will meet with Bill Runge to discuss music and Eileen Maggiore to select readings. There will be a final meeting with Fr. Peter Jarosz prior to the wedding rehearsal.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR WEDDINGS at CTK: Arrangements for weddings should be made by the bride and groom personally at least six months to a year in advance of the proposed wedding date (and definitely before putting a deposit down on a reception hall). This requirement insures adequate time for participation in a religious program of sacramental marriage preparation and other counseling. If you decide to postpone or cancel your wedding, please inform the church office immediately, so that the date may be opened up for others.
CHURCH OF THE WEDDING:
According to church law, weddings are to be celebrated in the parish church of either the bride or the groom. Therefore, either the bride or the groom should be a currently registered member of this parish in good standing, or the son or daughter of a registered parish family. After the wedding day, please remember to register as a married couple in the parish where you will make your home. You will have received a special blessing from your Church on your wedding day. Please keep that nuptial blessing alive and well by your active participation in the life of your local parish community throughout your married life!
OFFICIANT AT THE WEDDING: It is the duty of the clergy of this parish to officiate at all weddings in this church. Priests or deacons who are close relatives may be invited to officiate, as long as they abide by the wedding customs of this parish. Close friends may be invited to concelebrate as well. In marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic person, a non-Catholic minister may be invited to read one of the scriptures and/or offer a prayer or a blessing according to the regular diocesan ecumenical guidelines for weddings.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION PROGRAM: Although this program is a requirement of this parish and the Diocese of Joliet, most engaged couples find it to be a personally rewarding and affirming experience that brings them closer together as well.
Initial Meeting with the Pastor/Pastor’s Representative. Baptismal certificates and other documents will be needed to complete arrangements for your wedding. In marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic person, Catholics are required to make a promise to remain practicing Catholics in good standing, and to baptize and raise their children in the Catholic Faith. In certain situations, special counseling or other procedures are necessary before a wedding date can be set or confirmed. Catholics must present newly-issued baptismal certificates. Other documents will be requested as needed.
FOCCUS Sessions. Couples fill out an insightful marriage questionnaire that promotes discussion of the various aspects of Christian married life. FOCCUS stands for "Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study." About a week or so later, they meet to discuss their FOCCUS results with the pastor or another staff member. These two FOCCUS meetings help prepare for Pre-Cana.
Pre Cana Workshop. Attendance is required at one of the parish, cluster and/or diocesan workshops for the engaged. Pre-Cana is scheduled twice a year at Christ the King Parish, as a day-long (Saturday) workshop. The cluster pre-cana requires five consecutive Monday evenings. These are offered 3-4 times per year. The diocesan offering is Engaged Encounter. This is a weekend beginning Friday evening and ending Sunday evening at the diocesan center in Romeoville. Ask for the schedule and more4 specifics.
Natural Family Planning.
Please read the attached articles. You also are required to attend an NFP session as part of your preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage. Go to "www.dioceseofjoliet.org/familyministry". From there you can get to the schedule about diocesan NFP classes.
Ceremony Planning. At least one month before the actual wedding date, the couple meets with the priest to go over all the details of the actual wedding ceremony. Various options for the wedding rites are included later in this handbook, and the couple should have already selected the scripture readings and the forms of the vows prior to this meeting.
