PLANNING GUIDE We need at minimum six months notice of your marriage so that all necessary papers may be prepared and the pre-nuptial instructions completed. NO FINAL DATE FOR THE MARRIAGE CAN BE SET UNTIL ALL PREPARATIONS ARE COMPLETED. All preparations must be finalized at least ONE MONTH before the date of the wedding. Since marriage celebrates the unbreakable commitment between a man and a woman who are free to make this mature decision in the community of believers, certain documents are required to establish your sacramental status within the Church and your freedom from any previous unions. When you call on the priest or deacon about your marriage, he will arrange to fill out all necessary papers for both parties. All NON-PARISHIONERS will need to provide their parish name, their pastor's name as well as a phone number so that contact can be made with your home parish. This is needed at the time of the initial meeting when making wedding arrangements. Because of the many details that must be attended to in preparation for the celebration of a Christian Marriage, we have included a Checklist that hopefully will be a helpful guide in organizing your planning for this special time in your life. God who created man out of love also calls him to love – the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being, for man is created in the image and likeness of God who is Himself love. Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes. And this love which God blesses is intended to be fruitful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: "And God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.’" (Catechism of the Catholic Church) As you begin this journey of preparation for a lifetime of love and commitment in Christian Marriage may the Lord bless you with peace all the days of your lives.
click here to download planning guide The following are required documents Baptismal
Certificate First
Communion and Confirmation Certificates Affidavit
of Free Status to Marry Matrimonial
Dispensation Civil
License Pre-Nuptial
Questionnaire ALL PAPERWORK MUST BE COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE MONTH BEFORE THE DATE OF THE MARRIAGE. The Diocesan Office of Family Life sponsors the following Marriage Preparation Programs Pre-Cana
(required – not optional): Catholic
Engaged Encounter: Sponsor
Couple Program: The Catholic Church approves of the natural method of family planning called The Billings Method. The Billings Method has warranted national and international attention because of its effectiveness. For more information please call Natural Family Planning. This program is now required for marriage. Enrollment in the program for use as a post-wedding program is acceptable in some cases. Your wedding may be celebrated at any time on Friday or on Saturday up to 2:00 p.m. If neither Catholic party is a member of the Cathedral parish, written permission must be given from the pastor of his or her respective parish. In addition, the required fees must be paid. The Rector, Parochial Vicar, or Deacons of the parish are available to officiate at weddings of parishioners. Other priests or deacons are of course welcome to officiate at your wedding, but must have prior delegation from the Rector of the Cathedral before final plans are made. Contributing parishioners get priority over non-contributing or non-parishioners. Not all weekends are available for weddings due to the diocesan calendar and liturgical seasons or feasts. Also, no more than two weddings will be scheduled for any one weekend. While a minimum of six months is required for preparation, it is in your best interest to contact the parish as soon as possible about any possible wedding in order to secure a desired date. Corpus Christi Cathedral 505 N. Upper Broadway Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 Together with the priest, who will be presiding at your liturgy, you will have a part in planning your ceremony. This planning should always keep in mind that the ceremony is first and foremost a moment of prayer for all who are present. All aspects of the celebration should reflect the noble simplicity befitting Christian worship. On your final meeting with the Priest, you will discuss the specific readings from Scripture and liturgical options that you have chosen. He will help clarify any further questions you may have regarding the ceremony at that time. While it is necessary that an official witness of the Church preside over the celebration, (normally this a priest together with two witnesses) our Catholic tradition holds that the couples themselves confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church. As such, the active involvement of the couple in every aspect of planning the memorable moment is encouraged. Mass
or Ceremony? You should make your decision in consultation with the priest who is assisting in the preparation of your marriage. You will want to consider: What is your relationship to the Sunday Eucharist? Are we faithful to the churches Sunday prayer? Have we been away from the community’s prayer? Have we committed ourselves to returning? In light of your answers to these questions: Is Mass or a Liturgy of the Word the better context for the celebration of our marriage? If one of you will be unable to share Holy Communion because of another faith tradition, and the wedding is celebrated during Mass, you may want to consider what this means. Do you want to include something in this celebration in which only one of you will be able to take part? Normally the Eucharist is not celebrated at an interfaith marriage. However, for pastoral reasons the exchange of vows may take place within the context of a Mass. Who will your guests be? Is the celebration of the Eucharist the best way to help them to be with you and pray at your wedding? If many of your guests are from outside the Catholic community, you may want to consider celebrating your wedding in a Liturgy of the Word. In mixed marriages, which are celebrated without a Mass, the non-Catholic party is always welcome to invite his or her minister to take part in the ceremony. However, the Catholic priest or deacon is the minister who will always receive the consent of both parties. Be open and honest with the priest with whom you are preparing your wedding and make the decision that will provide the best context for prayer and celebration. Rehearsal The celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) is strongly recommended for all who share the Catholic faith as part of your spiritual preparation for Christian marriage. We remind all Catholics that the sacrament of marriage must be received in the state of grace. Confessions will be held during the rehearsal. For any further questions prior to your wedding rehearsal, please contact your Wedding Coordinator at the number located on the Name and Telephone Directory Sheet. Ministers
of the Celebration Lectors Gift
Bearers Holy
Communion "We welcome to this celebration of the Eucharist those Christians who are not fully united with us. It is a consequence of the sad divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend to them a general invitation to receive Communion. Catholics believe that the Eucharist is an action of the celebrating community signifying a oneness in faith, life and worship of the community. Reception of the Eucharist by Christians not fully united with us would imply a oneness which does not yet exist, and for which we must all pray." National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1987 Unity
Candle Flowers
to Mary, the Mother of God and the Church Arras
and Lasso In each Catholic Church there is reserved the Sacrament of the Lord’s Body and Blood in the Tabernacle or safe so that the Eucharist can be taken to the sick and worshipped in prayer. Therefore, we ask that all who enter the Cathedral at any time, whether before, during, or after the rehearsal or during the wedding celebration itself, observe these basic principles. Silence, respect and reverence while in the Cathedral No food, drink or chewing gum No alcoholic beverages on the church grounds, including the Cathedral parking lot Because a church wedding is a gathering of the community of faith to witness the exchange of vows and offer prayers of praise and petition through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, care must be taken to select music that is appropriate for this occasion. No matter how personally meaningful love songs and secular ballads may be to the couple, these are best left to the reception where other dimensions of the wedding celebration prevail. Couples selecting music for their wedding should first consider how that music aids the prayer of the gathered assembly. The singing by all of the acclamations of the Mass (Alleluia, Holy Holy, Memorial Acclamation and Great Amen) and the Responsorial, such as the Gloria and Lamb of God, may also be sung by all, if this is deemed appropriate for those who will be present. At the Cathedral, if the acclamations are going to be sung, the music director will assign a cantor to assist the assembly in singing the acclamations of the Mass. Secondly, couples should consider the music for the processional and recessional. Traditionally, the processional and recessional have been accompanied by instrumental music, usually the organ. However, it is possible for the organist to lead the gathered assembly in hymn of praise. A tape of possible selections for organ processionals, recessionals, appropriate hymns of praise and possible vocal solos will be supplied to you. Finally, couples may wish to consider an enhanced program of music for their wedding by engaging one of the Cathedral choirs (if schedules permit) or a soloist. Other instruments, such as the harp, violin or trumpet are also possibilities. The Cathedral organists and soloists are responsible for planning the music with the couple, and are normally the musicians who perform the music at the wedding. After the initial meeting with the priest, and after setting a date for the wedding, couples should contact the Office of Liturgical Music to set up an appointment. It is the responsibility of the music director, with the approval of the Rector of the Cathedral, to ensure that the music used in the Wedding Liturgy follows the guidelines for liturgical music given to us by the Church. That is, that the music is indeed good music, that it is liturgical, and that it is applied pastorally. If, for a legitimate reason, the couple desires the services of another organist or soloist, the director of music for the Cathedral must first approve the competence of these musicians, and then approve the music selected. Out of respect for our belief that this is a dwelling place of the living Christ, silence, respect and reverence should be observed while in the Cathedral. In addition, no smoking, food, drink, chewing gum or alcoholic beverages are permitted in any place in the church. The vestibule, sacristy, and bride’s room are also part of the church and should receive the same respect as the principal part of the church. THROWING FLOWER PETALS, RICE, CONFETTI, OR BIRDSEED IS PROHIBITED IN OR AROUND THE CHURCH BUILDING. Our Wedding Coordinator is available to confer with you regarding any questions about the ceremony and the day of the wedding itself. The Wedding Coordinator will also conduct the rehearsal and be present one half-hour (30 minutes) prior to the wedding ceremony to attend to the bridal party, open doors, assist the florists, photographer and ushers. She will be present throughout the ceremony to assure the smooth and orderly flow of the liturgy. A stipend is required. (Please refer to the Schedule of Fees.) Questions regarding the wedding ceremony should be directed to the Wedding Coordinator, Cathy Patterson, at 361-946-4961. Please be aware, however, that due to the expense, the Wedding Coordinator will NOT make long-distance phone calls unless prior arrangements are made for her to make collect calls. The liturgical seasons of Advent or Lent are not festive seasons in the Church’s liturgical life, but reflect a penitential character. Liturgical decorations in the sanctuary and throughout the church have a permanent place over wedding decorations during these seasons. Antique
Candelabra Aisle
Runners Bride’s
Room Photographs Flowers Altar
Servers Sacristan Ushers Ring
Bearers and Flower Girls The
Wedding Party Printed
Order of Service |
