Matrimony
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“A wedding is a day…a marriage is a lifetime.”
Our parish follows the guidelines set forth by the Diocese of Palm Beach for the marriage preparation process. Contact our Pastor, Father Horgan for more information or contact the Parish Office. Please allow six months to complete the marriage preparation process. *One must be an active parishioner at St.lucy Catholic Church for at least 6 months prior to any marriage ceremony.
Office Of The Pastor
My dear friends,
Congratulations! Your wedding will be an incredibly special occasion for both of you – an event which marks the beginning of a new relationship, which will last for the rest of your lives. It is also an occasion of joy for the Church and for Saint Lucy Parish. In faith we are united, therefore, your wedding is not merely a personal celebration for you and those close to you but also, a celebration of the entire Church.
Special times call for special actions. Because you hope to have your marriage ceremony here at St. Lucy, I would like you to review our guidelines so that from the very start, you are aware of what is required of you, what our expectations are of you, and what the Church teaches concerning the whole preparation for this, your very special day!
Some basic information:
To schedule your date and time, please call the rectory to schedule a preliminary meeting with one of the priests.
When you call, please let us know of any previous marriages; if one of you is a non-Catholic or if you are related to each other by blood or marriage.
If there is a need to make a change in the date or time of your wedding, please contact us immediately. Do not finalize any new plans until the priest who is working with you confirms that the new day and time are available.
Deciding between a Wedding Mass or a Wedding Ceremony:
The priest who is celebrating your wedding will help you decide between a Wedding Mass or a Wedding Ceremony. Celebrating a Mass with your wedding ceremony is not required by the Church. A Wedding Ceremony is about 10 minutes shorter than a Wedding Mass because there is no Holy Communion. If one of you is not a practicing member of the Catholic Community, the Church only allows a Wedding Ceremony.
Weddings may be scheduled:
Saturdays: 10:00am, 12:00pm & 2:00pm (Ceremony or Mass)
(No Evening Weddings)Weekdays: Time can be arranged.
We only schedule one wedding per day.
The Precepts of the Church
The Precepts of the Church describe the minimum effort we must make in prayer and in living a moral life. All Catholics are called to move beyond the minimum by growing in love of God and love of neighbor. In this journey towards marriage, it is expected and assumed that the following will occur:
1. Attendance at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, here at St. Lucy Parish.
2. Confession.
3. Following the teachings of the Church concerning co-habitation.
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Also Please Note:
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All couples are required to participate in a marriage preparation program sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church. These can include the Prepare/Enrich © Program, a Pre-Cana weekend, attendance at a Natural Family presentation, amongst others. * Details will be worked out when you meet with the priest
The Celebrant for the Wedding:
You are most welcome to have a visiting priest or deacon (who is a relative or friend of the family) celebrate your wedding. Once the wedding is arranged, and the deposit given to reserve the date and time, you must arrange to meet with that priest or deacon who will celebrate your wedding. The visiting priest or deacon must contact the Pastor of Saint Lucy Catholic Church as soon as possible and discuss the wedding with him.
The Sacrament of Confession:
You should plan to receive the Sacrament of Confession as part of your wedding preparation. The night of your rehearsal is an opportune time for you, and the members of your wedding party, to avail themselves of this beautiful Sacrament.
Readers at the Wedding:
You may select family members or friends to proclaim the Scripture readings at the Wedding. Only a Roman Catholic may read at a Wedding Mass. Any Baptized Christian may read at a Wedding Ceremony. Readers should be present at the rehearsal to be properly instructed in this important role. You will be given a booklet “Together For Life” to assist in planning the ceremony.
Flower Girls and Ring Bearers are Not Permitted.
Based on experience, please do not include young children in the bridal party as flower girls and ring bearers.
The Members of the Wedding Party:
The Roman Catholic Church requires that there be two witnesses to your wedding. They must be old enough to sign a legal document, without their parents countersigning it. The witnesses of the wedding (Best Man, Maid/Matron of Honor) need not be Roman Catholic to fulfill this role. The Best Man and the Maid/Matron of Honor will be seated in the first pew on either side of the Church.
In selecting gowns for the wedding, please consider the respect which is appropriate for a church wedding. While the style is up to you, the attire should be sensibly modest so as not to be offensive to the Priest\Deacon and to those attending the wedding.
Arrival time:
Ushers, best man, and the groom should arrive at least 30 minutes, preferably 45 minutes to an hour, before the start of the wedding. The Bride and her attendants should arrive no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled start. Being late will result in changes to the wedding ceremony, including cancellation, depending on the needs of the parish at that time. Tardiness is not accepted.
Rehearsal:
When you meet with the priest/deacon to complete the necessary paperwork, please be prepared to set a date and time for your Rehearsal. It is best to do so within several days of the wedding. It is important that all the members of your wedding party to be present. This would include the readers and all others who have some role in your wedding Mass or Ceremony. People who are not involved in the ceremony should not attend the rehearsal.
* The priest/deacon who will be officiating at your Wedding will conduct the rehearsal.A Wedding Coordinator is welcome to observe the rehearsal but has no role, in any capacity, at this event. They ensure that the ceremony will start at the appropriate time.
Flowers, Aisle Runners and other Decorations:
Please limit flowers to two regular sized baskets that will be put on stands at the side of the altar.
* No flower arches, trees, bushes, candles, balloons or oversized / unusual arrangements are permitted. Aisle runners are not permitted, due to insurance regulations.Photography and Filming:
You are responsible for informing your photographer / videographer of the following:
1. Photographers and videographers are not permitted at any time in the Sanctuary area.
2. We should never be hearing the constant sound of pictures being taken during the wedding.
3. Photographers and videographers should not be moving around throughout the ceremony.
4. No pictures should be taken of the congregation during the actual ceremony or anyone receiving Holy Communion.
5. Floodlights are permitted only at the Procession and Recessional.Important Notes:
No rice, confetti, or flower petals should be thrown either inside or outside the church.
No garbage or trash, of any kind, should be left behind in the Church, the lobby or outside the Church.
No alcoholic beverages should be consumed by the wedding party before the rehearsal or the ceremony itself. Should it be apparent that a member of the wedding party appears to be under the influence of some substance (drug/alcohol) they will not be allowed to partake in the ceremony and may result in the wedding itself being cancelled.Booklets:
Should you decide to have a program printed, please consult with us at the earliest stage of its development. We will work with you to be sure the booklet matches the actual Wedding Mass or Ceremony.
Fees:
The Church Fee is $2000 plus a $250 Non-Refundable Deposit to reserve the date, and upon signing this document. $2000 full payment is required one month in advance of the wedding.
At your initial meeting with the priest, the deposit of $250 is required to reserve the date in the Church calendar. Please make all checks made out to “Saint Lucy Catholic Church.”
Music at the Wedding:
Our church organist/music director will be discussing the music for your wedding. Please note, secular music is never permitted at a wedding. The Music Fee is $400 separate from the church fee. Should you decide to use the services of another music provider, you are still responsible for the Church Music Fee.
Please know of my full commitment to your preparation, I ask for the same full participation on your behalf. Should that commitment not be apparent to me, I reserve the right to postpone, or cancel the ceremony.Again, my deepest joy and very best wishes for your upcoming wedding. Should you need to contact me, please feel free to call my cellphone (561) 306-8042, or the Parish Office (561) 278-1280. Alternatively, you may email me at [email protected]
With my kindest and very personal best wishes,
Rev. D. Brian Horgan PhD
Pastor
If you have further questions regarding the process please contact the front office. 561-278-1280.
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Required Documents
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Documents: Father Horgan will complete the Diocesan pre-marital questionnaire (Form A) with each couple at the initial interview. The couple will then need to provide the following documents for marriage preparation:
Form B’s: The bride and groom will each receive two witness affidavits. The forms verify their freedom to marry. Each form will need to be completed by a parent, a sibling, a relative, or by a friend who has known the couple for two or more years (by four separate people). These forms will need to be notarized.
Baptismal Certificate: If Catholic, you will be required to obtain a recently issued baptismal certificate from your Church of Baptism dated within 6 months of your date of marriage. If non-Catholic, a certificate of baptism is also required. A copy of the original certificate is acceptable only for a non-Catholic party.
Confirmation Certificate: (if applicable)-This can be obtained from the church where the Sacrament of Confirmation was received.
Previous Marriage: If there was a previous marriage(s), church or civil, a “Decree of Nullity” will be required along with the certified divorce decree and a copy of the marriage license of the previous marriage. If the previous spouse is deceased, a copy of the death certificate will be required.
Under 19 years old: If under the age of 19, a written and notarized parental permission is required and the couple must adhere to Diocesan rules for youthful marriages. A Pre-marital counseling session will also be a requirement.
Beloved: Certificate of Completion
License: The marriage license must be brought to the night of the rehearsal. This is obtained from the County Clerk’s office prior to the rehearsal.
Please call the parish office or Fr. Horgan at least 6 months prior to the desired wedding date. You can call the parish office at 561-278-1280
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Reminders
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You Must be on time to rehearsals and it is mandatory that the wedding party and bride/groom arrive no less than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time of the marriage.
Remember
- There are absolutely no alcoholic beverages, gum, or food items allowed in the church at the rehearsal or during the ceremony.
- Bubbles and the throwing of rice, birdseed or confetti are prohibited on the church property after a wedding ceremony. Please save this for your reception site.
- Please remember that the church is here to assist you in the Sacrament of Marriage and we ask that you show the utmost respect for the church and follow the rules and guidelines we have provided for you here.
We greatly appreciate your assistance in this matter.
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