Dear Bride and Groom,
Congratulations on your engagement! All of us at Saint Ann Parish congratulate you and your family. We promise to support and pray for you now, and as you move closer in your preparation so as to begin your new life together in Holy Matrimony. It is an honor to assist you in planning for and in celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony.
If you have not already done so, please make an appointment to meet with the pastor, by calling the rectory at 617-825-6180, or emailing the office at saintannneponset@gmail.com, at least six months prior to your wedding. Please click on the link below to electronically complete the necessary background information.
Marriage meeting preparation form
In order to confirm a wedding date and time, it is necessary to meet with the pastor first, this assures that you are ready, and free, to marry in the Catholic Church. Once this has been determined, after your first meeting and completion of the preparation forms, your wedding date can be confirmed. The parish priest and pastoral staff are present to support you as an individual couple. Your engagement time is a most important and sacred time for your actual wedding day and the blessed years that will follow. Most often each couple will need to participate in a certified marriage preparation program. You, as a couple, need to make arrangements with the priest for assistance in finding the best and most appropriate certified program for marriage preparation and complete the program prior to your final meeting with the parish priest. You may check the Archdiocese of Boston's website to find the full listing by month of Marriage Preparation Programs (also known as Pre-Cana). Marriage Preparation Programs in the Boston Area.
We understand that there are many details that you and your betrothed are busy with. It is our hope that your parish can support you and journey with you in this sacred time of preparation. We all know that for marriage to be fruitful, you need to live your relationship in prayerful unity, especially by joining the Christian community fully within the celebration of Sunday Mass. The priest is available to assist you in your preparation through conversation, prayer and the sacraments. I invite you individually to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, prior to your wedding day. This is a special gift that you can receive individually and a foundation that every couples needs to practice within the Sacrament of Marriage. The Sacrament will assist you to grow in your relationship and trust in the Lord. As your priest and pastor I am honored to support you in your preparation for this beautiful sacrament.
Please allow us to help you in your preparation for your wedding day, and as you begin your new lives together. The Sacrament of Matrimony is joyful and meaningful – it is a holy vocation to which God calls you and in which God will help you to find happiness and fulfillment in Him as you live a new life within the sacrament of marital love.
The answers to some common questions, that most couples have are listed below, I hope that this is helpful. If there is anything that I or our staff can do to provide additional assistance or support to you and your family, please feel free to contact me directly at the rectory or feel free to speak to me before or after any of the parish Masses. You may also feel free to connect with me through our parish office email at saintannneponset@gmail.com.
Please know that you are very much in my prayers and those of our parish. Family. I wish you every grace and blessing as you move forward to your wedding day. Asking Saint Ann, our patron, to intercede for you and those whom you love. May the Lord bless and protect you both.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Sean
What to prepare and bring to the first meeting?
A newly issued parish record of your Baptism and Confirmation must be requested and provided to complete the application form and for the necessary recording in our parish sacramental register. These are available at the parish location where you received your Baptism and Confirmation. You are required to go to your City or Town Hall and complete application for a wedding license and any and all civil requirements for the Commonwealth. This license must be given to the priest or deacon on or before the wedding rehearsal. Without it the wedding cannot take place.
How do I Schedule a Wedding Rehearsal?
Each couple is assigned to one of our trained parish wedding coordinators. Either the coordinator or the rectory office will contact you to schedule and confirm a rehearsal. Your wedding rehearsal may be scheduled when you meet with the priest or by calling the parish secretary at the rectory. Each couple must book their rehearsal date and time.
If for any reason your wedding plans change after a date has been scheduled, please notify Fr. Sean. The coordinator spends adequate time with each couple to assure that the sacramental format of the liturgy is explained, rehearsed and comfortable for you and your guests. The coordinator will contact you approximately one month prior to your wedding date and rehearsal. Please bring the following to the wedding rehearsal: The completed selection sheet for your ceremony, your Massachusetts marriage license and your parish donation and fees.
Please click on the link below to fill out the Marriage meeting preparation form. This should be filled out before your first meeting with the Pastor.
Marriage meeting preparation form
FLOWERS AND CHURCH CARPET
Florists are typically accustomed to the set-up and delivery of flowers for your wedding. We are open to appropriate liturgical displays in conformity with the Catholic Tradition.
When the Sacrament of Matrimony is celebrated during Advent and Lent please bear in mind the more simple character and simplicity of these seasons. During Christmas and Easter the church is decorated seasonally. In as much you may add particular appropriate additions with the permission of the pastor.
Kindly ask your florist to make arrangements with the rectory for floral deliveries; please remind your florist that there is a 4:00PM Mass on Saturdays. Some couples are accustomed to leaving their flowers in the church following the wedding ceremony for the weekend Masses. (Your florist may contact the rectory for more detailed assistance.)
The florists or your own wedding assistants can assist you in making arrangements for a carpet or runner. If you plan to have a runner, please note that the center aisle is 99 feet long. Please be mindful that the Church building is a sacred space. We ask you to make sure that your guests do not throw anything - including flowers, rice, birdseed, bubbles or confetti, either inside or outside of the church or grounds.
The florist and the couple are responsible for the set up and removal of arrangements that have not been previously offered to the parish.
PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER
Please have your photographer and videographer check with the pastor or pastoral staff, prior to the start of the Mass or wedding ceremony.
Additional lighting is not needed and should be discouraged for your comfort, as well as that of your guests.
CANDLELIGHT WEDDING
We are pleased to have available ten (10) pew-candelabras that are fitted for use at the pews along the center aisle of the church.
They are available for rent if you desire a candlelit wedding. Ask your wedding coordinator for more information.
ALTAR SERVERS
Saint Ann Parish has a dedicated team of altar servers. We normally assign two servers for your Mass or ceremony. If you have trained family members or friends that serve at their own parish, they are welcome to serve with the approval of the pastor. Albs are available for our visiting servers.
MUSIC
Music is an important part of our sacramental life. It is therefore, an important part of your wedding celebration. Saint Ann Parish is blessed to have a diverse and talented staff of liturgical musicians, support personnel and assistants.
All music selections must be liturgical and approved by the Pastor and Music Director. In accord with the sanctity of the church, all music played at Mass must be appropriate liturgical Church Music. Although other personal music may have special meaning to you, these would be more appropriately used at the reception or other gathering times and places. Our Music Director will assist you in choosing your music and supporting and performing during the celebration.
Under normal circumstances, the music director and parish cantors sing at all weddings. Sometimes couples have family members and friends who wish to share their talents with the couple. All guest musicians, soloists-cantors, for the wedding must be previously approved by the Pastor and Music Director before the wedding day. We are happy to assist you in this process. For questions or clarification, please contact the Pastor.
FEES AND DONATIONS
The Sacraments of the Catholic Church are a free gift given to us by our Lord and His Church, as such there is never a fee for a Sacrament.
It is necessary to reimburse the parish for the professional fees of our musicians and cleaning-maintenance staff. You are requested to make payment for the professional fees of our professional staff persons who are contracted and/or who direct the wedding. It is requested that each couple cover the expenses for our staff, rather to pay each person individually.
The reimbursement fee for our professional service is $615.00. This covers the following parish expenses and contracted services:
-$225.00 music director-organist;
-$150.00 cantor/soloist;
-$100.00 wedding coordinator;
-$100.00 janitorial preparation and clean-up;
-$20.00 each for the two altar servers.
This fee is required even if you provide your own and approved professionals.
In additional, optional extra musicians are available and coordinated through the music director. We have made arrangements for many additional musicians, such as the viola and horns. The normal additional fee for each is
$100.00.
Optional rental of the pew-candelabras is an additional $100.00; this includes the cost of the candles and set-up.
It is customary, however, when celebrating the sacraments to make a free will offering to the Church, to the parish, according to your means. This offering supports our pastoral work of the whole parish, including your pre-marital appointments and support.
-The parishes in this part of Boston ask that parishioners offer $250.00
and non-parishioners offer $500.00.
If this amount is financially difficult, please feel free to speak with the pastor.
Revised May, 2010