“The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator.”
-Catechism of the Catholic Church 1603
Matrimony joins two people in marriage for a lifetime of dedication to each other’s well-being and the well-being of their children and the community.
Congratulations on your decision to enter Holy Matrimony in the Catholic Church! We are excited for you in this special time and are thrilled that you would like St. Catherine of Siena parish to assist you in your journey towards Marriage Preparation and your Catholic Marriage.
Begin the Process…
We are excited to be part of your decision to marry. We are here to support you and guide you through the process of preparation. We will assist you in planning all the details of your Wedding through the initial steps, marriage preparation, rehearsal, and the wedding itself.
Contact Minerva Perez, our Marriage Preparation Coordinator, at (727) 531-7721 ext. 105 or perez@scosparish.org.
Wedding Liturgy
The Celebration of Marriage may take one of two forms:
A Nuptial Mass is celebrated within the context of a Catholic Mass (including Holy Eucharist) and includes musical accompaniment. When both the bride and groom share the Catholic faith, celebrating Holy Communion together as husband and wife is the most beautiful and meaningful expression by which a couple can begin their Catholic marriage.
A Wedding Ceremony is a shorter service which includes musical accompaniment and the following: an entrance procession, readings from Scripture, a homily, the exchange of vows, the blessing of rings, the Lord’s Prayer, and an exit procession. Noble in its simplicity, this Ceremony is preferred when either the bride or the groom does not share the Catholic faith or if the celebration of Holy Communion presents a serious cause of division among family and friends.
Location & Time
Wedding Ceremonies and Nuptial Masses take place at St. Catherine of Siena in the church and at the following times:
Fridays anytime between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm
Saturdays at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, or 6:00 pm
Weddings receive 90 minutes of scheduled time for both the liturgy and any photography afterwards.
Any couple desiring to receive the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony must undergo a program of marriage preparation prior to their wedding day; this beneficial program readies the couple to live out the vows of their marriage throughout their lives. A minimum of six months is ordinarily required for a couple’s preparation. See below for more!
Wedding Liturgy
READINGS & READERS
The couple choses the liturgy’s Scripture readings from Together for Life. They also choose the readers and communicate to them the Scripture texts chosen.
These readers should be clear, articulate, and comfortable with public speaking.
GUEST PRIESTS OR DEACONS
If a visiting priest or deacon is desired as the marriage’s officiant, please inform the wedding coordinator during the marriage preparation process; guest clergy are most welcome at St. Catherine of Siena.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographs may be taken at any point but in such a way as to respect the sacredness of the ceremony.
Photographers may not step up into the main sanctuary (near the altar) or work in such a way that causes disruption or distraction.
MUSIC
Music is an integral dimension of the ceremony and adds to its beauty.
The Director of Music must be contacted at least one month prior to the wedding for consultation of appropriate musical selection.
DÉCOR
Additional church decorations must respect the current liturgical season (i.e., Lent, Advent, etc.) and pre-existing church decorations will remain in place. If pew bows are used, please advise the decorator/florist that these must be tied rather than taped or clipped. Aisle runners or the throwing of flower petals/rice is not permitted.
REHEARSAL & HOSPITALITY
The wedding coordinator will conduct a rehearsal on the evening prior to the wedding for those directly involved in the ceremony.
The marriage license must be brought to the rehearsal. On the day of the wedding, the Bride’s Room and Groom’s Room will be made available to the bridal party 30 minutes before the wedding.
Marriage Preparation
Our marriage preparation program utilizes Witness to Love, “an innovative mentorship program which fosters dynamic marriage discipleship.” Contrary to other marriage preparation programs, Witness to Love encourages the engaged couple to choose a mentor couple who will guide them and walk with them—not only in the months leading up to the marriage but following the wedding day as well.
Once chosen, the mentor couple will be trained in their new role by one of our parish deacons. Then, the two couples will share 6 meals together in which they will progress through enriching and worthwhile conversations covering a range of topics from communication and family dynamics to relationships and balance.
In addition to the 6 meals shared together, the couple will participate in a retreat at St. Catherine of Siena. Together with a handful of other activities, our parish program of marriage preparation truly equips married couples to become positive and uplifting witnesses to married love in our community.
To learn more about our program of marriage preparation and to set-up an introductory appointment, please contact our parish office at (727) 531-7721 and ask for our Marriage Preparation Coordinator, Mrs. Minerva Perez, ext. 105.
Marriage Resources
Marriage is a covenant with God and life-long commitment. We invite you to utilize the following resources before or perhaps long after the wedding day!
For Your Marriage
For Your Marriage is a website, by the United States Catholic Bishops Conference, offers practical information and resources for married and engaged couples and people in serious dating relationships. In addition to articles on all stages of married life, the website features a Daily Marriage Tip, blogs, quizzes, book reviews, and Marriage in the News. You can also sign up to receive the newsletter About Catholic Marriage when you visit the Bishops’ website.
World Wide Marriage Encounter of Tampa Bay
Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend for married Christian couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together. Attend a Marriage Encounter weekend and learn the tools needed to keep your marriage strong.
Retrouvaille
Retrouvaille, a program for troubled marriages, offers hope and healing to hurting marriages in the Diocese of St Petersburg and surrounding areas.
