Marriage
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The Sacrament of Marriage
“Where love is, God is.”
-1 John 4:15
If you have clicked on this item on our website menu, it probably means you are considering marriage or have become engaged. Congratulations!
We are delighted that you are considering St. Jude's Church for your wedding and we look forward to helping you prepare for this very special day.
In the Catholic tradition, marriage is a sacrament. The bride and groom contract their marriage in the presence of God and of the community of faith and become a holy sign of Christ’s love for the Church and of God’s faithful love for the world.
For a marriage to be sacramental, two baptized persons (at least one being Catholic) before an authorized priest and 2 witnesses in a Catholic church:
• freely enter into a vowed commitment of respect, reverence and love.
• make this promise for a lifetime.
• promise fidelity to each other.
• desire that their love be blessed with children and make the commitment to pass on the gift of faith to their children.
Thus the sacrament of marriage becomes a way of life and not just the ceremony on your wedding day. God in Christ is the center of your relationship “in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we schedule a wedding at St. Jude's?
Weddings are usually scheduled on Saturdays (except during Lent) at a time that will allow the priest and the parish to properly prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation scheduled at 4:00 p.m. that afternoon. The engaged couple needs to discuss available dates directly with the pastor. PLEASE do not finalize plans for a reception date/time/site until you are sure you have a date set at the church. Because of the number of weddings celebrated here at St. Jude's, we cannot guarantee that the day you are hoping for will be available.
What do we need to do to prepare for our marriage?
Several things are helpful and/or required to be married at St. Jude:
1) Pray with each other and for each other, and at least attend Sunday Mass regularly
2) An initial meeting with the pastor to provide you with basic information, to determine your freedom to marry in the Church and to finalize your wedding date
3) The Diocese of Little Rock requires every couple seeking marriage to participate in some formal program of marriage preparation, sometimes called “Pre-Cana” These programs are designed to help a couple deepen their understanding of the essential human and Christian aspects of the marriage covenant. To register, please contact the parish office. A schedule of other marriage preparation programs around the Little Rock area is available from the parish office.
4) Every couple is required to take the FOCCUS Inventory, a tool that measures marriage readiness, facilitates couple communication, and promotes mutual understanding on a variety of topics related to marriage. It requires an initial 45 to 60 minute session to take the Inventory and then one or more follow-up meetings with a facilitator once a couple profile is generated from it. Arrangements for this Inventory will be made with the pastor at the initial meeting with him.
5) Certain paperwork is required by the Diocese as well and will be completed in due time during the preparation process.
Given these needed steps, the parish has set a period of at least six months between setting a wedding date and the wedding ceremony itself.
What about planning our wedding ceremony?
Couples may plan to be married at either a Nuptial Mass or a Nuptial Ceremony. Either celebration will be well-planned by the couple, in consultation with the priest or deacon who presides, and with the musicians.
The wedding ceremony reflects the personal faith of the couple and the spirituality of their relationship. If the Eucharist is a significant part of your life, it follows that the Nuptial Mass would be the appropriate context for your wedding ceremony.
If you wish to have another priest or deacon from a parish other than St. Jude's officiate at your ceremony, you are welcome to do so. The marriage preparation process, however, is still arranged through the pastor of St. Jude’s.
If one of you is of another Christian tradition or another faith and you would like to have a minister or rabbi of your acquaintance be part of the ceremony, he/she would be most welcome. Please mention this in the early stages of planning so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
The parish will provide you with a wedding ceremony planning book, entitled Together for Life. This will assist you in making choices of readings and prayers that reflect the meaning of your wedding day and its commitment. Within the liturgy, there are several ways for your family members and/or friends to participate: proclaiming the scripture readings, leading the prayers of the faithful or general intercessions, bringing the gifts of bread and wine to the altar, and serving as ministers of communion.
What about music?
All music choices and preparation begins with a scheduled meeting with the parish musician who will assist you in your planning. Call the parish office at (501) 982-4891 for contact information.
What are the fees?
There is no fee for use of the church by registered parishioners. The suggested offering for the use of the parish hall for receptions or other associated activities is $150.00. A security deposit of $150.00 is required (refundable if no extra maintenance is required afterward). We also ask that you pay for 2 services provided by the church: the musician’s fee ($250), a wedding coordinator to assist you at your rehearsal and the wedding day itself ($100). Therefore, 2 checks, one in the amount of $500.00, and another in the amount of $150 should be made payable to St. Jude Church. Please note that the priest or deacon who presides at your ceremony receives none of this fee, so a gift to him may be appropriate. Fees for a marriage preparation program/Pre-Cana and for other musicians are arranged separately. Also, in appreciation to the wedding coordinator, organist, and/or cantor for exceptional service, gratuities may be given at your discretion.
Anything else we should know?
You should know that we never make any arrangements through a third party (for example, parents, an outside wedding planner, and so on). All planning involving a wedding at St. Jude Church is arranged between the couple and the pastor directly.
You’ll also want to know about flowers, photographers and videographers, programs, rehearsal times, and what is permitted (or not) at St. Jude's. The pastor or parish wedding coordinator will provide full information and guidelines at their initial meetings with you and are always ready to answer your questions.
Prayer Before Marriage
Lord God,
Source of all love,
your providence has brought us together.
As we prepare for the sacrament of marriage
we pray for your grace,
that, strengthened by your blessing,
we may grow in respect for one another
and cherish each other with a sincere love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May the God of love and peace
abide in us, guide our steps,
and confirm our hearts in his love,
now and forever.
Amen.