Parishioner Requirements for Weddings at Saint Lucy’s

• In accordance with Cannon law of the Church, either the bride or the groom must be a parishioner of Saint Lucy’s Parish.  According to Cannon Law, a parishioner is defined as an active, registered, member of the parish or one who resides in the parish boundaries (zip code 02842) or who lives in a neighboring community but has chosen to register and participate in the life of the parish. 
• Cannon law states, that If you grew up here and moved away, you are no longer a parishioner by definition.  If your mom, dad, grandparents are life-long members but you don't live here now, you are not a parishioner.  You are welcome to be married at St. Lucy's but must follow the instrcutions below for a non-parishioner wedding. 
• St. Lucy parishioners wishing to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage should make arrangements directly with Father Codega several months before the anticipated date of their wedding. 
• Church arrangements should be secured BEFORE the reception venue.
• Couples are also required to fulfill all obligations of the Diocese of Providence Marriage Preparation Program.
• It is expected that the couple be active members of the parish, taking their faith and sacramental life seriously, they will attend Mass weekly, as they prepare for this sacred occasion and a life together.
• Certificates of Baptism, (First Communion and Confirmation) are required of all Catholics and should be obtained from the Church where the you were baptized, requested within six months of the couples engagement to marry.  Start by contacting your parish of Baptism, since all other sacraments in other churches should be recorded at your baptismal parish.  If not located there, then contact the other parishes directly.
• The couple should make the calls themselves - this is not a job for your mom or grandmother (although they'll want to help).
• For mixed (inter-faith) marriages, the non-Catholics parties will need a birth certificate and Baptismal certificate (when Baptism has occurred)

• Non-Parishioner / destination weddings, are accepted only as a courtesy and a service to the practicing Catholic couple and should not be routinely or automatically expected.  Non-Catholic weddings are not permissible at St. Lucy's Church
• According to Canon Law, couples must work with their home pastor for Sacramental preparations, fulfilling any requirements of their home diocese.   Your first step is to speak with your home pastor (either of the bride or the groom).
•  It should not be expected that the priest at St. Lucy's will be available for your ceremony unless there is a strong tie to St. Lucy's parish (ie: you grew up as a parishioner and / or your family and friends are here),
• The couple will be required to secure the ministerial services of a Catholic Priest or Deacon, in good standing with the Roman Catholic Church, to witness their wedding at St. Lucy's. He does not have to be the same priest who assists you with your preparation for marriage.
• If he is from outside the Diocese or Providence, he will need to send a letter from his bishop stating his good-standing in the church (he'll know what this means) as well as a letter (or email) to St. Lucy's stating his  commitment to assist the couple on the day of the wedding.  
• The commitment letter from your priest/deacon needs to be received by St. Lucy's prior to any arrangements being confirmed at St. Lucy's.  No Priest - no wedding!
• Cannon law requires that your parish priest, preparing the intended couple, will complete the Marriage Preparation Packet according to your diocese's requirements and forward all materials to the Diocese of Providence’s Chancery Office for Diocese of Providence's approval, who in turn will forward materials to St. Lucy’s Church on behalf of the couple and priest-preparer. 
• Because your paperwork has to go from your priest to your diocese, from your diocese to Providence diocese, from the Providence Diocese to to St. Lucy church, the sooner the process is started the better.  (Sounds complicated but we do this all the time)
• No paper work - no wedding.
• Couples must secure a State of Rhode Island marriage license prior to the wedding according to state requirements
• no license - no wedding
• For non-parishioner weddings, the offering is $1,000 and does not include financial arrangements with your liturgical music ministry. This offering is for the Church, not for the priest. An additional offering to your priest or deacon of choice is customary.
• A non-refundable deposit of $250 must be received in order to secure your wedding date in St. Lucy Church.  The deposit is non-refundable as a sign of your commitment to that date, and because we will hold your date for you and refuse other inquiries for that same day. Unfortunately we have held dates for couples only to find out they had reserved multiple churches

• The services of our music ministry are to be arranged directly by the bride and groom. (Separate guidelines regarding Wedding music are provided by the Church)
• All payments to the Church must be finalized two weeks prior to the wedding.

Wedding Prescriptions for all Nuptial services at St. Lucy Parish

Strict adherence, with pastoral considerations, to the promulgated rituals is expected by all visiting clergy and parties.  In addition, the Pastor of St. Lucy has also added his preferences that shall also be followed for all services.  The goal of these are first, to add consistency to the many weddings performed here for the sake of our assistants and ministers, and also to signify the dignity and solemnity that is due the Sacrament of Matrimony. 
 

• Procession to the altar and Introductory Rites will follow one of the two forms offered in the ritual.

• Priest shall wear alb, stole and chasuble of appropriate color for the liturgy.  For marriage outside of the Mass, alb and stole, or cassock, surplice and stole are both appropriate (or dalmatic and stole for the deacon).

• Upon reaching their places, the bridal party and ministers should be instructed to bow to the altar and genuflect toward the tabernacle.  The women in dresses may make a profound bow in the direction of both.

• The Bride and Groom, along with maid/matron of honor and best man (serving as witnesses) will stand or kneel as appropriate for the ceremony before the Altar, regardless of ceremony being a Liturgy of the Word of a full Mass.  There will not be chairs for them, and they will not be seated. (Obviously, if unable to kneel for prolonged time for physical or medical reasons are understandable exception.)

• During the invitation to Holy Communion, exceptional care should be given to ensure those who have worthily received Holy Communion immediately consume the same in the presence of the priest.  Too often consecrated hosts are found in the pews or on the floor!

• At the conclusion of the ceremony, all should make profound bows to the altar and tabernacle before exiting.