Marriage

Congratulations on your Engagement! Know of our prayers for you as you begin your preparation to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage. If you need any assistance and cannot reach one of the priests either Peggy Henninger or Lupita Gonzalez will be happy to try to help you.

The Preparation Process
1. The Application to Marry:  Marriage process begins with a phone call to the parish and scheduling an appointment to meet one of our persons trained to help you. In that first meeting, be prepared to:
       a. Share a little bit about your story and your faith
       b. Fill out an application
       c. Fill out a questionnaire designed to help us know you a little better and what your preparation needs might be d. Provide a baptismal certificate from the Church where you were baptized (the priest can help you with this).
       e. Discuss any previous marriages   f. Discuss where you live and why you wish to marry at Our Lady of the Greenwood

 As part of this process we will be prepared to answer any questions for you!

2. The Preparation Process: Here at Our Lady of the Greenwood we ask that you prepare for marriage in the following way:
      a. Attend a weekend retreat
           i. English retreats: TOBIT or One in Christ are approved by us. If you are not able to attend one of these another may be arranged with the priest preparing you for marriage.
             ii. Spanish retreats: Pre-Cana when provided by the Archdiocese.  Approved retreats would be any retreat provided by a local Archdiocesan parish. Additionally, the Matrimonios con Proposito retreat experience is approved as well. Other arrangements should be discussed with the priest preparing for marriage.   
3. Meet with a Trained Sponsor Couple 4-5 times (English and Spanish)
      c. Opening and Closing Session with the priest for discussion of prayer and the Sacrament of Marriage
        d. One introductory session to natural family planning (not needed if participating in One in Christ)
        e. Other preparation as needed (i.e., preparation for other sacraments like Eucharist or Confirmation). 
4. It is recommended for Catholics to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least a few weeks prior to your wedding.

Some guidelines for your wedding at OLG
1) Scheduling and times available – Weddings are scheduled on Saturdays:
     o 10:30am (Church or chapel as well as dressing rooms are available from 8am-12pm)
     o 2:30pm Church or chapel as well as dressing rooms are available from 12:15pm-4:15pm)

     – The date of your wedding is subject to availability.
     – Weddings are permitted during Advent and Lent but with limitations on decorations.
     – Other dates and times can be available but are subject approval from the pastor.
     – A wedding can also happen during a Sunday Mass but the readings for the Sunday must be used. Subject to approval from the Pastor.
     – If your wedding is on a feast, solemnity, or holy day of obligation, the readings and Mass of the day must be used.

2) Music
     – Please Contact the Music Director Jeff Havens 317 888 2861 ext. 235 to arrange for your music. All musicians and music choices must be approved by him.
     – Music for wedding must be sacred Christian music appropriate for Catholic Liturgy.

3) Photography and Video
     – All photographers and videographers must respect the designated areas and times for photos and videos. If they are uncooperative or disrespectful to the prayerful tone of the liturgy they will be asked to leave. No flash photography
during a celebration of the Mass.
     – Many videographers wish for the priest wear an additional microphone. Please advise them that it is the preference of the priest of OLG to not have to wear
this.
4) Decorations
     – Flower arrangements are permitted but are not to exceed the height of the altar.
     – Pew decorations are permitted but cannot scratch or alter the pews. They must be respectful of the sacred space.
     – No decorations for Advent or Lent. Church decorations may not be altered or changed if your wedding is during this time.
     – It is our preference to not use the unity candle as it is not part of the Rite of Marriage in the Catholic Church

     – Aisle runners are permitted but must be handled with care and be removed before the time you are allotted is over.

5) Food
     – No food or drink is permitted in the Church at any time. Please keep coffee and other drinks in the narthex or one of our gathering spaces.

6) Planning the Liturgy
     – The last session you have with the priest will be to help plan your wedding.  You will be given an opportunity to choose the readings from the Scriptures during this time as well as choose family members who can help proclaim
them.
     – All other arrangements will be made with a wedding coordinator assigned to you by the parish.
7) The Wedding Rehearsal
     – The time for the rehearsal is usually the evening before your wedding. This will be arranged with the presider of your wedding at a mutually convenient time.
     – These are the people who should attend:
          o Couple
          o Lectors
          o Person reading the petitions (if applicable)
          o All those participating as members of the wedding party
          o Godparents who are participating in the wedding
          o If you have not already dropped off your license to the office, please bring it to the rehearsal (see below).

8) Expenses
     – We ask that you donate $500 to our parish to cover costs as well as demonstrate that you are committed to using our facility on the date you request. If you are unable to offer this donation, please let the priest or Office
manager know and we can make other arrangements or waive the fee if necessary. Please note that while there is no cost to you for the use of the Church, there is a cost to us. That is why we ask for a donation of this amount.
     – Musicians need to be paid a stipend for their services. This can be arranged privately with the director of music
     – We like to have at least three servers available for every wedding, it is always appreciated if a member of your family offers for a small donation to them.  This can be arranged with them after the Mass or service.
     – It is a custom to pay a stole fee or offer a gift to the priest celebrating the wedding but it is not necessary. Here in the US priests receive a salary from the Archdiocese and so this gift is not needed but accepted if you wish to offer
it.

9) The Civil Marriage License

     – In Indiana, the Catholic Church has the permission of the state to celebrate the civil marriage. For this reason, if you are not already civilly married you must obtain a civil marriage license from the county in which you reside. These are usually good for 60 days and so you don’t want to get one too soon or wait too long. This marriage license will be signed by the priest and the couple after the wedding ceremony and will either be sent to the county by us or given to you to mail yourselves.
     – If you can have this brought to our office before the wedding, we can have it typed and ready for your wedding day.