GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. Spend some time daily in prayer either alone or as a couple asking the Lord to guide you and be your support as you launch out on this new life together. Remember it is He who is the centre of your marriage life and the bond that will keep you united.
2. The celebration of the Sacrament at St Peter's Church is meant to be a rich spiritual experience. Thus, do not get lost in the 'frills' of the celebration but concentrate on a good liturgical celebration. In all your planning of the liturgy please see that it truly becomes a deep spiritual experience for both of you and for all those who attend it.
3. All sacraments are communitarian and thus we would be happy that you see that as many of your relatives and friends attend the Eucharist. PLEASE NOTE THAT NO SINGLE COUPLE WEDDINGS ARE GUARANTEED AT ST. PETER'S.
4. Aim at full, conscious and active participation of all those present, therefore, try to avoid making the congregation mere spectators.
5. In order that your Wedding liturgy is truly meaningful and special to you, see that you personalise it as much as possible. Choose your own penitential rite, readings, hymns, write your own prayers (e.g. penitential rite, thanksgiving prayers etc) and be personal and creative where possible.
6. While you may ask others to help you plan your liturgy, please see that both of you work along with them.
7. Plan much ahead of time and don't leave anything for the last few days.
   
   GUIDELINES TO COUPLES CONTEMPLATING MARRIAGE:
8. Non-Parishioner marriages are allowed at St. Peter's only if: 1. They are ex-parishioners; 2. They are closely connected with our Church/School (not only because they are ex-students) and 3. There is some special reason for which their Parish Priest requests us to have the marriage here.
9. See that you do the marriage preparation course six months before your marriage. Get in touch with Snehalaya, Family Service Centre, Victoria Church, L.J. Rd. Mahim Tel 2446 8218. Check the Parish Notice board for the Course dates or www.snehalaya.com.
10. Meet your zonal priest at least 3 months before the wedding to have enough time for the necessary papers done.
11. Papers that will be required:
    1. Your recent baptism certificates (6 months within the date of marriage).
    2. We will require that you both fill a Pre-Nuptial Enquiry form.
    3. If you are abroad you will have to fill an oath of free state in the presence of your parish priest and you will require to get a freedom to marry certificate from your parish abroad.
    For a Disparity of cult marriage, (Catholic with a non Christian) we will also require:
    1. An Affidavit with some proof of the date of birth, name and parents' names etc of the Non Catholic party stating that the non Christian party is not being forced into this marriage etc;
    2. You will have to take a Promise (Promise taken by a Catholic party wishing to marry a non Catholic) esp. to see that you will do all in your power to have the children Baptised in the Catholic church;
    3. We will have to apply to the Bishop for Dispensation from the impediment of Disparity of Cult. For this, your 'Promise' will have to be included.
    Banns are not published for disparity of cult marriages.
12. Timings for weddings at St. Peter's Church:
    Mondays to Fridays: 4:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Except First Fridays: 4:45 p.m.)
    Saturdays: 4:00 and 5:15 p.m.
    You are free to celebrate your nuptials at any of the scheduled weekday and Sunday Masses too. Sunday also at 3:45 p.m.
    See that your mass has been entered in the Mass register at the parish office as soon as you have finalized the date. (Timings 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)
    Marriages at Peters Church are not allowed to take place on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Marriages during Lent, especially on Sundays of Lent are strongly discouraged and to a lesser degree during the Advent Season.
    
    PLANNING YOUR WEDDING LITURGY
13. Plan your wedding liturgy with the priest who conducts your pre-nuptial enquiry. Keep in mind that on Sundays of Advent, Lent Eastertide, and other major feasts the liturgy of the day must be followed. On a Sunday (or Saturday after 5:00 p.m.) in Ordinary time, if the nuptials take place during a scheduled Mass, the liturgy of the day must be followed, but one reading (preferably the Second) may be taken from the selection offered for Nuptial Masses.
14. Printing of a booklet is not necessary, but if you do, keep it simple and please do not print the Scripture readings and prayers as these should be proclaimed from the Lectionary/Missal. Get it approved by the Priest guiding you before you get it printed.
15. Fix your own choir in advance. If it is a regular mass, check out with the choir of the mass or make your own arrangements, but inform the regular choir in advance. For a full participation, if the hymns chosen are not from the hymn book, please print out the hymns. There is no need of printing booklets for the liturgy. Please discuss the choice of hymns with the priest guiding you. For Sound arrangements, we have our own sound system and a maximum of three mikes are given to the Choir. You may get in touch with Nestor Taites of Sound Crafters (98209 47116) for the sound arrangements. Concerning the use of the organ, get in touch with our Sacristan Mr. Herman Dias
16. All Floral decoration should be modest and not overdone & should be discussed with the priest. No fresh flowers are to be attached to the pews and no tape. Flowers may be placed on the marble altar behind, the two statues of St. Peter and Mother Mary. Those in front of the Altar should not cover the altar or come in the way of the ceremony. Please inform our Sacristan much in advance.
17. Ask the priest for the booklet of readings for the Nuptial Mass. You may choose two or three readings that you both find meaningful. The Gospel reading is never omitted. The Readings, Prayer of the Faithful should be done by people with a proven capacity to effectively proclaim God's Word and not merely because they are relatives etc.
18. While you are covering all details for your marriage please see that you/the bride and the bridesmaids are also well covered … that is, dressed in a proper attire for Church.
19. For the offertory procession Bread and Wine will be provided by the Church. The only other gifts that may be brought up to the Altar are gifts for the poor or gifts that are to be used at the Liturgy.
20. The prayer of the faithful, while being personal and bringing in your own needs, should also be open to prayers for larger needs.
21. Please practise the marriage rite in advance so as to exchange your marriage vows in the most meaningful manner possible. Collect a copy from the priest.
22. We do not allow any practice in the church, but we do hope your choir and readers practise somewhere and that all involved in the liturgy know their parts.
23. If the marriage is with one of the spouses a non-Catholic, the nuptials will be held before the Eucharist. Please make the non-Catholic participants much at ease at the liturgy. It will be good if some commentary could be given for their benefit. Here, a booklet may be helpful. They should also be informed in advance about the communion service in which they are not allowed to participate.
24. At the liturgy or before it, you are requested to give an envelope (with your name and full address) containing your contribution to the church.
25. Don't forget to go for confession before your wedding day.
    
    PERSONS INVOLVED WITH YOUR LITURGY
26. If you are getting your own priest to celebrate the Eucharist, please inform the priest doing your papers. A delegation letter will have to be prepared by us for the priest conducting the marriage rite.
27. Concerning the Witnesses, both of them (one from the boy's side and the other from the girl's side) are to be mature Catholics - even if one of the spouses is a non-Catholic.
28. Try your best to get as many of your friends/relatives to attend the nuptial mass. Their celebrating with you at the party afterwards is only complete if they have first witnessed & prayed with & for you at the Eucharist.
29. If you want Altar servers, you will have to make your own arrangements.
30. Video shooting and photography: See that they are not a distraction at the liturgy. You will have to pay a sum of Rupees 200 for the use of the video. If you want the whole Eucharist to be video shot you may do it from the Church loft. Shooting of Video or Photographs is allowed down in the church at the following time: 1. Entrance procession; 2. Marriage rite; 3. Bringing gifts to the Altar; 4. Sign of Peace, 5. Communion service; 6. Signing of the Register. 7. Procession out of the Church.
    Please see that the Church is not used as a Studio after the Eucharist but feel free to click as many photographs out in the Church porch.
    
    ON THE BIG DAY ITSELF
31. Please be on time. We would not want to start the Eucharist without you.
32. We earnestly appeal to you to respect the environment and not contribute to sound pollution. Hence, desist from bursting crackers in the church compound or on the road outside the Church campus.
33. Most important: Pray, Pray, Pray
34. Before the birth of your child: It is compulsory to undergo the 'Pre-Baptismal Catechesis'. Do it as soon
    as you know that you are going to have a child. Details at the parish office
35. Collect from the priest doing your papers:
    a. Order of the Nuptial Mass to plan your liturgy;
    b. Rite of Marriage.
    c. Envelope for your contribution towards the Church.
36. Collect from the Office: In the days soon after the marriage, it is good to collect your Marriage Certificate from the Parish Office and please go through it seeing that all the details are right.

All for the Greater Glory of God