Sacrament of Marriage

For those visiting this page because of a recent engagement, congratulations! Together, you have decided to begin a great journey of love. The Catholic community of Sacred Heart and Our Lady's rejoices with you, your families, and your friends on your decision to be married. The contents of this section have been designed to help you prepare for the celebration of your wedding. Please feel free to get in touch with us with any questions you may have.

Contact Information
Sacred Heart Parish Office – 617-969-2248 
sacredheart@sholnewton.org
(Please use this contact information to inquire about a wedding at either parish!)

Many people will be assisting you as you prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage; they all want to help you realize a marital relationship built on self-giving love, one that helps each spouse become the best version of themselves, all while growing deeper in relationship with Christ.

Step 1: Contact the Parish Office to schedule a brief meeting with a priest or deacon currently serving in the Collaborative. 

Step 2: You will then be asked to take part in a marriage preparation program, sometimes called Pre-Cana. 

Step 3: You will also be invited to attend a Liturgy and Music Evening, designed to help you prepare the actual wedding ceremony. The evening will include assistance on picking out readings, examples of music, and other helpful information as you plan your celebration. 

Step 4: Each couple married in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must obtain a license. You should contact the clerk in any city or town hall in the state about six weeks before your wedding regarding the proper procedure. This license must be brought to the wedding rehearsal.
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The Collaborative is very pleased to provide the services of a wedding liturgy coordinator. The coordinator will conduct the wedding rehearsal and then be with you on the day of the wedding. This person makes sure that everything is set up as you want and is available for all sorts of last minute details.

Usually, a priest or deacon serving in the collaborative will be available to officiate your marriage. Visiting priests and deacons are also welcome. If the priest/deacon lives outside of Massachusetts, he must obtain special permission from the Massachusetts State House. Our parish offices can help you with this.

If you are marrying someone who is of a different faith, we are happy to welcome his/her minister or rabbi and prepare a service that will be sensitive to both religious traditions. It is also possible to celebrate this marriage in another church or sacred space. The pastoral staff will assist you in this regard.

If your address changes during the time of your engagement, please notify the parish office, so you will be sure to receive all updated information.

Wedding fees include an offering to the Church, and payments for the music director, cantor, and Mass coordinator (who assists you during planning, rehearsal, and on your wedding day). For details, please call the Parish Office.