In consultation with the priest or deacon who will preside at your wedding, you will determine if the marriage is to be celebrated at Mass or in a Liturgy of the Word. The determining criteria will center on the religious background of the bride and groom, and other matters which should be determined between you and your presiding priest or deacon.
You will receive the book Together for Life by Joseph Champlin, which, along with various prayers and blessings, contains those scripture readings most appropriate for use at weddings. (If your marriage preparation is done through Campus Ministry at Marquette, you will receive the book Celebrating Marriage by Paul Covino which contains the same material.) In consultation with the priest who will preside at the wedding, you will select two or three passages from scripture, prayers.and blessings.
Non-scriptural passages are never used in place of the scriptures.
Weddings at Gesu Parish are celebrated according to the worship books of the Roman Catholic Church: the Roman Missal, the Lectionary and The Rite of Marriage. Ministers of other denominations may assist during the ceremony. This requires consultation with your presiding priest or deacon.
Wedding vows are provided in the wedding liturgy. You may select one of options for vows as listed in the book Together for Life or Celebrating Marriage when you consult with your priest. The usage of vows from other sources or vows written by the bride and groom are not permitted in a Catholic wedding liturgy. If you wish, you may speak to the Director of Liturgy at Gesu regarding where in your liturgy a personal expression of your commitment could be offered.
Three Wedding Liturgy Workshops are scheduled for 2024. They are offered on Sunday January 21, March 17 and June 23 after the 10:30 am Mass. This workshop is held in the Church of the Gesu and gives you information about options for your celebration. Because the workshop is custom made for Gesu weddings, in-person attendance is mandatory. To register for the workshop, email Fr. Thomas Anderson, SJ.