Proper catholic wedding program

It's interesting:
"I'd like to talk about Paul's greatest achievement, which happened today, and that was keeping his suit jacket on throughout the ceremony and resisting what must have been an intense desire to turn up in shorts today. But despite the heat and discomfort, it’s been well worth the effort, for amongst other things, the wet patch down the length of his left leg can be passed off as sweat."

For Catholic weddings, the wedding program serves as a guide to wedding guests, particularly those unfamiliar with a Catholic Mass. A well laid-out program should encourage full participation in the Mass from all guests by providing a clear outline of the order of the ceremony. Although the Catholic Church does not have a standard wedding program format, most programs give a basic overview of the ceremony along with a listing of wedding party members and others closely involved in the wedding.

1. Ceremony Format

   • Before creating a wedding program, you should meet with a priest or deacon to select an appropriate ceremonial format for the wedding. In the Catholic Church the format of the ceremony varies depending upon whether the Rite of Marriage is performed within a Mass and what the religious background is of the non-Catholic partner in interfaith marriages. If the Rite of Marriage is performed within a Mass, the ceremony can last more than an hour. A detailed program would be particularly useful for these ceremonies.

   Order of Service

   • Based on the ceremony format selected, work with your priest or deacon to determine the order of the service, including the hymns and readings to be included. Proper Catholic terminology should be used, and the titles of hymns and readings should be listed within the program. Depending on your preference, the lyrics to hymns and the full text of the readings can be included in the program, but it is not necessary if they can be found in the parish's hymnal. If you choose to reprint materials found in a hymnal, copyright permission must be obtained.

   Rituals & Traditions

   • Rituals and traditions are important parts of the wedding that involve not just the bride and groom, but also the guests. Traditions that may seem natural to practicing Catholics, such as the Sign of Peace and the Eucharist, will not be as obvious to those unfamiliar with Catholic traditions. The rituals of the Mass should be included in the program so guests may know what to expect. Some rituals may require a brief explanation or note. For example, because only baptized Catholics can take Holy Communion in the Catholic Church, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops offers a statement about the Church's position on Holy Communion that it includes in worship aids. The priest may explain uniquely Catholic traditions, but the program provides a secondary source to which guests can refer.

   Additional Elements

   • Although the main purpose of the program should be aiding guests in understanding the ceremony, other elements can be included. Background about the couple, recognition of the wedding party and immediate family, and information about the reception are just a few options of what may be a part of a program. Nevertheless, all elements of the program should enhance the ceremony without detracting from the sacred nature of the Rite of Marriage.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: wedding program, program should, Catholic Church, Rite Marriage, Catholic traditions