Enriching Your Marriage
Resources and daily tips for strengthening your marriage and family, raising children, and other topics are available at http://www.foryourmarriage.org/.

Guidelines for Celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic we are only able to host these events with a max of 50 people present at this time ( this includes any staff/volunteers present). Please contact the office with any questions.
 
The parish shares in the joy at the announcement of a forthcoming marriage.  We look forward not only to helping you plan the very special day of your wedding but also for the lifelong commitment you are making to each other. Please bear in mind the following guidelines as you begin the preparations for your wedding day.

Couples intending to marry must contact the pastor at least six months before making any plans for a church wedding. This time is needed to ensure that the freedom of both parties to marry is established, that the required documents are gathered and proper forms completed, and that adequate catechesis and marriage preparation take place. Clergy and couples are reminded that only a priest or deacon currently assigned to the parish can validly witness or delegate another minister (that is, only they can delegate either a visiting or retired priest or deacon) to perform a wedding ceremony within their parish. Some reasonable exceptions may be made at the discretion of the pastor. 

If you are not a parishioner of St. Teresa or St. Joseph parishes, you will need to contact your home parish to complete the pre-marital investigation and marriage preparation program. These things are designed to help you begin your life together so that you are better prepared for your love to bloom and flourish as a sign of God’s love for you and the world.

Saturday weddings must start no later than 1 pm. Later times in the afternoon cannot be accommodated because of weekly confessions and the regular celebration of the Saturday Vigil Mass. (Saturday evening weddings are not permitted.) Starting on time is important because the clergy may have other commitments or there may be another activity (e.g., another wedding or a funeral) in the church later in the day. The clergy may leave if the wedding does not begin on time.   
In the Diocese of Portland, weddings on Sunday afternoon require a dispensation from the Office of the Bishop at the request of the presiding priest or deacon.  Weddings on Sunday afternoon are scheduled at the discretion of the priest or deacon. The dispensation issued by the Office of the Bishop is for the celebration of a wedding ceremony outside of Mass. 
 
In the Diocese of Portland, the celebration of the sacrament of Marriage is to take place within a church building.  A wedding cannot be celebrated in any other location without a Dispensation of Place, which is only granted by the Office of the Bishop in specific and exceedingly rare circumstances.

For couples intending to get married, the Catholic party/parties must be registered as a parishioner in his/her local Catholic Church.  He/she will need permission from his/her pastor for the wedding to take place in St. Joseph or St. Teresa Parish.  

A copy of the certificate of the completed Marriage Preparation program should be mailed to Pastor, St. Teresa/St. Joseph Parishes, 32 Paris St, Norway, ME 04268.

Both parties must participate in a Marriage Preparation program where they reside. Parishioners are required to complete a Marriage Preparation program in any parish in the Diocese of Portland (see https://portlanddiocese.org/olff/marriage-preparation for a current listing).
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The couple will be interviewed by the Catholic priest to fill out some required documents (pre-nuptial questionnaire and dispensation for mixed marriage if needed). He will also ask the couple to obtain recent copies of baptism and confirmation records, and testimonial letters stating that they are both free to marry (no previous marriage). In the State of Maine, a copy of the civil marriage is required as part of the documents for wedding.

If the party/parties had previous marriage(s), the annulment certificate needs to be obtained. While this process is going on, no tentative date will be set for the proposed wedding.  

The fee for weddings is $350, payable to St. Teresa of Calcutta or St Joseph Parish. This covers use of the church for both the wedding and the rehearsal. Payment of at least 50% ($175.00) is required to reserve your chosen date; the balance is due 30 days prior. A separate good will offering for the clergy is customary but not required.

The seating capacity of  each church is: 
Our Lady of Ransom (117 Elm St, Mechanic Falls)   150       (Hall: 80)
St Catherine of Sienna (32 Paris St, Norway)             350       (Hall: 100)
St Elizabeth Ann Seton (857 Main St, Fryeburg)       250       (Hall: 125)
St Joseph (225 South High St, Bridgton)                      325        (Hall: 125)
St Mary’s (276 King St, Oxford)                                       150        (No hall.)

The church hall may be available to rent for your reception. Please contact the parish office for more information.

Please note that you are responsible for obtaining a State of Maine marriage license, which you can obtain from any municipal office in the state, no more than 90 days before and no less than 10 days before the wedding date. The license must be presented to the pastor or deacon no less than 10 days before the rehearsal.

If the couple lives outside the Catholic Diocese of Portland, the priest sends all documents to the central office of the Catholic diocese where they reside, which sends them to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland ME (510 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME 04103), and a copy is forwarded to St. Teresa of Calcutta or St. Joseph Parish.  

The date of the wedding will be established after all paperwork has been received by St. Teresa/St. Joseph Parish from the relevant entities, including the diocesan chancery (for those outside of the Catholic Diocese of Portland or those seeking annulment of previous marriage).