Thank you for your interest in celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage at The Good Shepherd Parish of Martha’s Vineyard (Catholic Community). Please call the office (508-693-0342) to request a specific date. In order to reserve the Church, date and time you requested, we need to receive the following three items from you:
- New copies of your Baptism and Confirmation certificates for both the Bride and Groom dated within the last six months.
- Suggested offering for Church use and maintenance which does not include music, flowers…
- Written permission from your local Pastor giving us delegation for your Marriage to take place here instead of your home parish. This is a Canon Law requirement.
Upon receipt of the three items requested above, initial planning of your Marriage will then begin with a ten-step process between the Bride, Groom, Priest or Deacon and the Wedding Coordinator.
Weddings at Good Shepherd Parish (Community)
need to be scheduled at least one year in advance.
In the Diocese of Fall River within the Province of Boston, Massachusetts:
Marriage between two Catholics or the marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic is to take place in a Church or Chapel. The wedding is not to take place outside or under a tent outside. We receive many inquiries during the course of the year regarding outside weddings, and all receive the same explanation of this policy. No Permission for Extraordinary Place of Marriage (Dispensation from Place) and no Dispensation from Canonical Form would be granted for a wedding to take place outside.
To schedule Marriage Preparation with Good Shepherd Parish (Community), please contact the office at 508-693-0342 and speak with Elizabeth Mello.