At a child’s Baptism, the community of faith, represented by the godparents, welcomes the child into the Church.
Please call the rectory to make arrangements. Information required includes:
· Date: Baptisms take place on the first and third Sundays of each month, except during Lent;
· Baby: Name, location of birth, whether the baby was Baptized in an emergency;
· Parents: Father’s first name, mother’s first and maiden name;
· Godparents: Names. Godparents include one male and one female, one of which must be fully initiated (has received Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation).
Parents are asked to take a Baptism class the last Sunday of the month before the child’s scheduled Baptism. (Godparents are also encouraged to attend if possible.) The 40-minute class is taught by the deacon. It gives the parents information on what to expect at the ceremony and includes a review of the sacrament, the meaning of the call to discipleship and the responsibilities of parents, godparents and child.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
At the Easter Vigil we welcome into the Church new Catholics who have participated in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. This preparatory program runs throughout the year. For details, contact the rectory at 978-658-4665.
Congratulations! You are about to embark upon a most exciting and sacred adventure. Not only is Marriage a special state of life in which you join yourself to your beloved, but it is also a sacrament of God, instituted by Jesus the Lord. The union of husband and wife represents, in a very concrete way, the unending and exclusive union between God and his people and between Christ and his Church. For this reason, the moment of the sacrament of matrimony is seen by the Church as a most sacred moment, in the lives of the bride and groom and in the life of the entire Body of Christ, the Church.
In the light of these theological truths, the pastoral staff of St. Thomas Parish wishes you the choicest blessings at this special time of your lives. We also would like to remind you of some practical considerations as you prepare to celebrate your Marriage.
Call the rectory at 978-658-4665, preferably a year ahead of the date you wish to marry. At that time, we will set up an appointment for you to meet with the priest or deacon to establish freedom to marry, reserve the church, plan your participation in the Marriage Preparation Program and discuss any other issues.
Participation in the Marriage Preparation Program, either at St. Thomas of Villanova or one of the other parishes in the Archdiocese, is a critical part of your journey. The program helps couples prepare spiritually and practically for married life.
In the Catholic tradition, there are two types of liturgical ceremonies in which the Sacrament of Marriage takes place: Nuptial Mass and Wedding Ceremony (without Mass).
Because of the sacramental nature of Marriage in the church, a Nuptial Mass is a far more fitting liturgical celebration. However, a wedding ceremony, at times, can be more fitting and is equally valid. You should discuss this with the Officiant prior to making any decisions.
Because of the sacredness of the moment, accompanying actions, such as music, should also be sacred in nature. Music should reflect our faith and not simply be of entertaining value. Therefore non-liturgical songs are more appropriately played at the reception. In order to be sure that the music you are selecting is appropriate, please contact Lora Tamagini, Music Director at 781-245-1073. She can also arrange for a soloist if you wish. You may also use your own musician and/or soloist. However, it is required that they have an appropriate liturgical background.
If you have a relative or friend who is a priest or a deacon, he is more than welcome to witness your Marriage. However, a member of our parish staff should help you with instructions before the Marriage. Visiting clergy from out of state are reminded that they must obtain a commission from the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (800-392-6090), which must be presented to the staff member here who has completed the paper work.
You may have as many floral decorations as you like. They must, however, coincide with the Liturgical season. It may be to your benefit to coordinate flowers with other weddings on the same day as yours. Please note that our sanctuary is off-center. One arrangement in front of the pulpit would suffice. Also or alternately you may arrange for flowers in front of the candle stands on either side of the altar. Flowers directly in front of the altar are not practical, as the congregation will not see them. Flower arrangements should be left in the church after the celebration.
Pew decorations may not be pasted, glued or taped to the pews; they should be attached with pew clips or elastics.
If you find it necessary to use a runner, the main aisle is 100 feet long. Do not have the flower girl drop petals as she walks down the aisle. Please designate someone of your choosing to remove the pew decorations and lift the runner after the ceremony. The celebrant can indicate where they may be disposed.
We ask that your photographer/videographer check with the priest or deacon on the day of your Marriage. We ask that they respect the nature and dignity of your celebration and the Church. Particularly, we ask that they remain outside the sanctuary at all times during the ceremony.
Please bring the following to the rehearsal in separately marked envelopes:
· Donation for the Church: Currently the donation for the Church is $400. That includes a deposit of $200, which will be kept by the parish only if the ceremony is delayed by 10 minutes or more for less-than-serious reasons. (It is suggested that you advise both the photographer and limousine company of this information.) The check should be made payable to St. Thomas of Villanova Parish and given at the time of rehearsal;
· Offerings for Altar Servers: $20 each. We generally have two servers.);
· Offering for the rehearsal coordinator: $50 per hour of rehearsal time. (The coordinator is present for the wedding also.);
· Offerings for musicians/soloists: Please contact Lora Tamagini and/or any other musicians directly, as fees may vary.
An expression of gratitude to the priest or deacon who has assisted you with your plans and is celebrating the wedding is a customary way of saying "thank you" for the time and effort he has offered. (The amount is at your discretion.)
The following forms must be submitted prior to the celebration of Marriage:
· Baptismal Certificate (long form): Issued by the Church of Baptism. It must be dated within six months of the date of Marriage and should be sent to the attention of the celebrant here at St. Thomas Parish;
· Marriage License: This can be obtained from any city or town hall. It is only valid for a period of two months. Prior to obtaining it, you must have the proper blood work completed;
· Out-of-State Clergy Commission: Visiting clergy from out of state must present the proper commission from the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
It is very important that you make every effort to be on time for your celebration. It is a poor sign of hospitality to keep your guests waiting unnecessarily. Your wedding party should be reminded and encouraged to participate fully in the ceremony by responding to the prayers and responses. A reverential spirit while in the church sets the tone for a prayerful ceremony, not to mention a beautiful example for your guests.
We urge you to prepare spiritually for the Sacrament of Matrimony by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation and attending Mass regularly. Your faith life, after all, is the foundation of your connection to the Church, and the foundation on which you have chosen to celebrate your union.
For information about Marriage Preparation programs in other parishes, click on this link:
http://www.familylifeboston.com/pdf/2006/mpsched.pdf
The sacrament of Reconciliation is available on Saturdays from 4:00 until 4:45 p.m. and by request any time a priest is available.
Care for the Sick and the Elderly
Please call the church office to request communion, visitation or anointing of the sick for anyone who is confined to home or a hospital. We offer the sacrament of anointing in the chapel on Sundays following the 11:15 a.m. Mass. (Please wait for a priest.)
Please call the rectory so that our parish staff can help you make arrangements. We will provide you with a funeral booklet that gives information about the vigil service at the wake, the Funeral Mass and final commendation and burial. You may also review this booklet on line by clicking here.