Mary, Gate of Heaven Catholic Church at Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril, Westmoreland JM JM -
WEDDING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES
MARY, GATE OF HEAVEN CATHOLIC CHURCH
DIOCESE OF MONTEGO BAY NEGRIL, JAMAICA
WEDDING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES MARY, GATE OF HEAVENCATHOLICCHURCH DIOCESE OF MONTEGO BAYNEGRIL, JAMAICA
It is our intention to assist you in any way possible and to make your wedding day a happy and blessed occasion. Please feel free to contact us at any time.
A couple wanting to be married at Mary, Gate of Heaven is to contact the church directly. Inquiry may be made through a resort or hotel but they DO NOT have the authority to schedule weddings at the church. The couple is to contact Mary, Gate of Heaven to arrange for the date and time of the wedding. Ordinarily, this is done at the same time reservations are made with the local hotel/resort. Currently the contact for weddings at Mary, Gate of Heaven is:
Fr. Jim Bok, O.F.M. (Pastor) Mary, Gate of Heaven Roman Catholic Church P.O. Box 2564 Negril, Westmoreland Jamaica, West Indies e-mail: jimbok@franciscan.org Tel: 876-947-4900 FAX: 876-957-4625
Wedding procedures and guidelines are determined by the Diocese of Montego Bay and the parish. The procedures and guidelines are as follows:
Since the Catholic wedding is a religious event, the wedding must take place in the church building. Permission is not granted for weddings in a resort/hotel, on the beach, or other location.
You may not have two weddings; one at the church and a second at the beach. The wedding at the church is both a religious and civil wedding. The bride and groom and two witnesses must be in attendance at the wedding.
You are welcome to have your reception at the beach or some other place of your choosing.
Because marriage is a serious and lifelong commitment, the Catholic Church in Jamaica requires a period of serious premarital preparation which involves both parties. This preparation is consistent with the requirements of most Catholic dioceses.
Ordinarily the couple should begin prenuptial preparation with their local parish priest at least six (6) months prior to the wedding.
The same documents are required in Jamaica as in the couple’s home diocese; certificates of baptism, statements of freedom to marry, dispensations, etc
A written statement regarding the extent and content of the prenuptial preparation is to be included by the local priest doing the preparation.
Permission must be granted by the couple’s own pastor for the couple to be married in Jamaica.
After the preparation is complete the couple’s parish priest is to send the appropriate documents to the Chancery Office of his particular Diocese. That office will then forward the documents, at least ONE MONTH before the wedding date, to:
Vicar General Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament 1 Fort Street, P.O. Box 197 Montego Bay, St. James Jamaica, West Indies
The couple must obtain a Marriage License from the government of Jamaica. Mary Gate of Heaven does not obtain the marriage license. It is the responsibility of the resort/hotel to arrange obtaining this license. This is generally done through the wedding coordinator at the hotel/resort.
Mary Gate of Heaven will provide the Marriage Officer at the wedding, as required by Jamaican law.
There is an all inclusive stipend of USD$500.00 for the use of the church. This includes a gift to the church and stipends for the services of the pastor, the music minister and the marriage officer.
Br. Tom Gerchak, O.F.M. is generally available to play the keyboard and sing at the wedding if is desired. If you do not wish to use Br. Tom’s services, then the above mentioned stipend is USD$450.00.
Let us know how we can assist you! If you have questions, please pass them along.
(IT TAKES UP TO THREE (3) WEEKS FOR MAIL TO ARRIVE FROM OVERSEAS TO JAMAICA. PLAN ACCORDINGLY. USING A COURIER SERVICE, E.G., FED/EX, IS RECOMMENDED.)
