The Wedding Ceremony:

Saint Catherine of Siena Church, Vallejo, California

Yes, as some of you know, we were already married on June 22, 2007 in Fairfield. That was our "legally wed" day ^_^. On Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 2pm, we will be "religiously wed" in a Nuptual Mass at St. Catherine's. We both received Confirmation and continue to attend Mass here. Father Jess will preside over the ceremony.

No, you don't need to be Catholic to attend a wedding ceremony in a church, and no, you do not need to be Christian, either. Everyone is welcome in the Catholic church; you may just sit and respectively observe the Mass.

Elements of a Catholic Mass

• Liturgy of the Word: Readings from the Bible
• Liturgy of the Eucharist: Holy Communion (Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ); Non-Catholics are welcome to receive a blessing during Communion by crossing their arms over their chests when they reach the Eucharistic minister.
• Prayers, Gestures, and Music

Elements of a Filipino Catholic Wedding Ceremony

• Unity Candle: The parents of the bride and groom, or the candle sponsors, light the taper candles on either side of the unity candle. Later, the bride and groom use the tapers lit by their respective families to light the unity candle together. As you probably figured out, the lighting of the unity candle represents the joining of two families. The lighting of the unity candle also represents the couple's acceptable of the light of Christ as their guide in their marriage.
• Arras: After the exchanging of rings, the bride and groom take turns placing 13 coins in each others hands, which is brought up by the coin bearer. It symbolizes sharing of their earnings, and in a more traditionally sense, the husband's duty to take care of his wife materially and the wife's duty to manage the finances. The 13 coins are said to be representative of Jesus and the 12 Apostles.
• Veil: During the veil ceremony (which uses a different veil than the one on the brides head), the veil sponsors drape a veil over the bride and groom, which represents them being "clothed as one."
• Cord: After the veil is placed on the bride and groom, a cord shaped like the eternity symbol (a figure eight), is placed over them by the cord sponsors. The cord symbolizes unity, infinity, and the spiritual bonding of two souls as one in the Sacrament of Marriage.

Our Ceremony Program

Entrance Rite

• Processional: Pachelbel's Canon in D
• Bride Entrance: The Book of Love sung by Ariel Ejanda
• Entrance Song: Like a Seal on Your Heart

Liturgy of the Word

• Opening Prayer
• 1st Reading: Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7, read by Rey Ejanda
• Responsorial Psalm: I Have Loved You, sung by Dominican Sisters
• 2nd Reading: Colossians 3:12-17, read by Cheryl Zapanta
• Gopsel Verse and Acclamation
• Gospel: Matthew 22:35-40, read by Fr. Jesus Soriano
• Homily by Fr. Jesus Soriano

  Marriage Rite

  • Statement of Intentions
  • Exchange of Vows
  • Blessing and Exchanging of Rings
  • Coins & Bible, presented by Justin Zapanta and Abigail Ejanda
  • Lighting of the Unity Candle, sponsored by Liza Pangilinan and Don Zapanta
  • Honor the Blessed Virgin Mother
  • Veil/Cord Ceremony, sponsored by Mazen Deleon & Ronald Yu and Marichelle Calingo & Delfin Torres

• Prayer of the Faithful (General Intercessions), read by Roddy Alimusa
• Removal of Veil/Cord

Liturgy of the Eucharist

• Offeratory Song: We Come to Your Feast
• Prayer of the Gifts
  • Bread, presented by Renel Ejanda
  • Wine, presented by Margaret Syed
  • Gifts for the Poor, presented by Myrna Torres
• Communion Song: You Are Mine
• The Lord's Prayer
• Nuptial Blessing
• Sign of Peace
• Prayer after Communion

Concluding Rite

• Final Blessing
• Recessional Song: Service