From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife), and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate. (Mk 10:2-12)

Music For Your Wedding

To help you become familiar with some musical options before your initial meeting with the church musicians, here is a list of music that you will be able to listen to.

Wedding Guidelines for a Wedding at St. Hugo of the Hills

As a couple planning marriage at St. Hugo of the Hills Parish, you will have many questions about the process. Click here to read the outline of the steps you need to take.

Foundations Newsletter

Foundations is a bi-monthly newsletter for newly married couples, each with a thematic topic and a spiritual slant. Order your copy now. (more)

Marriage Preparation Seminar

PMD Program is a one-day program is designed to stimulate stronger sacramental commitment and a deeper, more intense communication between you and your future spouse. We will be exploring topics that are critical to successful marriages, with continued emphasis on communication. For more information, please call Dolores Hayosh at (248) 644-5460.

Marriage Preparation For the Previously Married

Strongly endorsed by the Archdiocese, CANA II is a special weekend of marriage preparation for those couples of which one or both have been married before. Special preparation is a blessing because special issues arise when a previous marriage is part  of the new family history.

Sacramental Life

Jesus promised he would not leave us orphans (Jn 14:18) but would send the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us (Jn 15:26). He gave the sacraments to heal, feed, and strengthen us. The seven sacraments are not just symbols. They are signs that actually convey God?s grace and love. (more)

Wedding Rehearsal Consultants

The Wedding Rehearsal Consultants are a group of dedicated volunteers who conduct the wedding rehearsals with the Bride, Groom, Wedding Party and Parents. The Wedding Rehearsal is usually schedule a day or two prior to the wedding date. The Wedding Rehearsal Coordinators rehearse the wedding procession, readings, lighting of the unity candle, the nuptial Mass/ wedding service, etc. with the wedding party, in preparation for the actual wedding ceremony.

The coordinators meet approximately every three months (for lunch) to set up the schedule. Each coordinator selects the dates she or he is available for the following three months. The rehearsal takes about 1 to 1? hours, depending on the size of the wedding party. Training is provided. This is a happy and fun ministry! For more information, please call Marie E. Doyle at (248) 334-5526. God Bless!

What You Need to Do to Get Married

As early as possible contact a priest in the parish where you intend to marry. Customarily couples marry in the parish of the bride. If only one party is a Catholic, go to the parish of that party. (see below)

Getting Married? Here is What You Need to Do:

   1.      Contact Parish: As early as possible, contact a priest in the parish where you intend to marry. Customarily couples marry in the parish of the bride. If only one party is a Catholic, go to the parish of that party. Allow at least three months, if possible?longer in large parishes during popular wedding months.

   2.      Marriage Preparation: Plan to prepare yourselves for marriage. Many dioceses specify three months of preparation as a minimum. You may meet with your parish priest, attend a series of pre-Cana presentations, enroll in an all-day work-shop or weekend retreat (such as Engaged Encounter) or even meet with an established married couple. You and your parish priest can arrange instruction according to your needs, time and interest.

   3.      Baptismal Certificate: You will need a copy of your baptismal certificate to show your Catholic identity. Since marriages are recorded on your baptismal certificate, you will need a recent copy to show that you have not been previously married.

   4.      Policy for Teens: If either you or your partner is very young, you may be asked for evidence of emotional maturity. Since marriages of teenagers frequently end in divorce, many dioceses have instituted special procedures for the marriage of teens. The Church wishes to make sure that the parties are capable of understanding and making a lifetime pledge.

   5.      Interview With Priest: Since the Church is concerned about you and your future, the parish priest will interview each of you. He will inquire about your freedom to marry, your understanding of the commitment you are making and your ability to live it out. There is no cause for anxiety if you can respond positively in these matters.

   6.      Planning the Liturgy: Help plan your marriage liturgy to express the love and commitment you will pledge. Your parish priest can assist you in the choice of music, Scripture readings, gesture and prayer. Books like Together for Life by Joseph Champlin (Ave Maria Press) and Your Wedding: Planning Your Own Ceremony by Jeremy Harrington (St. Anthony Messenger Press) can be great helps in this.

The Wedding Liturgy

On the occasion of a wedding day, there is shared a solemn, life-long promise, a covenant with each other and with God, witnessed by God's people, friends and relatives. The wedding ceremony is to be planned as a memorable and joyful religious experience for all.

That solemn promise is witnessed in a special, holy place - the parish church. All plans and preparations give honor to the occasion, that unique moment in life. Since all else is carefully chosen and planned, one would want to be just as careful and particular in the choice of texts and music within the wedding liturgy. Welcome the assistance of your parish priests and musicians in this regard.

Everyday love songs might not be appropriate in a ceremony celebrating Christian love. But the ceremony should support and confirm the couples shared love.

The Church also loves, and, out of this love asks that there be a high regard for this precious moment and that consideration be given for choices of texts and music in the light of proposed guidelines. When these are followed, faith is expressed and the wedding liturgy is enhanced as an act of worship.

There is much beautiful and exciting music speaking of God and Christ in married life, of the holiness, joy and beauty of marriage, of the Christian significance of the special day. Before choosing music, learn all the possibilities. Plan the wedding liturgy far in advance, just as we prepare all other aspects of the wedding celebration. To do this means a more joyful, faith-filled expression of Christian love.

Music For Your Wedding
Weddings are a wonderful experience here at St. Hugo's. It gives us a chance to share in the celebration of your marriage to each other. In order to assist you, we have put together some guidelines to help with your planning. As always, we are available to answer any questions you may have...

So first, please call St. Hugo's music department [248.644.5460]  before planning your music.  Please call at least two months before the wedding.  As with all liturgies at St. Hugo of the Hills, the Church  Music Office wants and needs to play an important role in the planning of the liturgical music for your wedding.  The church organists, John Sittard or David Enos, who will be responsible for the organ music at your wedding, will be glad to assist you in meeting and filling out the liturgical music portion of the liturgy planning sheet. It is important to note that, due to the sacredness of the occasion and setting, music whose text does not reference God is not appropriate and therefore we cannot use it before, during or after your wedding.  (Standard classical instrumental music is usually exempt from this).

Since sung prayer is of great importance in Catholic liturgy and because of the specialized training and knowledge of procedures required, a cantor from St. Hugo's will lead all sung liturgical music selections, in particular the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, parts of the Mass (when the liturgy is a Mass), as well as solo pieces appropriate to the occasion.  If there is a friend or relative who would like to sing for the liturgy, they are most welcome to sing one or two selections during the liturgy.  Rehearsal time is available one hour prior to the liturgy.  In accordance with the Church's liturgical documents, pre-recorded music is not permitted.

Also, because of the large number of difficult experiences with outside musicians, we strongly recommend that all instrumentalists be liturgically trained at the church, and have experience making music at St. Hugo's. Using musicians who are used regularly here at St Hugo's will be of great benefit to you also as there will be less rehearsal time, saving you extra charges. The church organists have a very complete list of musicians who have had such training and experience here at St. Hugo's. The list offers a very wide range of outstanding local musicians including, but not limited to, string players, trumpet players, flautists, and vocal and instrumental ensembles. We only use very good musicians who have played in the Symphony, Opera or other top-venue sites. You should have no problem selecting music and musicians appropriate to the liturgy, under the guidance of the church organists.

Fee Schedule (fees must be paid at least 48 hours prior to the wedding)

Organist- $250.00, Cantor- $175.00, additional instrumentalists- $175.00 per musician (there will likely be an additional charge for harpists)

Musical Selections
To help you become familiar with some musical options before your initial meeting with the church musicians, here is a list of music to help you.  Just click on the link, and you will be able to get a sample of the music. Once you've decided what music you would like to use, just click in the circle or square and it will be all compiled at the end of the document. HELPFUL HINT: I have included the text to all of the sung music. Find a text that you find particularly meaningful, and then afterwards listen to the music.  This list is a guide and is not meant to be exhaustive.  If you are not sure about the music for a particular part of the liturgy, simply leave it blank.  You can discuss other options with John or David at your consultation.