Sacraments
| Baptism | Confirmation | Anointing of the Sick |
| Reconciliation | Marriage | |
| Eucharist | Holy Orders |
We celebrate the sacrament of baptism with infants by appointment. A preparation session is required if this is a couple’s first child or if it has been more than three years since the last child was baptized. For older children and adults we have a process of initiation, which leads to the celebration of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Please contact the Parish Office to make arrangements (262-275-2480).
Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. in the parents' room
The sacrament of reconciliation is celebrated on Saturday mornings during the year. In addition, a communal service is celebrated during both the Advent and the Lenten Seasons. The sacrament can also be celebrated individually by appointment. Preparation of children (third grade and older) to understand and celebrate the sacrament occurs during the fall and culminates with a celebration of the sacrament during Advent.
This sacrament is celebrated every weekend by the community as well as on most weekdays. Children who are at least in the third grade prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time in communion with the rest of the church during the Easter Season.
Confirmation is celebrated once a year. Formation is open to all youth who are juniors in high school. Preparation for celebrating this sacrament goes from Fall until Spring. Those Catholics who are beyond high school are prepared for this sacrament through the adult confirmation program.
Guidelines for Preparing for Christian Marriage
Hello and welcome! Congratulations on your engagement to be married. If you are interested in having your wedding at St. Benedict's, please read the following guidelines first. Then contact the parish office (262-275-2480) to check on availability. You must contact the parish at least 6 months prior to the requested wedding date. We suggest that you contact the parish office prior to arranging a date with a reception hall or caterer. Diocesan policy prohibits the sacrament of Marriage outside of a church. Outdoor weddings are not permitted. We allow 2 weddings per weekend (Friday-Saturday). Fridays=2:00 pm Saturdays=11:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 6:00 or 6:30 pm. Weddings are not permitted during Advent or Lent.
| Outline of Preparation | Documents Needed | Church Fees | |
| Wedding Music | Civil License | Assorted Guidelines |
Outline of Your Preparation
Preparing for Marriage, in any Catholic parish in Wisconsin, includes three basic areas:
Assessment includes your initial meetings with the parish priest (usually twice). A questionnaire called FOCCUS will be completed during one of your visits with the parish priest. The priest will “assess” your readiness to marry with the help of the FOCCUS questionnaire. A phone call (262-275-2480) or e-mail (nsandoval@stbensparish.org) is the best way to arrange these meetings.
Instructions are provided by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee at various locations throughout Southeast Wisconsin. A brochure entitled “Enrichment for the Engaged” provides a listing of dates, a description of the workshops and retreats, and a registration form. This brochure can be found at www.johnpaul2center.org/NazarethProject/EngagedEnrichment.htm under quick links. You must register online.
Liturgical planning for your wedding ceremony is guided by the parish priest and the Pastoral Musician, Jeff Honoré. We request that you contact Jeff (262-275-2480 ext. 26) even if you wish another musician or soloist to assist at the wedding. It helps tremendously when all people involved in the ceremony keep in regular contact with each other.
The parish provides you with a planning book for the ceremony. The final planning session with the priest performing the ceremony usually occurs about one month prior to the wedding date. The parish priest needs to be made aware of any special requests and/or circumstances, such as guest celebrants.
The rehearsal most often takes place the evening before the wedding. The time for the rehearsal must be arranged with the parish priest. Plan on the rehearsal lasting about one hour.
Wedding Music
As a member of the Parish Pastoral Staff, it is the Pastoral Musician’s responsibility to oversee the application of our parish’s policy to all music performed during every marriage ceremony here at Saint Benedict.
The suitability of music for worship is determined through the following judgments:
MUSICAL JUDGMENT asks whether or not this music is technically, aesthetically and expressively good.
LITURGICAL JUDGMENT asks whether or not the music, and especially the words, are appropriate for a service of worship and are in keeping with a full understanding of the Sacrament of Marriage.
PASTORAL JUDGMENT is the ‘here and now’ judgment. It evaluates the music in terms of its ability to enable the people gathered for this specific occasion, in this place, to express their faith through this celebration.
Documents Needed
For Catholic brides and grooms, we must have a recently issued Baptismal Certificate (not more than six months old). These are obtained from the parish office of the Church in which you were baptized. No fee is charged for this service. If you need a phone number or an address we have a listing of all Catholic parishes in the United States.
For brides and grooms baptized in other Christian churches, a copy of any official baptism record is sufficient. These certificates are retained in the permanent record folder and are held by Saint Benedict Parish as official documents, so you may wish to make a photocopy to keep for your own records.
During your first meetings with the parish priest, the Pre-Nuptial Questionnaire is filled out and signed by each of you and by the priest. This is the Catholic Church’s official record of your sacrament of marriage. If you live quite a distance from Fontana, it may be more practical to arrange this step with the priest of your local parish.
If either of you have been married before, either in a church or in a civil ceremony, you need to inform the parish priest immediately. Depending upon the circumstances, more paperwork may be required which could have an effect on the date of your wedding. If your previous spouse has died, we need a copy of the death certificate. If you are out of the state of WI, you must arrange an interview with your pastor at your home parish to request an affidavit for freedom of marry. This must be signed by the pastor and witnesses.
Couples often have a relative or a family friend who is a Catholic Priest. Guest celebrants are most welcome. This includes interfaith marriages in which a minister from another Christian denomination is most welcome to co-witness the marriage in a Catholic Church. You may need a Delegation of Authority. This is written permission that officially welcomes the visiting priest or deacon to perform the wedding here at Saint Benedict. It is the responsibility of the guest celebrant to request the Delegation.
All couples that are not parishioners need a letter of Delegation to perform the wedding at St. Benedict Church. This gives permission to Fr. Norberto to perform the wedding here at St. Benedict. Contact your home pastor to request this permission.
If the officiant is a priest or deacon, not from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, he must include a copy of documentation that confirms he is a priest or deacon in good standing.
Other documents may be required depending on the status of the parties.
The Civil License
The civil marriage certificate is entirely your responsibility. You apply at the Walworth County Government Center, Clerk’s Office no sooner than 30 days and no later than 7 days prior to your wedding date. The Office is at 100 W. Walworth, Elkhorn, WI, Room 101, and open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. So for example, if a couple is planning on being married on a Saturday, they would have to apply at least by the Friday preceding the week of the marriage. Persons who have been divorced should contact the County Clerk’s Office for further information regarding dates and necessary papers required. Residents of the State of Wisconsin must apply before the County Clerk of the County in which either is a resident for at least 30 days. They may be married in any county in the State of Wisconsin. Non-Residents of the State of Wisconsin must apply before the County Clerk of the county which they will be married.
Both the bride and the groom must be present at the time of the county application. You must bring along a certified copy of your birth certificates and documentary proof of identification and residence (e.g. Driver’s License). The County Clerk will not accept photocopies, or a hospital certificate, or any baptismal records.
If there has been a previous marriage, the County also needs a certified copy of the Death Certificate or the Judgment of Divorce. Also, Social Security Numbers are required from both parties to assist in any future Child Support Enforcement.
There is a cash fee of $80.00 for the civil license. Checks are not accepted. You may wish to call the Walworth County Clerk at (262)-741-4241 for more information.
Please remember to bring the civil license with you to the rehearsal at Saint Benedict Church. Please note also that witnesses to a marriage, who sign the certificate, must be 18 years of age. Following the ceremony, the priest is required by law to mail the completed certificate to the Register of Deeds in the county where the ceremony occurred. Please contact the Walworth County Register of Deeds to request a copy of your marriage license: http://www.co.walworth.wi.us/Government%20Center/Register%20of%20Deeds/vitalstatistics.aspx
Church Fees
As of January 1, 2012 the church fees are $175 for parishioners and $250 for couples who are not parishioners. Anything over and above these totals is considered a gift of thanks to the celebrant. If an outside priest/deacon is brought in, the couple is still expected to give the stipend to St. Benedict's for the use of the facility. A gift to the visiting priest/deacon is to be handled between the couple and the celebrant. In addition to the fee, a $100 deposit is required. This check will be returned to you by mail if the church is left in the same condition you found it and you adhere to the St. Benedict Parish wedding guidelines. A separate check is required for the deposit no later than the time of the rehearsal.
Fees for musicians or soloists, or any other participant in your wedding are not set by the parish. Please consult with each person whom you have invited to participate.
Assorted Guidelines
Many visitors have worshiped at Saint Benedict Church over the years. They have come to enjoy the hospitality and spirit of summer life around Lake Geneva. While we will do our best to accommodate a wedding for non-parishioners, it is our main responsibility to respect the requests of members of Saint Benedict Parish and their immediate families. Therefore, when it comes to setting a date and a time for a wedding ceremony parish families will be given first choice. All dates and times require the approval of the Pastor.
Because of the extra details which are often included in the planning of wedding ceremonies there needs to be an increased sensitivity to the daily schedule of parish events. We ask that you and your guests please be considerate of other people or groups coming to the church and parish hall. Please check the parish bulletin or inquire at the parish office if you are unsure of our parish routine.
All altar and sanctuary decorations or flowers are to remain in place. However, please feel free to discuss changes with the priest. This is most important during the main liturgical seasons. If your florist has never been to Saint Benedict Church, it may be helpful to request that the florist contact the parish prior to signing any final contract with you. Mainly, we ask that the sanctuary be left in the same condition as you found it.
It is your responsibility that whatever you bring in for the ceremony you also remove afterwards including pew bows, programs, runners, etc. Floral arrangements may be left if you so choose. We cannot be responsible for items that are to be returned to florists. Please instruct your florist to retrieve all rented items immediately following the ceremony. It is your responsibility to let the florist know these regulations. We ask that nothing be thrown or scattered on parish property, e.g. flower petals, rice, birdseed, confetti, etc. These make walking hazardous for the elderly, and cleanup is difficult.
If you are considering using an aisle runner (supplied by you), please note that the main aisle is 100 feet long. It is your responsibility to remove the runner immediately after the ceremony. If this is not done the deposit may be forfeited.
The unity candle is a secular practice that began in the 1970s. It is not a set part of the wedding liturgy. If you would like to have a unity candle, please discuss it with the celebrant. You must provide the candles and holders. Candles have special significance in Catholic liturgical celebrations. Candles are present at the tabernacle, the alter and the pulpit to represent the light of Christ. Except for the unity candle, no other candles are added to the sanctuary this includes candelabras. Candles are not permitted in the aisle.
If you will be using pew decorations, you must use pew clips or ribbons to attach them. No tape or any other material is permitted. The decorations must be removed immediately after the celebration.
St. Benedict Parish does not provide a wedding coordinator, acolytes or eucharistic ministers for weddings.
Most photographers and videographers are aware of church regulations. If there is any doubt, we request that your photo/video company contact the celebrant before the wedding.
The dressing room for the bride and her attendants is located in the lower level of the building in the youth room. For security reasons, the wedding party is responsible for removing all of their belongings, decorations, trash, etc. before the start of the wedding. The parish is not responsible for lost or stolen items left unattended. It is expected that the wedding party will pick up and straighten up the room to the way they found it. A $100 deposit is required in the event that the church staff needs to clean any part of the facilities after the ceremony. This deposit will be refunded if the facilities have been adequately cleaned.
We ask that you not leave personal belongings unattended at the church. We are not responsible for anything lost, stolen or left behind.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO DRINKING OF ALCOHOL ON CHURCH PROPERTY (INCLUDING THE PARKING LOT) FOR EITHER THE REHEARSAL OR THE WEDDING. ANY EVIDENCE OF INTOXICATION FROM ANY MEMBER OF THE WEDDING PARTY WILL RESULT IN THAT PERSON NOT BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEDDING CEREMONY. IF EITHER OF YOU, THE BRIDE OR GROOM, HAVE BEEN DRINKING, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO CANCEL THE WEDDING CEREMONY. THERE WILL BE NO USE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS ON THE CHURCH PROPERTY AT ANY TIME.
If food/non-alcoholic beverages are brought on the property, it is the responsibility of the bridal party to clean up completely. Because of the sacredness of the worship space, please refrain from chewing gum and silence your cell phones.
The bride and groom are responsible for communicating the above policy to members of the wedding party and family members.
The sacrament of holy orders is celebrated once a year in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, presided over by Archbishop Jerome Listecki. If you are interested in learning more about this sacrament and what preparation is needed, please contact the St. Francis Seminary Home Page.
The sacrament of anointing is celebrated communally during the Advent season. In addition, the sacrament may be celebrated at any time for someone who is seriously ill or entering surgery. Please call the parish office at 262-275-2480 to make arrangements.