Roce Ceremony (Bride)
INSTRUCTIONS:
This is a basic template of the Roce Ceremony. Anyone using it should read through it and edit it according to the situation of the bride or groom. Please maintain a prayerful atmosphere before the ceremony begins. Please keep the following ready before the service: The Bible - a small bowl of coconut oil - a large bowl of coconut milk - a crucifix, if the ceremony is being conducted in a place away from the altar.
Ent. Hymn:
We are gathering together ( or any appropriate hymn )
Introduction:
Dear friends, a wedding in the family is an occasion for rejoicing. It is a time for relatives and friends to gather to support and help. It also gives us an opportunity to pray for and bless those to be married. Today we gather around ( NAME OF BRIDE ) who is to wed ( GROOM ) Most of us have seen her grow; some of us have known her as a friend, while others have had a brief acquaintance. Our presence here symbolizes our best wishes, prayers and support as she begins a new journey through life.
We listen now to a reading from the Book of Genesis describing to us the wedding of Isaac and Rebecca and how Rebecca's family blesses her.
Reading: Gen. 24: 58 -61
( Preferably read from the Family Bible )
And they called Rebekah, and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ She said, ‘I will.’ So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,
‘May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads;
may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes.’
Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
The Word of the Lord
Blessing of Coconut Milk and Oil
Commentator:
Having blessed the Lord, we now invoke his blessings on the coconut milk and oil, which will be used for the ceremony. Both symbols come from nature on which we depend for our living. Coconut milk, which is white, signifies the purity with which ( NAME OF BRIDE ) approaches the Sacrament of Matrimony. The oil, which is used to anoint kings and strengthen babies after childbirth is symbolically applied to ( NAME OF BRIDE ) as a sign of strengthening in her marriage.
Priest:
( This prayer over the milk and the oil may be said by a priest if he is available for the ceremony. In case he is not available then one of the elders may put a few drops of holy water in the coconut milk and oil )
Prayer:
Loving Father, bless + this coconut oil and milk which will be applied to ( NAME OF BRIDE ) in preparation for her wedding day. May the purity of the milk remind ( NAME OF BRIDE ) of the big responsibility she will undertake and may the oil strengthen her all the days of her married life. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Ceremony
The first part of the ceremony consists of a prayer being recited by selected representatives who will then apply the blessed oil on the forehead of ( NAME OF BRIDE ) with the sign of the cross.
Our response after each prayer will be sung:
Lay your hands gently upon her, may their touch render your peace
Parents:
Lord, we are always grateful to you for the gift of ( NAME OF BRIDE ). You have blessed us with the joy of raising her up to see the light of this day. As she prepares to get married, we ask you to join us in blessing her that she may have a happy and fruitful marriage. May she always remember our love for her and the values with which we brought her up. May she take with her all the beautiful memories we've had as a family. For this we pray to the Lord.
Response: Lay your hands gently upon her, may their touch render your peace
Sister/Brother:
Lord, as I thank you for my sister, I pray that she will be happy in her life ahead. I'm grateful for the relationship we've shared, for the beautiful time we've spent together and for the love I have experienced through her. Please join me in blessing my sister with good health and peace of mind in her marriage. For this we pray to the Lord.
Response: Lay your hands gently upon her, may their touch render your peace
God-parents:
Lord, we thank you for the privilege of being ( NAME OF BRIDE )'s godparents. The responsibility was indeed a blessing and we ask you to join us in blessing her as she undertakes a new role in life with her marriage. May she and her husband be a committed couple, faithful to each other and to the Church. Give them the strength to face the challenges that may come their way. For this we pray to the Lord.
Response: Lay your hands gently upon her, may their touch render your peace
Friend:
Lord, thank you for the joy of having ( NAME OF BRIDE ) for a friend. She has touched our lives in different ways and we appreciate her friendship. As we bless her today, may the strength of our love be with her in her marriage. For this we pray to the Lord.
Response: Lay your hands gently upon her, may their touch render your peace
( NAME OF BRIDE ) now recites a prayer and everyone present will raise our right hands over her as a sign of our blessing
BRIDE:
Abba Father, I believe that you have blessed me with ( NAME OF GROOM ).
Out of all the people in the world, our paths crossed, we found each other and we love each other, because You willed it.
I thank you for my parents who have brought me up, loved me and made so many sacrifices.
I thank you for (brothers/sisters) and for the relationship we share.
I thank you for my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who have always been supportive and loving.
I thank you for all my friends who brought joy into my life.
As I look forward to my wedding day and my life ahead with ( NAME OF GROOM ), I ask for your blessings and your strength to help me through difficult and trying times that may come my way.
May my wedding day always remind me of your love for me as well as of the support and good wishes of all who have gathered here today.
May our Blessed Lady intercede for my family and me. Amen.
LEADER:
We will now begin the traditional application of the Roce. Kindly do not throw eggs or any thing else on the bride as these have no place in the ceremony and it reflects disrespect to the presence of God in our midst and the generosity of the bride's family who has graciously invited us to share in their joy. Thank you!
Hymn:
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you ( or any other appropriate hymn )
Adaptation from material prepared by Fr. R Tellis
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