FAQs

Question

Where Is Parking At the Church?

Answer

Handicap parking is adjacent to the east side of the church and street parking directly across the street from the front doors. All other parking is located within short walking distance from the basilica. Here is a super helpful link to the Basilicas web page, it has a aerial view of parking options. https://www.emcatholic.org/fas-for-visitors

Question

How far apart is the reception place from the Church?

Answer

The reception and church are about 45 minutes apart.

Question

Is this a Catholic wedding?

Answer

Yes it is definitely a Catholic wedding! This will be a Maronite wedding ceremony, also called a "Crowning Ceremony". Maronite Rite is of the Eastern Catholic tradition, whereas the Roman Rite is Western Catholic tradition.

Question

What is diffrent about the Marionrite Mass?

Answer

Well for starters the posture of reverence is standing, there is no kneeling during the mass (Not even at consecration!). Secondly, Our Lord in the Eucharist is distributed by intinction, which is the Bread dipped in the Precious Blood and then received on the tongue. You cannot receive Him on the hand. For anyone who is not comfortable with this or is Non-Catholic you can still go up for a blessing; Just cross your arms over your chest so the priest knows this as you approach.

Question

Where should I book my hotel?

Answer

The reception place is in the town of West Valley but there are not really any hotels in that area. Instead there are a quite a few choices for hotels in Ellicottville (which is somewhere in between the reception and church) and there are other hotels in Olean, near the church.