American Old Catholic Church

The American Old Catholic Church

"A City of Refuge"

Welcome to the Wedding Ministry of
The American Old Catholic Church

Statement Regarding Marriage

Marriage is a living, sacred contract between husband and wife which includes but also extends beyond the exchange of vows to the entire life of the conjugal relationship. This contract or covenant is sacred because the love of husband and wife signifies the love between Christ and His Bride, the Church. Its sacredness is also attested to by the fact that it helps the partners and those who know and love them to reach their destiny of life with God.

When celebrated between two baptized persons, we believe marriage is a sacrament which, in signifying the love between Christ and His church, actually makes that Divine Love (Grace) present for the benefit of husband and wife and all who know and love them.

There are two purposes of marriage. One is mutual love and support, which is a generous gift of the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual self to a partner. This beautifully passionate and committed love for one another is a source, together with God's Grace, for the other equally significant end of marriage which is the generous outflow of love from the couple to other human beings. Enriching new life can find its expression in good works among the members of the community of the church and especially for the poor and needy of our society. This second purpose of marriage is also powerfully evident when a couple allows its love to overflow into the new life of a son or daughter. The key word used in the descriptions of both purposes of marriage is "generous." It is in giving, not taking, that Christians receive the most joy from marriage.

Those who seek to become husband and wife should understand that the marriage relationship is a living covenant to be entered into without any conditions affecting the consent of husband and wife. The two properties of this covenant are exclusiveness and permanence. If a marriage commitment is exclusive, it means that both husband and wife fully intend to reserve the beautiful intimacy of their relationship to one another alone. If it is permanent, a husband and wife intend to enter a bond that will last a lifetime. If your faith makes you ready to celebrate the joys and responsibilities of Christian marriage, then we are ready to assist you in the preparation and planning of your wedding ceremony.

Pre-Marriage Requirements

1. At least Two Consultation Meetings with your priest. The purpose of these meetings is to review the results of the FOCUS survey, to formally state your intentions to marry, to become better acquainted with your priest, and to plan your wedding ceremony.

2. The priests of The American Old Catholic Churches are dedicated to making a beautiful wedding in the Catholic tradition possible for you. They are also dedicated to nourishing the spiritual life begun in you at your baptism. Couples married by our priests are welcome to practice their faith here in our parish if they should so desire. Your presence at one of our Sunday Liturgies will introduce you to our community, and allow you to become better acquainted with your priest. Check each parish for mass times.

3. Certificate of Baptism. If you are Catholic, it is required that you request a current original of your baptismal certificate from your church of baptism. If you belong to another Christian denomination, a photocopy of your certificate of baptism is sufficient. Please bring a copy of your certificate of baptism to your priest at one of the two consultations. However, some denominations do not issue baptismal certificates. In that case, a special form will be provided by your priest. Please note that if only one party is Catholic and the other has never been baptized, the priests of Church are still able to preside over your wedding ceremony.

4. The Marriage License. No wedding will be performed by any priest of the Church without a civil marriage license. You must obtain this license from an office of a county clerk. The marriage license, along with your honorarium, should be given to your priest at the final consultation meeting. In the case of solemnizing an existing marriage, we will require a certified copy of your civil marriage license; a certificate will not do.

5. Honorarium. Many people have asked what the normal suggested minimum honorarium should be. The normal honorarium is $350. A $100.00 deposit is due at the time of application to reserve the clergy, with the balance being due thirty days before your wedding date. If this is a financial problem, please discuss it with your priest.

6. The American Catholic Churches are available for rental for wedding ceremonies, contact each parish for details.

For more Information call 303 750-9120