Hi, I am trying to plan my wedding for the late spring and I was wondering what it will take for me to have my wedding in a Catholic Church? I am a practicing Catholic girl, 23 yrs old but I am not well versed in what I need in order to marry the Lutheran man I want to. We have been told many different stories on what it takes and I would appreciate if someone would just let me know what I have to do. Does he have to attend any preparation classes? Do I? Do we need to seek counsel from my priest? When I do go speak to the priest do I need to bring anything along with me, such as baptismal papers or anything? Does he have to convert to do this? He does not practice his own faith, he is willing to do whatever it takes though, in order to accomadate my wishes of a Catholic ceremony. This is very important to me, as if I cannot marry in my own faith, the marriage will not feel valid to me. If anyone could just point me in the right direction to where I can start on this, that would be greatly appreciated! Thank you and God Bless!! - Kristyne

-- Kristyne W (tinker_belle_33@hotmail.com), March 03, 2005

Answers

Dear Kristyne, Congratulation on your engagement. The best person to ask is your local priest. Yes your intended will have to go through the marriage prep. You should go as soon as possible. I don't think you are going to make your spring date....but I could be wrong.

The priest will ask him questions on how he is going to allow you and the children to practive the Catholic faith. He will have to promise to raise the kids Catholic. It's not that hard, but it is time consuming ... call the priest as soon as possible.

God bless your union,

-- Davis (Hello@There.com), March 03, 2005.

Thank you so much for a quick reply! I guess I will have to contact my priest asap and hope for the best. Thanks again Davis, God Bless!

-- Kristyne W (tinker_belle_33@hotmail.com), March 03, 2005.

Hello Kristyne,

You both would be expected to attend the marriage preparation classes, just like any other couple. No additional counseling would be needed unless there are issues you would like to clarify. Yes, you will have to show your baptismal certificate, as anyone contemplating marriage must do. No, he does not need to convert in order for you to marry in the Catholic Church. If he is interested in converting, or simply in learning more about the Catholic faith, ask your priest about attending an RCIA class. You would not have to complete this before marrying however. You as the Catholic party will be asked to promise to do all in your power to raise your children in the Catholic faith. He would not have to make such a promise, but he must be aware that you have made such a promise.

Congratulations on taking your faith so seriously. All too many these days are willing to ignore the teaching of the Church, resulting in marriages that not only "feel" invalid, but in fact are invalid.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 03, 2005.

You will be asked to promise to do all in your power to raise your children in the Catholic faith. He would not have to make such a promise, but he must be aware that you have made such a promise.

Paul , or anyone else , can you explain this to me , plz ??

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), March 03, 2005.

If he is interested in converting, or simply in learning more about the Catholic faith, ask your priest about attending an RCIA class.

This is not a bad idea. He would understand why you do what you do as a Catholic. Could I suggest that both of you (maybe sometime in the future) go to RCIA together. He does not have to convert, but it would help you two grow spiritually together.

-- Davis (Hello@There.com), March 03, 2005.

(twice - I'm still learning the edits)

-- Davis (Hello@There.com), March 03, 2005.

I (the non-Catholic in the wedding) had to promise.

-- Davis (Hello@There.com), March 03, 2005.

Davis, you must have been married a long time ago. For at least the last few decades, the non-Catholic is not asked to make any promise re the children’s faith. The Church only requires that the non- Catholic be INFORMED of the fact that the Catholic makes a promise to make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the children are brought up in the Catholic faith.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), March 03, 2005.

Thank you all very much for all your answers, this is really helpful to me! It also makes me smile that people are responding so fast and helping out someone they dont know. Sometimes encountering the general public when you need advice is not met with a helping hand as I have all too often learned. I would just like to say an extra thank you for everyone's kindness on this board. It makes me thankful for yet another thing that I belong to the Catholic faith! God Bless! -Kristyne

-- Kristyne W (tinker_belle_33@hotmail.com), March 04, 2005.