508-432-0027
Frequently
Asked Questions
About Marriage as a Roman Catholic
Both Rev. Jim David
and Rev. Marie David are available to officiate at weddings.
1. We do not regularly attend
a Roman Catholic Parish in the area, and I cannot find a Roman
Catholic Priest who will marry us. Being married in the church
means a lot to us. What can we do?
There are several
options. Most Roman Catholic parishes will require that you have
at least some connection to a Roman Catholic Parish. If you live
in this area and are open to doing so, seek out a parish where
you feel comfortable, meet with the pastor and explain that you
would like to join the parish and have plans to marry. If you
now live in another area and are active in a parish there, ask
your local priest to connect you to a parish here. If you still
have parents or relatives living in this area who belong to a
parish, ask them to speak to their priest about your request.
All Catholics
who approach a priest for a sacrament or help of any kind should
be welcomed and listened to. Please call or contact Rev. David
at the phone number or email address above if he can be
of help.
2. One of us is (or both
of us are) divorced and we do not wish to use the annulment process.
Our priest has told us that we cannot be married in the church.
Can you help us?
Officials in
the Roman Catholic Church do not recognize divorce as a possibility
- hence they are unable to offer any official pathways other
than the annulment process for divorced people seeking to remarry.
Unlike the Roman
Catholic Church, other Catholic Churches (such as the Episcopal
Church, and Eastern Orthodox Churches) teach that second marriages
may be blessed. The sacred bond which is formed in the Sacrament
of Marriage is itself a living bond, capable of growth and maturity,
requiring nurture and sustenance from each of the parties involved.
As a human bond it is subject to sin and to death. Humanity has
been redeemed in Christ Jesus, and in his
resurrection we know death to be conquered, sin to be forgiven,
and the chance for New Life given to all.
Rev. David will
welcome divorced people seeking the sacrament of marriage as
God's children reaching out for happiness and an opportunity for new life.
3. If Rev. David witnesses
our marriage will it be legal in the eyes of the state? Will the
Church recognize our marriage?
Both Rev. Jim
David and Rev. Marie David have faculties (authority) from the
Catholic Ecumenical Church and are certified as officiants by
the Federation of Christian Ministries. In this context they
have civil authority to perform wedding ceremonies and your marriage
will be legal in the eyes of the state.
While the Catholic
Ecumenical Church will recognize your marriage as valid, Roman
Catholic Church officials will not. Officials in the Roman Catholic
Church require that its members follow the "form" of
Canon Law (i.e., they must be married according to the rules
and custom laid out in Canon Law). Couples married by either
Rev. David are not following the form of Roman Catholic Canon
Law, hence their marriage will not be recognized by Roman Catholic
Officials.
4. We want to be married
in an outdoor ceremony but our priest will only take part in a
service in the church. Will you perform an outside ceremony?
Yes.
5. Do you have a Church
where you regularly minister and in which our ceremony may take
place?
The staff of
Evensong by the Sea Retreat & Spirituality Center provides
a variety of services to Christians and others on the spiritual
journey. There is a chapel at Evensong where we gather
for regular prayer and worship, however it is too small for most weddings. There are many Churches
which would welcome your wedding, however, and the staff of Evensong
might be able to help you to locate one in our area. If your wedding is a small one (40 people or less) we would be glad to discuss the use of St. Mary of Magdala Chapel here on the grounds of Evensong Retreat Center.
6. Do you charge for your
services?
We do charge
a just fee for our services, but no one is ever turned away because
they cannot afford to pay. A fee schedule for weddings can be
accessed in the menu below.
