First of all, 
congratulations on your engagement 
and prayerful best wishes to you 
as you prepare to enter into 
the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

We look forward to assisting you 
so that you can have a beautiful wedding, 
but, more importantly, 
so that you can have a beautiful marriage.

Because of the beauty of the Cathedral, 
its history and its location, 
many people wish to have 
their weddings here.
So, follow the instructions below:

       FAQs     
       "Pre-Cana" refers to all your Marriage & Wedding Preparation

Summary of our Wedding Guide.    

  If you are a registered parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans AND you want a priest/deacon of the Cathedral to perform your ceremony:

1.     At least six (6) months before your intended wedding date, you MUST speak with the priest/deacon you wish to perform the ceremony.  

2.     Then, you must meet with the Cathedral's Wedding Coordinator, Mary Kay,  to discuss the wedding, Pre-Cana and all regulations and policies regarding everything associated with a wedding in the Cathedral Parish. 

3.     Only after 1 & 2  can a tentative date be set (penciled into our wedding notebook). 

4.     Upon successful completion of Pre-Cana (refer to the Cathedral's wedding guide and forms), THEN a firm wedding date can be set and placed in the parish calendar.  Then:

v    Make an appointment to meet with a Musician of the Cathedral (Justin) to discuss the music of your wedding.

v    Make an appointment with the Wedding Coordinator (Mary Kay) to plan your rehearsal and your wedding day. 

v    Fees, offerings and forms must be submitted four (4) months prior to wedding.

  If you are a registered parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, and you want a priest/deacon from outside the Cathedral Parish to perform your ceremony:

1.     You must contact the priest/deacon at least six (6) months before your intended wedding date [ FYI: after he agrees to do your wedding, HE will contact the Cathedral pastor in writing AND request delegation (the Cathedral pastor's formal permission) to do your wedding at the Cathedral].

2.     Then, you must meet with the Cathedral's Wedding Coordinator (Mary Kay)  to discuss the wedding, Pre-Cana and all regulations and policies regarding everything associated with a wedding in the Cathedral Parish.

3.     Only after 1 & 2  can a tentative date be set (penciled into our wedding notebook).  

4.     Upon successful completion of Pre-Cana (refer to the Cathedral's wedding guide and forms), THEN a firm wedding date can be set and placed in the parish calendar.  Then:

v    Make an appointment to meet with a Musician of the Cathedral (Justin) to discuss the music of your wedding.

v    Make an appointment with the Wedding Coordinator (Mary Kay) to plan your rehearsal and your wedding day. 

v    Fees, offerings and forms must be submitted four (4) months prior to wedding.

  If you are a registered parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, and you want to marry in a non-Catholic church, in your future spouse's church, you must still go through Pre-Cana:

1.     You must contact a priest of the Cathedral Parish at least six (6) months before your intended wedding date.

2.     For a Catholic to marry in a non-Catholic ceremony, you must obtain the permission of the bishop (or his delegate)... the Cathedral priest will assist you.

3.     You must make arrangements with the church of your future spouse. 

4.     Upon successful completion of Pre-Cana (refer to the Cathedral's wedding guide and forms), THEN permission is customarily granted that the ceremony occur outside the church such that the marriage is recognized as valid in the eyes of the Church.

  If you are not a registered parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, before contacting the Cathedral:

1.     At least six (6) months before your intended wedding date, you MUST speak with both your pastor AND the priest/deacon you wish to perform the ceremony (this may be the same person).  [FYI:  your pastor must grant you permission to marry outside your parish AND the priest/deacon whom you wish to perform the ceremony must request delegation (formal permission) from the Cathedral's pastor to do your wedding at the Cathedral].

2.     Then, you must meet with the Cathedral's Wedding Coordinator, Mary Kay,   to discuss the wedding, Pre-Cana and all regulations and policies regarding everything associated with a wedding in the Cathedral Parish.

3.     Only after 1 & 2  can a tentative date be set (penciled into our wedding notebook).  

4.     Upon successful completion of Pre-Cana (refer to the Cathedral's wedding guide and forms) AND submission of all fees, offerings and forms can a firm wedding date be set and placed in the parish calendar.  Then:

v    Make an appointment to meet with a Musician of the Cathedral (Justin) to discuss the music of your wedding.

v    Make an appointment with the Wedding Coordinator (Mary Kay) to plan your rehearsal and your wedding day. 

What have your done for your marriage today?

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• Caring for your Marriage

• About Catholic Marriage

FAQs

Nuptial Masses (or any wedding within the context of Mass) take place when both parties are Catholic... normally at 10 am or 1 pm or 7 pm Saturdays -- or most anytime Monday - Friday.

The beautiful 'Wedding Rite outside the context of Mass' takes place when the bride or groom is not Catholic.

No Unity Candles... or other non-Catholic rituals.

No Weddings during the Season of Lent
    

Pre-Cana includes:

v   meetings with the priest, and all other associated meetings (Pastoral Ministries Coordinator, Wedding Coordinator, Musician, florist, photographer, videographer, etc.).

v   taking and discussing the results of FOCCUS   
  (Facilitating 
   Open 
   Couple
   Communication 
   Understanding &
   Study)            
      which is a  pre-marital inventory that aids in evaluating a couple's readiness for marriage, 

v  Engaged Couples Weekend
is required of all engaged couples and should be attended at least 3 months before the wedding.   To register, email  Dotye Sue or call her 318-865-3581  .

2010 Weekends:  {dates subject to change... call St Josephs}
To register, email  Dotye Sue or call her 318-865-3581  

                      January 29/30


           April 9/10

           July 30/31

           October 15/16

This weekend is an opportunity to help you better understand yourself and your future spouse as well as to help you to prepare to meet the challenges and wonders of your future marriage.  The topics presented during the weekend include:  Differences in personalities, communication, roles, problem solving, finances, spirituality, intimacy and Christian parenting.  There will be an opportunity for sharing, discussion and some fun, too! 

To register, email  Dotye Sue or call her 318-865-3581  .

q   After the Engaged Couples weekend, meet with the priest again to discuss the weekend and to take the FOCCUS.

q    When the results of the FOCCUS are back, meet with the priest to discuss the results and to receive information booklet regarding the wedding.

q    Catholics:  call to the place where you were baptized and ask to have your baptismal certificate ‘reissued.’  The priest needs that ASAP.

q    All other Christians:  please, provide a copy of your baptismal certificate or a letter from your church with the date of baptism.

q    When the above has all taken place, there is a final meeting with your priest  to discuss the wedding.