SAINT AGATHA - SAINT JAMES CHURCH
3728 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA. 19104
Phone: 215-386-9732, Fax: 215-386-5899, E-Mail: info@Saintsaj.org
Website: www.SaintsAJ.org
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MARRIAGE PREPARATION INFORMATION - Part 1 |
Congratulations!
Getting engaged and setting a wedding date is certainly one of the most joyful moments of your lives. It is also a serious time, filled with responsibility and perhaps even anxiety. The priests and staff of St Agatha-St. James Church join you in your joy and want to assure you that we will do whatever we can to help you in your preparation for marriage. The following material contains information about marriage at St. Agatha-St. James Church which is intended to help you in your marriage preparation.
Requesting To Be Married At St. Agatha-St. James Church.
Parishioners:
Any parishioner who is currently a member of St. Agatha-St. James parish may be married by a priest of St. AJ. According to canon law, we define “Parishioner” as:
· Persons with a permanent residence within the geographical boundaries of St. AJ parish who are registered with the rectory.
· Students currently matriculating at local colleges or universities located within the current parish boundaries, i.e. Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, and Walnut Hill College/Restaurant School.
· Special case: Persons outside parish boundaries who have special arrangements between the pastor of St. Agatha-St James and their current parish.
Non-Parishioners
1. Non-Parishioners who have secured a visiting priest [such as a friend or relative] to perform their ceremony and to take responsibility for the requisite pre-marital preparation and paperwork, may make a request to be married at St. AJ. Usually such requests can be granted as long as the procedures and protocols for visiting clergy are acceptable and accepted by the visiting priest. Please see below under “Visiting Clergy” for a further explanation of these procedures and protocols
2. Non-parishioners who do not have a visiting priest to perform their ceremony and to take responsibility for the requisite pre-marital preparation and paperwork; also make requests to be married at St. AJ. Couples want to be married in St. Agatha-St. James Church for various reasons. Some are alumni from one of the surrounding universities, some have a reception planned in Center or Olde City and want the wedding in a nearby venue, some like the interior beauty of the church building. If you are in this category, you are welcome to make a request to be married at St. AJ and your request will be considered. However, we hope you appreciate that the priests stationed at St. AJ have a full and active ministry here, consisting of ordinary parish ministry, as well as outreach to large universities, and pastoral care responsibilities and emergency availability for three major hospitals, as well as balancing personal commitments and obligations. Our Priests may not be available or able to respond favorably to request from non-parishioners.
Securing Permission for Your Marriage.
It is necessary to have direct contact with a priest to secure your marriage date via phone, letter, e- mail, fax, etc.. You do not have a confirmed date and should not proceed with any plans or commitments until You meet with or speak with a priest who gives permission for the marriage,
N.B. The parish secretary will be able to tell you if the date or dates you are interested in are "Open." However she will not pencil in or reserve your request until permission is given by one of the priests.
Securing your Marriage Date in the Parish Marriage Book.
After speaking with a priest from St. AJ and obtaining permission for your marriage, he will ask you to speak to the parish secretary by phone or in person. The parish secretary will take the next steps with you which are:
· She will obtain all your contact information
· She will inform you or remind you as the case may be of the non-refundable deposit of $250.00 to reserve your date and time in the marriage register. [thereby rendering this time slot unavailable for others. When your check for $250.00 arrives, the secretary will input your information in the mass book.
· Please see Financial requirements below for full explanation.
Securing a TIME for Your Marriage
The following times are available for a wedding:
· Saturdays – [From September through May]
10:00 AM at the earliest; 2:30 pm at the latest.
· Saturdays – [From June through August]
Because of Summer Mass schedule changes, during these months, we are able to schedule weddings later than 4 PM.
Cautionary Reminder: St. AJ is NOT air conditioned. Summer heat can be extremely uncomfortable. In the extreme, it can even be unhealthy for certain people. Therefore, you need to consider carefully whether you want to have your wedding in St. AJ's Church in the Summer months.
· Friday afternoon – under certain circumstances by special arrangement only.
· Friday evening – under certain circumstances by special arrangement only.
· Sunday - is not available for weddings.
INITIAL CONTACT WITH A PRIEST
According to Archdiocesan policy, an engaged couple must make their initial contact at least SIX MONTHS previous to the marriage date to allow an adequate period of preparation. Our priests welcome this opportunity to meet the both of you and begin working closely with you as you approach your special day.
During your initial meeting, the priest will:
· Confirm your marriage date (if you have not already done so).
· Tell you what preparations are necessary for your marriage.
· Allow you to ask any questions that you may have at this time.
· Provide information about dates and places so you can register for marriage preparation instructions [Pre-Cana]
· Explain the “Pre-Nuptial Investigation.”
· Offer details about other necessary paper work that must be completed (See below).
· Begin the discussion about the planning of your Wedding Liturgy.
NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION AND PERMISSIONS.
1. Both parties Catholic:
· “Copy of Baptismal Certificates” – A recent copy, dated within the last six months, obtained from parish where you were baptized.
· “Letter of Freedom to Marry” – for the person of persons not a member of St. AJ parish, obtained from parish where you are currently registered. This testifies that the person has never been married before.
· “Witness Affidavits” - Bride and groom each need two affidavits from persons who know them well enough to testify that that the perspective bride or groom has never been married before. Each affidavit [Four I all] is witnessed and signed by a priest or deacon or notary public.
· “Civil Marriage License” – obtained at “Orphans’ Court” office at any county seat. License must be dated inside of 60 days before wedding date.
2. Interfaith Marriage: [One party not Catholic]
· The Catholic party will need “Copy of Baptismal Certificate” – A recent copy, dated within the last six months, obtained from parish where you were baptized. to sign a
· If baptized, the non-Catholic party must obtain a copy of his/her Baptismal Certificate or proof of baptism.
· The Catholic party will need a “Dispensation,” informing and requesting permission from the Bishop concerning the marriage between a Catholic and a Non-Catholic.
· “Witness Affidavits” - Bride and groom each need two affidavits from persons who know them well enough to testify that that the perspective bride or groom has never been married before. Each affidavit [Four I all] is witnessed and signed by a priest or deacon or notary public.
· “Civil Marriage License” – obtained at “Orphans’ Court” office at any county seat. License must be dated inside of 60 days before wedding date.
· If the marriage ceremony will be celebrated in a place other than in a Catholic Church,
the Catholic must also file a “Dispensation” asking for permission to marry in a Church
or other indoor venue other than a Catholic church.
3. For Non-Parishioners:
· Verbal “Permission” from a priest of St. AJ parish allowing marriage of non-parishioners within St. AJ church.
· Letter of Intent from the visiting priest who will officiate at the wedding. [See Below – “Visiting Priests for more information.
· Letter of Permission obtained from the parish where person one party is currently
registered, allowing marriage to take place in St. Agatha-St. James.
4. Visiting Clergy who agree to officiate weddings at St. Agatha-St. James.
Clergy in good standing are most welcome to perform a Nuptial Mass or wedding ceremony at St. Agatha – St. James. In addition to the required “Delegation,” a visiting priest who accepts an invitation from a couple to perform a wedding at St. AJ must provide a letter to the pastor or to the priest who is handling the arrangements, acknowledging that he is accepting the invitation to perform the wedding and will be responsible for all aspects of the couples preparation and celebration of their wedding at St. Agatha-St. James. To avoid misunderstandings and confusions that have occurred in the past, we ask that the visiting priest, when he accept an invitation to officiate to be responsible for the following…
· For meeting the couple and clarifying for them what is necessary during the preparation phase of their engagement.
· For establishing a file on the couple and facilitating and accumulating any necessary forms and certificates such as baptismal certificates, dispensations, freedom to marry, witness documentation that both parties have never been married before, and any protocols required by the chancery in special circumstances [i.e. annulments, parties being from another country, etc] If more convenient, This file can also be kept at St. AJ by the priest from St. AJ who is handling arrangements for the wedding..
· for the Pre-marital Investigation – as it is called in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia - or the equivalent in other dioceses.
· for securing any dispensations, [If the visiting priest is not from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Priest from St. AJ who is handling the arrangements for this marriage would apply for any dispensations.
· for conducting the rehearsal, for informing the couple about the necessity of pre-cana instructions. [The priest from St. AJ who is handling the arrangements for this marriage would be able to inform the couple of local opportunities to fulfill the pre-cana requirement.]
· for assisting the couple in the wedding planning and being the contact person for any questions have about their wedding and/or the liturgy
· for transmitting the completed marriage file to the rectory, or forwarding any documents still in his possession to the rectory to be included in the permanent file.
· The letter from the visiting priest should include:
5. Civil Marriage License:
· The civil marriage license is obtainable from The Office of the Clerk of the Orphans' Court. To apply for a marriage license, a couple must appear together in room 413 of Philadelphia City Hall. They must each be at least eighteen years old and have a valid photo I.D. and an original Social Security card. Blood tests are not needed. The marriage license is issued in three days and is valid for sixty days thereafter.
6. General Guidelines Concerning Documentation:
· All forms and documentation, except the civil marriage license, must be in our possession one month before the date of the wedding.
· The civil marriage license must be in our possession 2 weeks before marriage date.
· It is advisable to bring any (or all) documents to St. AJ parish earlier than stipulated.
This fee is due 60 days before your wedding date. Since you will have already paid your $500.00 deposit previously to secure the date, the $1500.00 balance will be due at the 60 day point. All financial affairs are handled by the parish secretary, so you may send this check to St. Agatha-St. James: Attn: Office Manager.
3. Musicians / vocalists
Please discuss fees with the Office Manager.
If the couple desires and has engaged the services of a parish altar server, a discretionary “tip” should be offered by the couple before the ceremony. [A minimum of $25.00 is recommended
[ Request for Preparation and Paperwork Only – See Part 3 on Web Page ]
Some parishioners arrange for their marriage to take place in another parish or diocese or in another country. When the priest officiating at the marriage is not able or willing to expedite the necessary pre-marital preparation, catechesis, and/or paperwork and it becomes necessary for a priest of St. Agatha – St. James to take care of these obligations, this fee is applicable. Please call the Parish Office to determine this fee and see Marriage Preparation - Part 3 “Prep Only” on the parish web page for more information.
Revised: Advent 2006
Revised: Pentecost 2007
Revised: September 2008
Revised: September 2009
Revised: September 2009
Revised: January 2011
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Addendum I: Sample Letter of Intent from Visiting Priest Officiating at a Marriage
at St. Agatha-St. James
[Preferred institutional Letterhead]
Name & Address of Visiting Priest
Date
Rev. James T. McGuinn
St. Agatha-St, James Rectory
3728 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Dear Father McGuinn:
I understand that [Name of Groom] and [Name of Bride] are planning to be married at St. Agatha-St. James Church on [day], [date], at [time]. I have accepted their invitation to preside at their Wedding [Mass or Ceremony]. I will work with them in all phases of their pre-marital preparation, and I will be responsible for all aspects of this wedding as outlined on your web page, which I have read and accept.
I will also be available to conduct the wedding rehearsal on the date and time the couple has selected. Also please consider this letter a request for delegation to perform this marriage.
I am providing my best phone Number and best email
Sincerely in Christ
______________________________