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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 8/3/2009


Question
Dear Father

I have been married to my wife legally for 16 years and we have 3 children. I was catholic, my wife wasn't and we never married in church. 3 years ago we have started to go to mass and my wife and children converted to the RC church. We now feel we want to have the church wedding we never had. Is it still possible?

Answer
Hi, Peter:
Thanks for the question, and congratulations on getting on the move back into the practice of the Catholic Faith...

With all this connection now to your local Parish Church, with your wife and children and all converting to the Catholic Faith, you should surely be able to present this question to your local Parish Priest?
You don't spell out all the facts for me clearly, but I am assuming you most surely must have done a "convalidation" or "radical sanation" for your current legal marriage of the past 16-years?  Are there still questions of previous marriages, and anullments that need attention?
So, in the final analysis, provided that all is in place, and there exist no impediments to a lawful marriage in the Church, you would need to ask the local Parish Priest about what extent of solemnity and celebration one is allowed for all of this in the circumstances of that particular parish...
I wished I could give a clearer answer, but I don't have all the facts; nevertheless, I wish you well, and the best of success in coming in every way, and integrated at every level, your return to the practice of the Catholic Faith...

Fr. Timothy JOhnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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