Catholics/Getting Married

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 2/11/2010


Question
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to answer my question, Myself and my fiance recently got engaged and I am Roman Catholic and it has been my dream to get married in a specific Catholic church in my home town, My fiance however has not been baptized into any faith and has no interest in doing so, So my question is would we be able to have my wedding in the church I have always wanted too? If not who would be able to marry us and what type of church? Thank you again.

Kristle

Answer
Hi, Kristle:
Thanks for the question.
It sounds to me like you need to present yourself to the Pastor or Marriage Preparation Team at the Church in your home town which you have always dreamed to get married in.  Of course, at the least, in order to get married by the Authority of the Catholic Church you will need to complete with your fiance any marriage preparations requirements.
The issue here is not so much about the architectural beauty or significance of some particular church building or other.  I can only encourage you as a Catholic to undertake what is necessary for a LAWFUL Marriage under the Authority of the Catholic Church.  To find out these details, you need to see a Priest in person.  I suppose I would be concerned, as well: Do you, or have you been practicing your Catholic Faith at all over the past several years?  This is the most important thing.

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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