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Question
Dear Fr. Johnson,
praise be Jesus and Mary, now and forever!
I am a devout Roman catholic but i am married in civil wedding to a non catholic guy for 20 yrs now and blessed with 2 children. We would really want to have a roman catholic marriage but i want it to be just simple. Can i have it done in my house with only our family?and what requirements are needed for us to be married according to catholic faith? Please help.
my husband is willing to be converted to a catholicsm. how long will it take?
Hi, Angelica:
Thanks for the question.
The two of you will need to approach the local Priest/Parish about your current situation, and your desire to get married by the Authority of the Catholic Church. Some particulars will need to be determined: is your husband now baptized already outside of full-communion with the Cathjolic Church, or is he non-baptized? Have either of you been married previously and need to look at Formal Anullment Case, or Lack of Canonical Form Petition, etc.
Having your vows taken again and received officially by the authorized Minister of the Catholic Church is called a "convalidation." This can take place with a small group, but must be inside the Church building itself (unless dispensed); but could easily be done outside of any time of regularly scheduled Masses or other devotions.
I certainly encourage your husband to keep looking and inquiring about becoming a Catholic. As far as "how long it will take", provided everything is in order and there are no pending anullment cases, it would most likely be somewhere between 6-months to a year.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
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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