Church Issues ***UPDATE***

UPDATE! So, I went to see the Priest today. He finally called me and set a date to meet with FH and I. We were all nervous but when we met with Father Ralph- we had a blast! He was really funny, nice, and we bs'd for a few. Now, we are really comfortable with taking the FOCUS test as well as Pre Cana. We are very excited and can't wait to begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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***OLD POST***
So, I have my heart set on St. Brigids in Westbury. My family is from Westbury. They all came from Italy and settled there in the early 1900's. The church has a major sentimental value to me- my Grandparents married there, I was baptized there by my Uncle who was a Priest in that Church. My Dad was baptized there. And the list goes on. I went there in January to fill out the form and I heard nothing until March when the Priest FINALLY got back to me via email. He said that he wanted to know dates that worked for me so we could start planning. I sent him an email back with the info. He never got back to me. I called him last week and was saying I never heard back and I am trying to be patient but getting really worried. He took down my info and said he would call me the next day. He never did. So at this point, I am fed up and thinking of going to a different one. Why are they so difficult?! What should I do? I don't want to keep calling because I seem like a major pest now.

Go there. I know some girls have had some problems with their church, which I can't understand. When you call are you getting someone on the phone or a machine?

I know you hate to keep calling but sometimes that is the only thing you can do.

But seriously, if they are not calling back get the office hours and show up.

I totally agree with Kristi! It was important to me to book the church first before I did anything else. However, I had the same problem.. I guess the priests think weddings are not a priority. How dare they JK!!

Anyway just go there or keep calling. I finally got through and wanted to make sure the date was available and it was...Definetely stay with that church!!!!!

Don't worry. It sounds like you have a lot of family history at that church. I wouldn't give up on it!!
I would keep calling there or go for Sunday mass and try to talk to the priest after the mass. Or even go on a weekday and go to the rectory. I had the same problem with my church and forget it if i have any questions they take forever to get back to me unless i harass them. Just stay on top of them.

Yea I agree with Kristi...just show up during business hours. I had problems with my church too and thank god I have a bunch of cousins, aunts uncles etc that work/volunteer at the church bc they helped out alot.

St. Bridgets is a beautiful church and has sentimental value with my familly too! If you want, one of my aunts works there in the outreach part so maybe she knows someone directly you can speak to. Let me know

I agree. Go to the rectory and speak to someone.

My church did the same thing until i showed up one night after work....

After numerous times calling they never got back to me. Sometimes it pays off to get into stalker mode!

I was having the same issues with my church, I called as soon as we got engaged and they told me it was too early to book for 2009 and they wanted me to call back in a few months, I called in December 2007 they said it was too close to christmas but my date was open not to worry and to call back after xmas.....I called back after New Years and finally get the priest on the phone, I tell him my date over the phone he says ok and schedules me an appt for a week later......me and FH go to the church all excited about booking the church and I walked out of their with my blood pressure through theeeeeeeeee ROOF!!! The priest grabs his stupid book and opens it to my date (mind you this is January 2008 and we're booking for June 2009) he goes oh we have baptisms on that date and we can't have any weddings on the same day, so I was like wait a minute.....baptisms in a year and a half from now? the babies arent even conceived yet what the hell is going on......he says well the 3rd sunday of every month is reserved for baptisms....well we're getting married the 4th sunday so wth is he talking about.....Anyway the priest carries on how the week before and the week after is open if we want it ( at this point I wanted to punch him bc we have so many other things booked and he told me the date was open)

He didnt seem to care that we had our hearts set on that date, we told him that since we're teachers that day would work best for us, he said well what other church can you go to? I was like what the hell is wrong with this guy he isnt even attempting to help us out!!! I have since then sworn off that church, I will never ever go back there and it upsets me cause I always dreamed of getting married at my church

Me and FH decided to get married in another church in our neighborhood, I called them the same day and they booked out date for us, they couldnt have been nicer!!!

Hope everything works out for you

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Posted by lanamanitta

I also called St. Brigid's, but because I'm not an actual 'member of the parish' they said no . . . . which I understood. But you have such a history there, you were baptized there! I hear they are strict on the 'member of the parish' rule, but you should definitely go to talk to them . . . even if it's not your present-day parish. It's a beautiful church!!! Good luck!

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OMG (no pun intended) they are so strict in queens!

I was going to go with my original parish and they told me i needed pretty much a permission letter from my current church just to get married at the old parish.

They can flip off if they think Im running around from one neighborhood to the next just to get married. PLUS the 'donation'?!?!? yeahhh ok.

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Posted by lanamanitta

I also called St. Brigid's, but because I'm not an actual 'member of the parish' they said no . . . . which I understood. But you have such a history there, you were baptized there! I hear they are strict on the 'member of the parish' rule, but you should definitely go to talk to them . . . even if it's not your present-day parish. It's a beautiful church!!! Good luck!

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Thats strange, I am not a member and I got married there, maybe they changed their rules-who knows.

Father Ralph officiated my ceremony, most likely the reason you were having a hard time was b/c he does the retreats for the parish so he isnt always available. You should receive the paperwork for Pre Cana in the mail once you decide how you will do it-FOCCUS also you will get in the mail or you will receive a phone call. Always call, leave a message on father Ralphs voicemail-DO NOT leav a message with Adrianna at the desk, she is horrible to deal with. She doesnt answer questions and is of almost NO help at all.

If you have any questions feel free to FM me

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Posted by flairforfashion

UPDATE! So, I went to see the Priest today. He finally called me and set a date to meet with FH and I. We were all nervous but when we met with Father Ralph- we had a blast! He was really funny, nice, and we bs'd for a few. Now, we are really comfortable with taking the FOCUS test as well as Pre Cana. We are very excited and can't wait to begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
***OLD POST***
So, I have my heart set on St. Brigids in Westbury. My family is from Westbury. They all came from Italy and settled there in the early 1900's. The church has a major sentimental value to me- my Grandparents married there, I was baptized there by my Uncle who was a Priest in that Church. My Dad was baptized there. And the list goes on. I went there in January to fill out the form and I heard nothing until March when the Priest FINALLY got back to me via email. He said that he wanted to know dates that worked for me so we could start planning. I sent him an email back with the info. He never got back to me. I called him last week and was saying I never heard back and I am trying to be patient but getting really worried. He took down my info and said he would call me the next day. He never did. So at this point, I am fed up and thinking of going to a different one. Why are they so difficult?! What should I do? I don't want to keep calling because I seem like a major pest now.

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glad it all worked out,. my boss is actually a deacon at St. Brigid's

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Posted by Soon-to-be-Moore

What is the FOCUS test?

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Thats a test you and FH take. It has the same questions and you take it seperately. Then theytake both of your answers and compare where you disagree/agree.

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Posted by maggiejoe

So glad you got to meet the priest....we're meeting ours on Tuesday, Im kinda nervous

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Don't be nervous. I was SOOO nervous and ended up having a great experience. It just made FH and I even more excited about our wedding.