Okay so I moved to Queens and finally got my backside in gear and went to Sunday Mass at my local Roman Catholic Church...I was considering becoming a member once I got comfortable but here's my problem - I don't really like it there AND there is no way I would consider getting married there. So I need help...
Can you become a member at any RC church or do you have to join at your local church? Does where you live play a role in which church you can attend?
Also...can you get married in any RC church?
I'm already driving myself crazy and we've only been engaged for a week!
Kelly9904
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Re: RC Church question
First dont drive yourself crazy! Enjoy your engagment think of how long you waited for this moment, you dont want to spend the whole thing driving yourself nuts! With the RC thing, I think it depends on the church. I am getting married at a church that is technically outside my area (one town over). I am able to get married there even though I dont belong. However my family and I are joining this church and are able to do so even though we dont live with in the 'boundaries' Generally where you live does play a role simply because most people go to the church that is closest to them! My suggestion would be to research and find a church you are comfortable with and then call them and tell them that you do not live within the parish but you are interested in joining the parish and/or getting married there! Good luck! Congrats on your engagement! Remember to enjoy it!
TwoBugs
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Re: RC Church question
As far as I know, you can join any church, whether it is your local church or not.
However, you apparently cannot get married at just any church. I found this out the hard way, after calling 3 different churches on L.I. (I live out of state) and having them tell me that they will not perfom weddings for non-parishoners. One priest even said that he was 'personally offended' that I wanted to get married at his church, thus taking the service away from his parishoners. He also told me that a 'church is not a catering hall' and is not open to just anyone and everyone.
When I finally found a church that would marry us, the priest said that he had never heard of a church denying a wedding ceremony for non-parishoner, unless one of the couple was not Catholic. So there appears to be no universal answer to this question.
That said, you might have to get a letter of permission from the church you belong to stating that you are allowed to get married at a different church.
Kelly9904
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Re: RC Church question
TwoBugs is right, i forgot about the letter. My sister in law was living in Brooklyn when she got married, she was not registered in that church but she still had to get a letter to get married in her childhood church! That is one of the reasons I decided to register at the church that I am getting married at! i have attended it for many years but just never registered there but figured that now was a good time, and it helps me avoid having to get the letter
firegal
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Member since
Re: RC Church question
My church is in Queens too and I'm getting married there. I know if I chose to get married somewhere else all I would have to do is get a letter from my church saying it is okay. I would go to that parish that you would like to use and ask them what there requirements are. They may just tell you that they can become your new parish if you attend services there (even if it isn't the parish closest to your neighborhood) and then you won't have to worry about the letter thing. I hope this made sense
Ang&Rich
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Re: RC Church question
Thank you so much - everyone! You have no idea how much you have helped to calm me down.
There are two other Roman Catholic Churches in our area that I want to check out and then I'll decide and start making calls. It's so important to me to feel at home in the church I decide on. I feel so much better knowing that there is a possibility of attending another parish.
