I. Setting the Wedding Date:
A wedding date may be reserved by calling the parish office, but the date may only be confirmed after the pastor has met with the couple to establish their freedom to marry. It is advisable that the couples secure the date with the pastor before making further plans. In some cases, a Declaration of Nullity may need to be obtained. No wedding date can be reserved if a Declaration of Nullity is necessary.
II. Time of the Wedding:
If weddings are scheduled on Saturdays no later than 2:00 p.m. – No exceptions! Only one (1) wedding will be scheduled per Saturday. By diocesan policy, weddings are not scheduled on Sundays. It should be noted that there are some times during the Church year, such as Lent, when the celebration of a wedding is discouraged or not permitted.
III. Marriage Preparation:
It is the policies of the Diocese of Greensburg that every couple planning to celebrate marriage attends some form of marriage preparation. Couples can fulfill this requirement by attending the following (pre-registration is required):
- Sponsor Couples involve one married couple and one engaged couple. The couples meet in the home of the married couple over the course of several evenings that are scheduled at the convenience of those involved.
- Engaged Encounter is a weekend program that begins on a Friday evening and ends Sunday afternoon. This program takes place in the Greensburg area and is led by two or more married couples with up to twenty engaged couples in attendance.
- Attendance at a Pre-Cana session or sessions at a parish in or outside the Diocese of Greensburg.
In addition, the couple will take part in a process known as FOCCUS – Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study, which helps the couple deal with various issues prior to marriage.
IV. Meeting with the Priest:
A couple should schedule an appointment with the priest who will witness their marriage within six (6) months of the wedding. Prior to this meeting, the couple should obtain the following documents, which become part of the wedding file:
- Record of Baptism: All baptized parties must present copies of their baptismal record. The record of the Catholic baptism must be issued within six (6) months prior to the marriage date. A new certificate is required. If you were baptized in another parish, you must call that parish and request a copy of your baptismal record. Also, the non-Catholic party, if baptized, is required to obtain a copy of their baptism certificate.
- Declaration of Nullity: if one of the parties was married before, a copy of their Declaration of Nullity from the Catholic Church is necessary.
- Pastor's Permission: If one of the Catholic parties is from another parish, they will need written permission from their pastor.
- Member of another Catholic Rite: If one of the parties getting married is a member of another Catholic Rite, (Byzantine, Maronite, Ukrainian, etc.) written permission from the respective diocese of that rite is necessary.
- Marriage Preparation Certificate: Received after a couple completes one of the marriage preparation programs.
Also, couples will fill out required marriage forms when meeting with the priest. These forms deal with biographical information as well as testimony of the intentions of the couples desiring marriage within the Catholic Church. If one of the parties is not Catholic, additional forms will be required.
Offering |
Cost |
Contact |
Church |
$250 for active parishioners* $350 for non-parishioners |
|
Altar Servers (2) |
$15 for each Altar Server |
|
Parish Organist/Soloist |
$200
|
Robin Stahl, 724-446-1202 |
* The term active is defined as someone who has been registered with the parish for at least one year and makes regular financial contributions to support the church.