Catholic Convert and Protestant Marriage

[Convert6509]

I converted to Catholicism two years ago. In doing so, I became the only member of my family who is Catholic. My fiancé is from a Protestant family which means that over the span of both families, I am all by my lonesome.

To do a wedding in which neither side of the family can participate in receiving the Eucharist, neither side has familiarity with the church or order of Mass, etc. is hard for me to wrap my brain around.

Please help!

 

[TheLittleLady]

The US Bishops have a wonderful resource, combined with the resources you will find on your Diocese website, you will be better prepared when you meet with your priest.

https://www.foryourmarriage.org/dating-engaged/planning-a-catholic-wedding/

 

[1ke]

I encourage you to talk to your pastor, together with your fiance. You will be doing premarital preparation with your priest or deacon.

The norm for a mixed marriage is to hold the Marriage Rite outside of Mass. The other option would be for you to ask for a dispensation from Catholic form to be married in her protestant church, which happens frequently in my experience when the bride isn’t a Catholic.

Don’t be overly concerned, your priest or deacon who is preparing you for marriage will walk through everything with you.

 

[TC3033]

My wife (and all of her family) are Catholic, me (and all of my family) are not.

We had the Rite outside of Mass as we didn’t want an aspect of our wedding where one side of the church would be participating while the others could simply observe.

The Rite outside of Mass, from what I understand, is very similar to a Nuptual Mass with the main difference being no communion. Both are valid in the eyes of the church and the Rite outside of Mass is a sacrament (given both parties are baptized, which sounds like you are).

If you go the dispensation route to marry in her church, still a sacrament as well…given your permission is granted.

 

[TheLittleLady]

still a sacrament as well

As long as the fiancee was validly baptized. Some non-Catholic denominations don’t baptize (shocking, I know!)

 

[TC3033]

Yep

(given both parties are baptized, which sounds like you are).

I assume too much when I hear protestant…I just assume mainline…so I guess I can’t say it sounds like the FI is.