Finding a deacon to perform marriage.

[CBrown84]

My fiancée and I live in Atlanta, GA, but want to get married in Charleston, SC. The problem i’m having is that the sister with whom I talked in Charleston said that they cannot provide the priest or deacon to perform the marriage and that I have to find one myself before she can hold the church for us that day. I have talked to the wedding coordinator at my church, and she acted very confused by the situation in that she doesn’t think anyone would travel from Atlanta to perform it. How do I go about solving this problem, as I am having trouble finding where to start?

 

[Dolphincrc]

If you know someone there you can ask them to contact their parish, if not I would contact the Diocese of Charleston, here’s the website:

catholic-doc.org/

 

[1ke]

My fiancée and I live in Atlanta, GA, but want to get married in Charleston, SC.

Is Charleston someone’s hometown? Is there a reason you are not being married where you live?

Canon law requires you to be married in the parish in which you reside. Your pastor will have to give you permission to be married elsewhere. You will still have to complete the premarital process in your own diocese.

Also, you would have to ensure you comply with South Carolina law regarding licenses and who is licensed to perform the marriage in the state.

The problem i’m having is that the sister with whom I talked in Charleston said that they cannot provide the priest or deacon to perform the marriage and that I have to find one myself before she can hold the church for us that day.

Have you talked to a priest in the parish you want to be married in? Have you traveled to SC and made an appointment to work on your wedding arrangements?

Priests and deacons are very busy. You cannot expect one to marry you just because you want to get married there. If you have no relationship with a priest/deacon in that location you will likely have to supply your own.

I have talked to the wedding coordinator at my church, and she acted very confused by the situation in that she doesn’t think anyone would travel from Atlanta to perform it.

She may be right.

If you are going to ask someone to travel there, you will need to pay for it. And, they would have to take leave from their normal duties. It’s unlikely you’ll find a priest/deacon who will do this readily unless they are already well acquainted with you.

And, don’t forget if you bring an out of state officiant, they may not have the legal standing to perform a wedding in another state.

How do I go about solving this problem, as I am having trouble finding where to start?

Well, start by making an appointment with your local priest in your parish to discuss all the requirements of your own diocese. Again, he has to give you permission to marry elsewhere. So, start there.

And, really, I suggest reconsidering getting married in another state. Get married where you live. If you have no one in the other state to help you prepare, no contact with a priest there, and no ties to a parish there it will be difficult. You don’t need that extra complication.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

You are going about this backwards.

1.) Make an appointment with your LOCAL priest. Explain to him that you wish to be married in Charleston.
2.) Your local parish pastor has jurisdiction. If he says no, then it’s no.
3.) In any event, you will have a ton of forms to fill out. One of them is to the pastor in the parish in Charleston where you want to be married. If you or your fiancee is not Catholic, then you have to get a dispensation from the bishop. You have so many sessions of premarital counseling, and an inventory of how you and your fiancee relate. There’s the form that whichever of you is Catholic (both if you both are) will raise any children Catholic. There’s the form for anybody who isn’t Catholic to tell the person that the Catholic has promised to raise the children Catholic.
4.) The local priest or deacon files the forms with the correct people.
.

 

[nittanylion1175]

My fiancée and I live in Atlanta, GA, but want to get married in Charleston, SC. The problem i’m having is that the sister with whom I talked in Charleston said that they cannot provide the priest or deacon to perform the marriage and that I have to find one myself before she can hold the church for us that day. I have talked to the wedding coordinator at my church, and she acted very confused by the situation in that she doesn’t think anyone would travel from Atlanta to perform it. How do I go about solving this problem, as I am having trouble finding where to start?

to all who think its easy to get married in the catholic church–think twice!!! Its an ardrous process led by a bunch of stoddgy old men. My advice–receive your vows from a protestant religion who care about peroples feelings, emotions, modern society issues, are open to mixed marriages, who have kind hearts and won’t abuse your children, etc.

 

[tee_eff_em]

to all who think its easy to get married in the catholic church–think twice!!! Its an ardrous process led by a bunch of stoddgy old men. My advice–receive your vows from a protestant religion who care about peroples feelings, emotions, modern society issues, are open to mixed marriages, who have kind hearts and won’t abuse your children, etc.

You advise contrary to the precepts of the Church. To offer such advise to Catholics is to advise them to not marry at all.

tee

 

[puzzleannie]

to all who think its easy to get married in the catholic church–think twice!!! Its an ardrous process led by a bunch of stoddgy old men. My advice–receive your vows from a protestant religion who care about peroples feelings, emotions, modern society issues, are open to mixed marriages, who have kind hearts and won’t abuse your children, etc.

yes and you will be the first in line to complain there are too many annulments due to invalid marriages. the rules enforced by stodgy people are to insure you marry validly and have the preparation you need and deserve, if you feel that gift is a burden I have not much help to offer.

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