How long should it take to receive permissions from Byzantine Rite to marry (a non-catholic) in Latin Rite church?

[MaryEllen1951]

I have wondered about the state of the church today in light of Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15).

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

That is how I see my priest, as Christ himself, bringing my husband and I back into the fold. It makes me wonder if it was Satan causing all the problems or God himself closing those doors and keeping me from reentering. I did a lot of soul searching, praying, reading about the saints (St. Faustina, esp.), I have learned I am not a modern Latin Catholic, I have an old Catholic spirituality.

I know that God would never close the door. I believe Satan wants me to stay out, as he also knows the good I can do for myself and others once I am fully reunited with the Church in receipt of all the Sacraments.

I love the parable about the lost sheep. I was lost and am desperate to find my way back. I don’t get the feeling my priest or anyone else is carrying me on their shoulders. I feel very much alone.

No one but me feels any sense of urgency. The Eparchy requested 3 items from the Diocese on January 6. I never got the paperwork until February 11 (what happened for 5 weeks?). I got the necessary information and the documents back to the priest in a week and a half. The priest had everything on February 26 and it was not sent to the Eparchy from the Diocese until March 16 - 10 weeks since the initial request. It’s hard to understand how it takes 2 1/2 months to get a few documents from one place to the other.

In the meantime, I never know where things stand and am made to sit and wonder. Even though I have been waiting 2 years since the beginning of my request to have our marriage blessed by the Church and repeatedly expressed my distress to my priest, nothing changes. If I don’t contact my priest, I hear nothing. I understand he is extremely busy with many duties, but as the parable says “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?"

 

[MaryEllen1951]

Praise God! Our priest received the permissions from the Byzantine church on May 7 and we had our marriage Convalidation ceremony THIS MORNING!!!

I cannot even put into words how happy I am! The ceremony was beautiful…it was all that I had hoped for and more. I went to morning Mass and received Communion (after which I broke down in tears of joy). We had the ceremony after Mass. It was simply my husband and I, my husband’s daughter, and one of my best friends. I felt surrounded by those who have passed on: my mom & dad, my sister, and another best friend. We celebrated afterward by having breakfast at a nearby restaurant.

Our marriage 25 years ago in a Methodist church had the wedding gown, the bridesmaids/best men, limo, big reception, the works. This ceremony was simple and truly one of the best highlights of my life thus far. Never have I felt this much peace and love.

It was exactly 2 years ago on May 8 when we had the very first meeting with our priest. Looking back, I wish I could have been stronger and had more patience and long-suffering. There were several times I wanted to give up…but I didn’t because the Holy Spirit kept bringing me back. I’m trying not to beat myself up for so often being weak because I am human and it seemed too hard to bear at times. I have put that behind me and am looking forward to seeing how life unfolds from this point on and what God has in store for me next.

Thank-you to everyone in this forum. You have been supportive and comforting to me throughout. I hope to do the same for others who are waiting. It was definitely worth everything we had to go through.

 

[GM_2013]

Thank-you to everyone in this forum. You have been supportive and comforting to me throughout. I hope to do the same for others who are waiting. It was definitely worth everything we had to go through.

I’m very happy with these news. I have just prayed an Our Father and a Hail Mary to thank God and the intercession of His Holy Mother for this. Congratulations for you and your husband!

 

[Ignatius]

Praise God! Our priest received the permissions from the Byzantine church on May 7 and we had our marriage Convalidation ceremony THIS MORNING!!!

I cannot even put into words how happy I am! The ceremony was beautiful…it was all that I had hoped for and more. I went to morning Mass and received Communion (after which I broke down in tears of joy). We had the ceremony after Mass. It was simply my husband and I, my husband’s daughter, and one of my best friends. I felt surrounded by those who have passed on: my mom & dad, my sister, and another best friend. We celebrated afterward by having breakfast at a nearby restaurant.

Our marriage 25 years ago in a Methodist church had the wedding gown, the bridesmaids/best men, limo, big reception, the works. This ceremony was simple and truly one of the best highlights of my life thus far. Never have I felt this much peace and love.

It was exactly 2 years ago on May 8 when we had the very first meeting with our priest. Looking back, I wish I could have been stronger and had more patience and long-suffering. There were several times I wanted to give up…but I didn’t because the Holy Spirit kept bringing me back. I’m trying not to beat myself up for so often being weak because I am human and it seemed too hard to bear at times. I have put that behind me and am looking forward to seeing how life unfolds from this point on and what God has in store for me next.

Thank-you to everyone in this forum. You have been supportive and comforting to me throughout. I hope to do the same for others who are waiting. It was definitely worth everything we had to go through.

Wonderful!!! We’ve been praying for you. Thanks be to God!
Sometimes I think, “I’ should have become a doctor, then at least I be paid to have patients”:extrahappy:

 

[phil19034]

Praise God! Our priest received the permissions from the Byzantine church on May 7 and we had our marriage Convalidation ceremony THIS MORNING!!!

I cannot even put into words how happy I am! The ceremony was beautiful…it was all that I had hoped for and more. I went to morning Mass and received Communion (after which I broke down in tears of joy). We had the ceremony after Mass. It was simply my husband and I, my husband’s daughter, and one of my best friends. I felt surrounded by those who have passed on: my mom & dad, my sister, and another best friend. We celebrated afterward by having breakfast at a nearby restaurant.

Our marriage 25 years ago in a Methodist church had the wedding gown, the bridesmaids/best men, limo, big reception, the works. This ceremony was simple and truly one of the best highlights of my life thus far. Never have I felt this much peace and love.

It was exactly 2 years ago on May 8 when we had the very first meeting with our priest. Looking back, I wish I could have been stronger and had more patience and long-suffering. There were several times I wanted to give up…but I didn’t because the Holy Spirit kept bringing me back. I’m trying not to beat myself up for so often being weak because I am human and it seemed too hard to bear at times. I have put that behind me and am looking forward to seeing how life unfolds from this point on and what God has in store for me next.

Thank-you to everyone in this forum. You have been supportive and comforting to me throughout. I hope to do the same for others who are waiting. It was definitely worth everything we had to go through.

Thanks be to God!!! Reading this gave me tears of joy for you. Congrats and God Bless!

 

[Casilda]

Thank you, Lord, for restoring Mary Ellen to life in your church. Today in the Eastern calendar is the feast day of St. Therapont, the Bishop Martyr of Sardis. Miracles attributed to him include the dying restored to life.

Welcome Home!

 

[5Loaves]

Glory to God for all things!

Praise God! Our priest received the permissions from the Byzantine church on May 7 and we had our marriage Convalidation ceremony THIS MORNING!!!

I cannot even put into words how happy I am! The ceremony was beautiful…it was all that I had hoped for and more. I went to morning Mass and received Communion (after which I broke down in tears of joy). We had the ceremony after Mass. It was simply my husband and I, my husband’s daughter, and one of my best friends. I felt surrounded by those who have passed on: my mom & dad, my sister, and another best friend.

Thank you for taking the time on this joyous day to share this wonderful news with us. You have truly been an inspiration on your journey!

I’ve been present in daily Mass a handful of times when a convalidation was celebrated. It was a great joy and truly a blessing to those of us who witnessed them. And as you say, the cloud of witnesses was present sharing in your joy and your profound commitment of faith.

 

[skeyes]

Thanks be to God! Congratulations on the great news. I read the whole thread today and I was so longing to hear your good news at the end. Lo and behold, there is a happy ending.
Cling to Jesus as you have over the many months of waiting and life will be joyful. Best of luck.

In Jesus,
Stan

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Thanks be to God! So very happy for you, your husband and your family. May the Lord bless you and keep you all the days of your life!

 

[Gorgias]

Praise God! Our priest received the permissions from the Byzantine church on May 7 and we had our marriage Convalidation ceremony THIS MORNING!!!

I cannot even put into words how happy I am!

Congratulations!!! This is awesome news!

 

[MaryEllen1951]

Hello all,
I know this is a 2-year old thread, but I wanted to post this in case anyone is still following it.

As you know from my previous post, my husband and I finally had our marriage convalidation ceremony on May 27, 2015, after a long and painful 2-year process.

Over the next 2 years, my husband has supported me inasfar as taking me to church even during the winter months when we are camping in Florida. I have felt the Lord’s hand in growing in my own spirituality.

Last Friday during my Holy Hour of Adoration, I prayed for my husband’s conversion and dared to ask the Lord to do this and use me in any way He wanted.

My husband usually drives me to church, drops me off, and goes to do some errands while I’m in church. Last Sunday I noticed he was a little bit ‘dressed up’. When I came out of church, he said we had to stop to do some of his errands. I asked him what he’d been doing for an hour and he told me he was at church!!! He sat in the back and left just before Communion.

I was in shock and did not even know how to process this!!! It’s a small step and I’m trying to be careful not to get overly excited. However, I feel strongly the Lord is answering my prayer, praise be to God!

I know there is a long road ahead, but this gives me hope. I continue to pray for my husband’s conversion even more fervently, and I ask if you reading this will also pray for him.

Thank-you.

 

[steve_b]

Hello all,
I know this is a 2-year old thread, but I wanted to post this in case anyone is still following it.

As you know from my previous post, my husband and I finally had our marriage convalidation ceremony on May 27, 2015, after a long and painful 2-year process.

Over the next 2 years, my husband has supported me inasfar as taking me to church even during the winter months when we are camping in Florida. I have felt the Lord’s hand in growing in my own spirituality.

Last Friday during my Holy Hour of Adoration, I prayed for my husband’s conversion and dared to ask the Lord to do this and use me in any way He wanted.

My husband usually drives me to church, drops me off, and goes to do some errands while I’m in church. Last Sunday I noticed he was a little bit ‘dressed up’. When I came out of church, he said we had to stop to do some of his errands. I asked him what he’d been doing for an hour and he told me he was at church!!! He sat in the back and left just before Communion.

I was in shock and did not even know how to process this!!! It’s a small step and I’m trying to be careful not to get overly excited. However, I feel strongly the Lord is answering my prayer, praise be to God!

I know there is a long road ahead, but this gives me hope. I continue to pray for my husband’s conversion even more fervently, and I ask if you reading this will also pray for him.

Thank-you.

your actions spoke and continue to speak powerfully to him. Prayers ascending for him and you both.

 

[Wesrock]

If you feel comfortable letting us know which specific Greek Catholic Church you were baptized into and where you live, we can tell you who the Byzantine bishop in question is and provide contact info for his office… maybe it would help for you to talk to your Byzantine bishop’s office directly.

This is along the lines of what I’m thinking. Perhaos it’d be simpler to go to a Byzantine Rite parish. Maybe it’ll cut down on red tape, guven that you’d be going closer to the source. Though I don’t know if they’d perhaps need to start over with verification.