Wedding $$$$$

[dixieagle]

In staying on topic…
I guess I am at a loss at how being asked for money to cover wedding expenses could be construed as not being compassionate and Christian.
The Church does need to pay it’s bills.

You’re apparently missed my point completely. :banghead:

The subject of “charging for the sacrament” is periodically covered, ad nauseam, in other threads.

If there is a “member” fee to use the church - fine, many parishes have some small fee for parish families. (Just as there is often “parishioner” and “non-parishioner” tuition at Catholic schools.) It is the fact that an established, longtime parish family was being asked to pay the “non-member” fee for their daughter who still regarded it as her “home”, though her work required her to live a couple of hours away.

If her family no longer attended and supported the parish I would see no problem with the “non-member” fee. But, according to the OP, they indeed do, and charity and common sense would indicate that their stewardship should be accommodated in this small way.

Penny wise, pound foolish, and shabby treatment of a faithful, current parish family.

 

[dixieagle]

Well we can just agree to disagree on who is responsible for the expenses. Parish members or the bride and groom.

The circumstances are not clear. Long time member may be putting a $1 in the collection bin for the past 20 years thinking they are ponying up their share. Member fee may only be $50 less. Parish council may have updated the policies recently due to deep and troubling parish debt. Collections may be substantially down. Parish membership may be down and the diocese threatening a close. Parish could be in deep debt for whatever reason. Perhaps the maint person just quit. and they now have to hire outside. And the list of realities goes on.

Honestly - we only know the few scant paragraphs of detail that was told to the OP.

Penny wise pound foolish also applies to the bride and groom in letting this parish pay their fees.

Of course, we can imagine all sorts of scenarios, but we can only go on what the OP wrote.

An active parish family of 25-30 years has earned the “member” fee.

We’ll just respectfully disagree.

 

[jrabs]

You’re apparently missed my point completely. :banghead:

The subject of “charging for the sacrament” is periodically covered, ad nauseam, in other threads.

If there is a “member” fee to use the church - fine, many parishes have some small fee for parish families. (Just as there is often “parishioner” and “non-parishioner” tuition at Catholic schools.) It is the fact that an established, longtime parish family was being asked to pay the “non-member” fee for their daughter who still regarded it as her “home”, though her work required her to live a couple of hours away.

If her family no longer attended and supported the parish I would see no problem with the “non-member” fee. But, according to the OP, they indeed do, and charity and common sense would indicate that their stewardship should be accommodated in this small way.

Penny wise, pound foolish, and shabby treatment of a faithful, current parish family.

No I am not missing your point - so save yourself some head bashing.
Neither of us is discussing paying for the sacrament. Yep that has been covered elsewhere. We are all ONLY discussing the facilities fee.
I just do not see this as shabby treatment. Sorry - I just don’t.
As another poster suggested, there are probably significant reasons born of necessity that have initiated the fee. These long standing parents can address with the priest and see if he can modify the fee.

 

[BamaRider]

If the businesses in our town accepted what customers think they should pay for their goods and services, like the church does (aka weekly offerings) they would all go out of business. The weekly offerings around here are not enough to cover basic costs.

The difference here is- the places you mention are in BUSINESS to make* money*, my local parish is NOT, but I can’t for the rest of y’all’s. I’m just saying MY parish is here to serve the people.

If a parish is operating in the red, then they gotta do what they gotta do. But if you want to foster a sense of community, and a loyalty, eliminating "user fees’ might be a good place to start. And surprise, when a parish is known in the diocese as caring community, the rolls will increase which=more money which=out of the red!
**

Neither of us is discussing paying for the sacrament. Yep that has been covered elsewhere. We are all ONLY discussing the facilities fee.

I just do not see this as shabby treatment. Sorry - I just don’t.
As another poster suggested, there are probably significant reasons born of necessity that have initiated the fee. These long standing parents can address with the priest and see if he can modify the fee.
**

We’re not? Canon Law requires us to marry in a CHURCH. You can’t get the Sacrament without a Church, and you can’t get a church without paying “your user fees” so what would you call it?

 

[BamaRider]

And I view common sense and charity the very opposite way. If you are not a member of the parish, then you need to respect the parish and pay the required fee.

Funny how that works.

I guess thats the way it works NEW YORK, glad I live in Alabama! LOL.

But here, if a longtime parishoner’s daughter/son (or ever a shortimer) asks for the Sacrament in the parish of her roots, surrounding by her friends and family, we are NOT gonna exclude her by throwing a rule book at the family. In fact that a good chance they ceremony takes place with NO user fees at all.

Man, some of you folks up there are hardcore LOL.

 

[jrabs]

We’re not? Canon Law requires us to marry in a CHURCH. You can’t get the Sacrament without a Church, and you can’t get a church without paying “your user fees” so what would you call it?

No we are not. We all know that a couple can opt for getting married on a Sat vigil mass or at Sunday mass and I am betting NO fee would be charged. So let’s be clear about our apples to apples before we accuse a church of charging a fee for the sacrament. It is not the case.
We are addressing a fee to use the building, clean the building, pay the cleaning staff if there happens to be one, pay the ever increasing utility bill. We are talking Sat or Friday evening wedding, right? Well, that is the choice of the couple. The other option is Sunday.

Won’t beat my head but I just got married a few months ago and did not think twice about paying the fee. Fact is, as a past member of parish council, I am fully aware of the fees in the parish, the expenses, the dwindling weekly returns (donations) which keep the parish running.

So, for all folks that have generous parishioners, God has been good in instilling a sense of generosity in your members(BamaRider - maybe your parish is blessed with such). For the many other parishes, reality is a hard bitter pill that comes with a cost. This will probably be in the form of a fee for holding a wedding that is done outside of Sunday mass.

 

[jrabs]

I guess thats the way it works NEW YORK, glad I live in Alabama! LOL.

But here, if a longtime parishoner’s daughter/son (or ever a shortimer) asks for the Sacrament in the parish of her roots, surrounding by her friends and family, we are NOT gonna exclude her by throwing a rule book at the family. In fact that a good chance they ceremony takes place with NO user fees at all.

Man, some of you folks up there are hardcore LOL.

Why would you stoop to insults now? rude.

 

[dixieagle]

I guess thats the way it works NEW YORK, glad I live in Alabama! LOL.

But here, if a longtime parishoner’s daughter/son (or ever a shortimer) asks for the Sacrament in the parish of her roots, surrounding by her friends and family, we are NOT gonna exclude her by throwing a rule book at the family. In fact that a good chance they ceremony takes place with NO user fees at all.

Man, some of you folks up there are hardcore LOL.

I guess it’s just our “Southern Hospitality”, BamaRider! I can only imagine the reaction if one of our parish friends, who’ve been here as long as we have (24 years) attempted to reserve the church for a “twenty-something” child’s wedding and were told they had to cough up the “non parishioner” fee! (Small fee to cover any additional A/C, lights on for an extra hour, etc., organist if provided, etc., notwithstanding.)

Boy, I can tell I’ve been away from Boston a LONG time I said I wouldn’t turn into a Southerner, but, gosh darn, it, I guess I have!

 

[dixieagle]

No we are not. We all know that a couple can opt for getting married on a Sat vigil mass or at Sunday mass and I am betting NO fee would be charged. So let’s be clear about our apples to apples before we accuse a church of charging a fee for the sacrament. It is not the case.
We are addressing a fee to use the building, clean the building, pay the cleaning staff if there happens to be one, pay the ever increasing utility bill. We are talking Sat or Friday evening wedding, right? Well, that is the choice of the couple. The other option is Sunday.

No argument about a small, reasonable fee for the above mentioned items; it is the fact that the church apparently wants to charge a long-standing, active parish family the NON-PARISHIONER fee for their daughter. (I’ve yet to see a wedding take place at a regularly scheduled parish Mass, though this is often talked about on these boards.)

Won’t beat my head but I just got married a few months ago and did not think twice about paying the fee. Fact is, as a past member of parish council, I am fully aware of the fees in the parish, the expenses, the dwindling weekly returns (donations) which keep the parish running.

No quibble there. I hope they gave you the parishioner rate.

 

[jrabs]

No argument about a small, reasonable fee for the above mentioned items; it is the fact that the church apparently wants to charge a long-standing, active parish family the NON-PARISHIONER fee for their daughter. (I’ve yet to see a wedding take place at a regularly scheduled parish Mass, though this is often talked about on these boards.)

But the option is there.

 

[Phemie]

(I’ve yet to see a wedding take place at a regularly scheduled parish Mass, though this is often talked about on these boards.)

 

[dixieagle]

Depends on the parish. In my hometown weddings were often scheduled for the 7 pm slot on Friday, time of the daily Mass. In cases where the wedding was within a Liturgy of the Word (like mine), the regularly scheduled Mass was cancelled.

I wonder if that is a common practice in Canada?

We used to have Friday evening weddings in New England (not during a parish Mass) but they are exceedingly rare here. We also did Saturday morning weddings; I wonder if they still do? Again, these were all outside of the usuallly scheduled Mass times.

 

[dixieagle]

dixieagle;3972036:

Why do you think it appropriate to be snarky? I see no Southern hospitality in that.

I see a discussion cannot be held without insults or uncharitable comments.
Ahhh oh well.

??? I was actually agreeing with you.

 

[Phemie]

I wonder if that is a common practice in Canada?

We used to have Friday evening weddings in New England (not during a parish Mass) but they are exceedingly rare here. We also did Saturday morning weddings; I wonder if they still do? Again, these were all outside of the usuallly scheduled Mass times.

At the time I got married, a Friday evening wedding was common.

Most marriages in the parish where I work now are celebrated on Saturdays. Depending on whether the couple wants a Mass or not it can be held anytime until 3 p.m and after 6 p.m. Most couples opt for 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Saturday but we recently had a 3pm wedding on a Monday.

 

[BamaRider]

Why would you stoop to insults now? rude.

Sheesh y’all don’t have a sense of humor up there!! LOL I see we are about touchy on “user fees” are we?? I don’t blame ya!

A wedding at a weekend Mass? How does that work? What about the guys that showed up for Sunday Mass and got a wedding? Does the wedding party guests just mingle in with everyone else? Can the guys that were just there for Mass, crash the reception?

After* this* thread I’m gonna attend the next council meeting and ask it be put in the by laws, as long as this parish is in the black NO “user fee” be stuck on members who need the church for the Sacraments. I’m gonna also ask member be defined, but the final authority on that will rest with Father, so when common sense needs to come into play, he can make a call. As would be the case in the OP.

They’re treating that family’s daughter like she’s a stranger?? For how many years did she sit on the same pew as some of those folks? She goes away to school a few years and throw a rule book at the family for a few bucks??. Tell them if they don’t like it they can have the wedding at the Sat Vigil Mass??? Dang.

They certainly have a right to charge whoever they want, anything they want. Just glad it ain’t me.

So let’s be clear about our apples to apples before we accuse a church of charging a fee for the sacrament. It is not the case.
We are addressing a fee to use the building, clean the building, pay the cleaning staff if there happens to be one, pay the ever increasing utility bill. We are talking Sat or Friday evening wedding, right? Well, that is the choice of the couple. The other option is Sunday.

You can dress this up with “it costs to turn the lights on,” or anyway you want, but it is what it is. Each parish has a operating budget, it is my view weddings and funerals should be a line expense. Somebody needs to figure how many weddings and funerasl take place in a year, see what it costs per event, and put it in the budget. Let the congregation debate it, and the council vote accordingly.

 

[dets]

The intent of this letter is to educate, correct and create an awareness of Sacramental and sanctuary abuse in the Catholic Church by certain priests. All below is supported by the word of God, the Catholic Church Teaching and the Canon Law.
The sacraments are an act of the whole Church, they are communal acts, in which Christ Himself Acts. The Sacramental abuse and the abuse of the sacred space of the Church referred to is in regards to the Sacrament of Marriage. The Sacrament of Marriage represents the permanent union of Christ with the Church and the unbroken unity between them. Each time this Sacrament is performed we see the union and love of Christ for his Church. The Sacrament of Marriage is not an individual action that belongs exclusively to the couple, but to the whole Church, where there should be seen a joy and receive the community support. The Sacrament of Marriage is not an opportunity to make business to benefit individuals within the Church, by forcing hardship upon the Faithful who are not wealthy and denied the sacrament to them as a punishment for not pay the fee. Such action denigrates the Sacrament of Marriage. The whole community should collaborate with the celebration of a sacrament and not impose more economic weight over the couple. I have been subjected to this practice which caused me deep sorrow. A Pastor denied me the right to be married in a catholic church and to receive the sacrament of marriage because I do not have $550.00 to cover his “Church Fees”.
I will explain the inconsistencies of that practice and how this practice itself breaks communion in the Church and violent the Canon Law. It is a symptom of a deep problem in the Church. Canon Law states that the ministers cannot charge for a Sacrament. Also, the Sacrament of Marriage is a right that cannot be denied to any person that is properly prepared. Canon law does not make parish registration a pre-requisite for marriage in the Catholic Church (canon 1115). The presumption of the Church is that people have a natural right to marry. The Church, therefore, is to provide a welcoming presence regardless of whether or not the couple are registered parishioners. Canon Law is clear regarding those two points. Sadly, the Canon Law has been used deceptively. The sacraments cannot be separated from the Church, and the sanctuary. The Pastors knows it very well. The Parish staffs under the guidance of their pastors enact this abuse. They claim that they are not charging for the Sacrament but for the church (sanctuary) “facilities”. In fact charging for the Church Facilities to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage is to charge for the Sacrament, because you cannot separate the House of God from the Sacraments. Is not that practice a way to charge for the sacrament and a deception for the faithful?. The Physical Church is the place of the Sacraments, where Jesus is present in Body and Blood. It is the place of Prayer where the people of God gather. The bottom line of that practice is:
If you do not pay the amount, then you cannot use their Church and as a consequence, you will not receive the Sacrament of Marriage.
It seems that now some pastors are the owners of the Churches and have the right to deny the sacrament of Marriage because you do not have the money to pay “their fees”. This policy is an abuse of power, and denigrates the dignity of the Faithful that come for the Sacrament of Marriage. A priest cannot refuse to give the Sacrament of Marriage because the Faithful does not have the money to pay the “fee for the Church”. It is a grave sin and any person that is part of that needs to ask pardon to God and stop be part of it.
The word of Jesus Our Lord is very clear on this subject:
41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” Mark (12, 41-44)

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16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the temple, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, If any one swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 21 and he who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it; 22 and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! (Mathew 23, 16-24)

Continue

 

[dets]

In my case, it happened after the Pastor agreed to allow me to use his church for my Marriage and we set the day of the wedding. A few days after this, the church requested $550.00 ($200.00 to use the Sanctuary, $250.00 music and $100 wedding coordinator.) I gave a donation or a contribution of $200.00 as is the custom in the Catholic Church. I did not gave the $200.00 as a fee for use the sanctuary as they request. I explained that I would not need the wedding coordinator ($100) because the celebrant priest will coordinate the ceremony. I also let them know that I had the musician that would do it for free and with love. Unfortunately, their rules are: “if you do not going to use their music Director or wedding Coordinator, you have to pay the fees anyway.”
Why the couple have to pay $250.00 for the music director when the couple have a family or a church friend that would do it for free and with love? Why should the couple have to pay a wedding coordinator that is not needed? Then I explained my economic situation to the staff person, I am not working, my fiancé has a car of the year 1991, no air conditioner on it and a broken window, etc. I pleaded to the staff to consider my situation, but they did not want to listen and said that I would not be married there unless I paid the full package of $550.00 (Sanctuary, wedding coordinator and music). The staff was more concerned with putting money into the church bank account rather than considering my situation. At that point the Sacrament of Marriage was no longer the focus of consideration, bur rather the focus was on the fact that the Church wants what I do not have (money). I went to the house of God for a Sacrament but the experience was that I went to a financial institution for a financial assistance or a loan without economical credentials to get it. Why should a faithful member of the church have to go through such humiliation in the Church in order to receive the sacraments? Is it not the right of all the faithful to receive the Sacraments? Why should the faithful have to beg for a Sacrament to the staff? Are they the ministers of the Sacraments? How can it be that some of the priests have delegated that responsibility? I do not understand how the music director and the wedding coordinator could take the money from a couple if they are not involved in the wedding. It begs the question of correct and proper behavior, to say nothing of ethnics and charity. I can assure you that you will be paid the money from the faithful, but they will not open their hearts. When the hearts are opened, you receive the abundant blessing that God promises to all. God wants our hearts and for this reason he gave us Jesus who died for us. Christ taught us of the importance of giving and doing with out any concern for money.
This experience left me feeling as though I was negotiating to receive the sacrament of matrimony. I did not felt the compassion, love of Christ, no empathy, but only the monetary concern or worry to get business for the music director and the wedding coordinator. No matter all the explanation of my economic situation, they did not want to listen. I left a check of $200.00 donation under the door of the Pastor’s office. The next day I received an email advising me that after consideration, they will not allow me to merry at that church and asked me to pick up the $200.00 check donation and other personal documents. I asked for a reason by email but received no answer. How could this be permitted? When we met with the Pastor, there was no suggestion that we would not be able to marry at the church. Such action is unconscionable and creates the belief that the sacraments, in this case, the Sacrament of Marriage, belongs only to the rich people or those who can afford to pay the fees.
Also there was another fee called “suggested gratuity” for the priest of $300.00, that is in addition of the package mentioned. The faithful are glad to give a donation to a priest, but a suggested donation of $300.00 is inappropriate. The duty of the Priest is to be the minister of the Sacraments. Also the diocesan priest receives a salary that is more than what many faithful receive. I would like to ask you to remember the time you were in the seminary studying to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Look upon the poor faithful people that were praying and paying to support your studies so that you might be ordained. It was the community, not you alone. The day of your ordination was a day of joy and no one of you were force to pay a penny for that, because the community was there for you. Whatever you received freely, should be given freely. God will provide what the church will need. If the Church needs money, other methods for acquiring funds should be employed that do not include charging for the Sacraments.
Some other Churches charge for the bridal room no matter you will not use it. I thought that the bridal room was an act of Charity for the bride… No charity for the bride that some times have to travel one hour from the family home to the Church and have to use the Church to dress. The bridal represents the Church!. I was very sad when I realize that no charity in the Church but money talks.
The faithful are forced to pay the full package in order to get the Sacrament of Marriage. According to the policies established at the local catholic churches of this archdiocese, if you do not pay their CHURCH FACILITY FEE, MUSIC DIRECTOR and WEDDING COORDINADOR FEE, no matter that you have your own musician and coordinator, you will not marry in that church and you will not have the sacrament of Marriage. The priests claims that they charge because there is electricity expenses. It is not an excuse to charge for the Sacraments. Why the couple have to pay hundreds of dollars for electricity if the sacraments belongs to the whole Church. It is a cost that should be included as part of Sunday offerings. We, the faithful give on Sunday the donation with happiness to cover the expenses of the sacraments, which belongs to all of us. The Church is permitted to lease the building and facilities for special events related to the Catholic Church. The intention of such permission was not to charge for celebrate the sacraments in the Church.
This action attempts to make the Sacrament of Marriage an individual action, rather than an action integral to the Mystical Body of Christ. I beg the priest for compassion, especially with the poor, to see that sacraments in their proper perspective, with a direct relation of their existence and duty. The Church belongs to all the faithful, poor or rich, etc. The parishioners that support economically the Church would be very sad to realize the lack of charity in the church with their brothers and sisters that do not have economic means, yet desire to receive the sacraments.

Continue

 

[dets]

It is a scandal. You hear from the faithful- we are shopping around for a church that charge less and then you hear the priests and the staff selling the “package” claiming that their church is cheaper than other Churches. The Pastor and staff are denigrating the sacrament of Marriage forcing the faithful to think that is OK to bargain the package between Churches to get the best deal. The Sacrament of Marriage has been turned into a commercial business and the manner in which it is being handled smacks of coercion.
One of the most widely told stories in the Bible speaks of how Jesus and Mary, at the wedding of Cana, helped the couple when the wine ran out. Mary, full of charity and compassion, turned to Jesus for help. Both together enriched the wedding with the best of the wines. That is a model for the priest and the Church to proceed for the Sacrament of Marriage because Jesus is the model for the priest and Mary represents the Triumphant Church. Where were Jesus and the Church when I asked for the Sacrament of Marriage? I cannot imagine Jesus denying the Sacrament of Marriage to me, because I do not have money. The pastors should respect the right of the faithful stated in the Cannon Law. The priest must be an image of Christ.
Another situation that I encountered due to this was that if the couples are not members of a specific parish, they have to pay extra changes. I understand that the parishioners have priority in order to reserve the church, but not to charge more to a non parishioner. Are we not one Church? If the couple belongs to another parish and for whatever reason such as, availability of their church, live in another state etc. the couple have to go to another Church, the Church should not take economic advantage of that sad situation. It is enough to have to go to another church. Whatever we do for the local Church, or for any other Catholic organization, is for the whole Church. Why are the pastors taking advantage of the faithful because they are not parishioner? If the Church is available why charge more. The Pastors do not realize that the same way he is treating the visitor from other parish, his parishioners that are not willing to marry in his parish, will be treated in the same way. Is it not a pleasure to serve no matter who is the person? Why does the Church have to take economical advantage of everything? My best friend could not marry in her own Church because they charge $1,500. She was a parishioner for 10 years. The crux of this problem is that our leaders have lost confidence in Our Lord Jesus to provide, but not in the almighty dollar. The spirit provides what the Church needs. Our Lady always depends on the Divine Providence.
Finally, after I negotiated with 3 Catholic Churches without any result, I saw the love of God in two priest. One received permission from his pastor to waive all the fees. The other advised me to look for the Church that I wanted and he would send me the money by mail so I could receive the sacrament of Marriage and be married in a Catholic Church. Also, a faithful member who felt great compassion and sorrow for all I had to go through offered to pay the fees of the Church. Those priests and that faithful member give hope and good testimony of Christ to the whole Church. For Francisco and myself, the process to find a Church was very difficult; regardless, we are active Catholics in the Archdioceses of Atlanta. I cannot imagine the difficulties and frustration that another catholic couple could feel.
The day of my marriage is 6th of September at 7:00 PM. I would finish this letter with two quotes from the Holy Scriptures. The first one below is from the readings used for the Sunday Virgil for the day of my wedding…
“ and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.” (Ezequiel 33, 8)

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23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; 25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; 33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
1 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; …4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. (Mateo 23, 1-7)
24 "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Mark 6, 24)

In the Love and Communion of Jesus and Mary

 

[kage_ar]

Please break your posts into paragraphs. It is impossible to read a longstreamoftextwithnoparagraphbreaksinit.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .

A wedding at a weekend Mass? How does that work? What about the guys that showed up for Sunday Mass and got a wedding? Does the wedding party guests just mingle in with everyone else? Can the guys that were just there for Mass, crash the reception? . . .

Note that all masses are open to the public; any one may attend any mass. * We frequently have funerals at regular weekday masses. I haven’t encountered a wedding at one yet, but know of no rule against it. As Priests become scarcer, I think we will see more funerals and weddings at regular masses.,*