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Annabelle Johnson
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
I recently got married At City Hall in New York City.
This is my first marriage and I don't have any children. My husband is Catholic. I have attended a Protestant church all my life until my teens and have never been baptized. I wish to have a Church wedding with my husband in the Catholic Church.
I want my civil marriage to be recognized by the Catholic Church. I was told I could get all my training within 6-9 months although I have been receiving contradictory information from everyone.
Please help me.
Mrs. Annabelle Johnson
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{
How does an unbaptized woman become Catholic and have her marriage Church-recognized? }
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Mike replied:
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Hi Annabelle,
Thanks for the question.
I would rather our priest-helper, Fr. Jonathan, address your question.
I'm not sure what training you are talking about but it does take about 6-9 months to join the Church. As Fr. Jonathan has said in the past:
Joining RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a time of exploration. You do not make a commitment to be a Catholic when you join RCIA classes.
Rather, these sessions give you the information you need to explain the faith so that you can make a decision about becoming a Catholic. |
Mike
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Eric replied:
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Annabelle,
While we'd love to have you become Catholic and encourage you to do so, it is not necessary to become Catholic to have a church wedding, although it will require a dispensation from the bishop.
What you need to do, if you wish to convert, is go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). You can inquire at your local parish about this program, which starts about this time of year, maybe a bit earlier.
- What kind of contradictory information have you been receiving?
Eric
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Annabelle replied:
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Hi Eric,
What you just told me is what I originally thought but I was told I would have to go through a
2-year program before I could get baptized, receive Holy Communion and Confirmation, and start Wedding classes. Then I would be allowed to marry in the Catholic Church and have my marriage validated.
Thank you for this information. I will go to my local parish to discuss this with my priest.
Annabelle
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Eric replied:
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Annabelle —
The RCIA classes last 6-9 months but only are offered once a year. You likely will have to wait a year before starting them, then there is another prep period for the wedding.
All that could add up to two years. It all depends on the parish. Hopefully you can do the wedding prep while you wait for RCIA to start.
Eric
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Fr. Jonathan replied:
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Dear Annabelle,
- Was your husband ever married before?
If so, this may be more complicated.
Assuming he wasn't, just tell the priest that you want your marriage validated and it should go smoothly.
For your husband's sake it is good to get that done soon — don't wait until you are a Catholic. The priest should be able to get the proper dispensation for this.
Fr. Jonathan
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Annabelle replied:
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Hi Fr. Jonathan,
No, my husband has never been married before. This was the first marriage for both of us.
The conflicting information that I was given was that the rules had changed about this process and that it would take me two years before I would be able to:
- get baptized
- receive Holy Communion and Confirmation
- start Wedding classes
- validate my civil ceremony, as well as,
- being able to have a large church wedding in the Catholic Church.
Annabelle
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Fr. Jonathan replied:
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Annabelle —
The wedding should happen now before you are a Catholic, not due to you, but due to your husband's status as a Catholic married outside of the Church.
As to becoming a Catholic, most parishes would not have you wait two years.
Good luck,
Fr. Jonathan
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