Christian Marriage

    Because we believe so strongly that Christian Marriage is a Sacrament of the Church and a religious vocation, all Catholic Churches ask that the couple participate in some formal pre-marriage preparation process.  Church of the Holy Family offers two different opportunities.
Documents Required Staff Support
Preparing the Wedding Liturgy Rehearsal
Reception Annulments
  • Evenings for the Engaged

    • This program is offered through our area Catholic Charities organization.  It consists of four consecutive evening meetings at the Catholic Charities office on the grounds of Ascension Catholic Church in Kempsville.  It is offered six times a year.  There is a registration fee of $40.00.  You may get dates and times by calling the Catholic Charities office at 467-7707.
  • Engaged Encounter

    • This intensive weekend retreat is offered through the Engaged Encounter community of the Diocese of Richmond.  It begins on a Friday evening and ends on a Sunday afternoon.  The site of the weekend changes, but it is always held somewhere in the Hampton Roads-Richmond area.  It is offered about six times a year.  The cost of the weekend is $210 and includes lodging, food and all materials.  Financial help for those who cannot afford the cost of the weekend is available.  For further information, contact the Pastor for the name of the Registration Couple.
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  • Preparing the Wedding Liturgy
    DATES: DO NOT make any plans or commitments for other aspects of a wedding before you have secured the commitment of the priest who will officiate.  DO NOT become attached to dates before you have met with the Pastor in person.  Do not make a change of date without talking to the Pastor.  Days of the week other than Saturday are possible for weddings.  Please consult with the Pastor.

    TIMES: The latest on a Saturday that we can begin a wedding will be 2:00 p.m.  Evening weddings may begin after 7:30 p.m.  Do not make a change of time without talking to the Pastor.

    WEDDING REHEARSALS: For a Saturday wedding, the rehearsal begins promptly at 5:00 p.m. the night before.  Only 45 minutes are scheduled for the rehearsal.  Please remember to take this into account when arranging any post-rehearsal events.
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    CIVIL DOCUMENTS:  A civil marriage license must be obtained from the State of Virginia no more than thirty days before the wedding.  If you are obtaining the license through the City of Virginia Beach, call 427-8827 for details.

      Once you have the civil license, bring it AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to Church of the Holy Family and leave it with our Parish Secretary.
      If you are inviting a priest from outside the State of Virginia to celebrate the wedding, he must receive authorization from the State to officiate at weddings IN PERSON from an official of the Court.  Call 427-8827 for details.

    RELIGIOUS DOCUMENTS: If you are a Roman Catholic, call the church where you were baptized and ask for a NEW baptismal certificate “with notations.”  Give your full name and your date of birth.  Have them mail the new certificate directly to Church of the Holy Family.  Please don’t delegate this task to anyone else, and do it as soon as possible.  (Do not go looking for your “original” baptismal certificate, no doubt stored somewhere in your parents’ home.  We need a new certificate.)

      If you are a baptized Christian of another denomination, please obtain a certificate or letter from the church where you were baptized.  The letter need only note the date and place of baptism.  It need not be signed by the pastor.  Have them mail the letter or certificate directly to Holy Family.
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    MINISTRY STAFF SUPPORT: We want to help you create a beautiful and prayerful wedding celebration.  Our ministerial staff is always available, but the time they spend helping you is “over and above” their normal duties.  We ask that you compensate them for the time and expertise which they will share with you.
    • The Liturgy Coordinator will work with you to make sure all the details of your Order of Service are correct.  She will acquaint you with the Worship Aid and with particular options regarding candelabra and other furnishings and decorations. She will also make arrangements for the physical set-up of the Worship Space on your wedding day.  Our fee for these services is $50.00.
    • The Music Minister will meet with you to acquaint you with the music available for your marriage celebration.  He will walk you through the many selections of hymns and (especially if Mass is being celebrated) with the Service Music sung by the assembly.  We ask $50.00 for this service.
    • The Accompanist plays the music which you choose for your wedding.  Ordinarily, the Music Minister will be your Accompanist.  If he is not available, he will arrange for another of our parish volunteer accompanists to minister at your wedding.  We set the Accompanist’s fee for a wedding at $100.00, though of course, you may offer more if you wish.
    • The Cantor leads the assembly in the congregational singing which is so much a part of our Catholic weddings.  The Music Minister will arrange for a parish volunteer Cantor for your ceremony.  We set the Cantor’s fee at for a wedding at $75.00, though of course you may offer more if you wish.  On rare occasions, the Accompanist will also act as Cantor.  These are different functions, so both fees apply.

      • A Note about the Presider: Sacraments of the Church are neither bought nor sold.  There is no “fee” for the priest who presides at your wedding.  If the couple wishes to make a gift to the Presider for his time and effort, they may make whatever gift they feel is appropriate.

      The fees for Liturgy Coordinator, Music Minister, Accompanist and Cantor may be paid before the wedding.  A good time would be when you deliver the civil license, but any time would be appropriate.  Checks may be made payable to “Church of the Holy Family.”  For good reason, the Pastor may waive some or all of the fees.

      If you have particular individuals whom you wish to take part in the Music Ministry at your wedding, please discuss this with the Music Minister early in the process.  You will want to compensate these good people appropriately for their time and expertise, of course.

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    WEDDING RECEPTIONS: Church of the Holy Family is blessed with a spacious Family Room and an unusually fine kitchen.  You may wish to make use of our facilities for your reception.  The availability of the Family Room will depend on the parish calendar and the availability of our Facilities Manager.   There is a $100 set-up and clean-up fee.  Our Facilities Manager will set out tables and chairs to your specifications once you fill out a Facilities Request.  You and your caterer will want to meet with our Facilities Manager, to be shown the ins and outs of our parish equipment.  See the other material under Use of the Parish Facility on the preceding page.  In case of need, the Pastor may waive the set-up and clean-up fee.
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ANNULMENTS
Annulment is the process by which a previously divorced Catholic in a second marriage may be restored to full communion in the Church.  To speak to the pastor about an annulment, please call the Church Office.