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Marriage Preparation at Our ParishCongratulations on your engagement! As a personal parish specifically designated by the Diocese of Richmond to serve the University of Virginia community, St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish oversees ONLY the weddings of its registered resident-parishioners and the weddings of current students, faculty, and staff at the University of Virginia.
Before you book a venue date, please read the following overview of requirements for marriage preparation at St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish:- For a valid sacramental marriage, Catholics are required to be married within a Catholic church building and by a Catholic priest or deacon. Our priests and deacons do not have ordinary authority to celebrate a wedding at a vineyard or building other than St. Thomas Aquinas Church or the UVA chapel. A formal dispensation for serious pastoral necessity must be granted from the chancellor of the Diocese of Richmond for any rare exception to these requirements for the sacramental validity of a Catholic marriage.
- The marriage preparation required for a marriage in the Catholic Church is extensive and thorough. We can assist in preparation for a Catholic marriage when either the bride or groom is Catholic and currently a resident parishioner or student, faculty, or staff of the University of Virginia. All others must seek preparation with their own Catholic pastor at their own parish of residence. Contact for marriage preparation at St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish must be made at least six months ahead of any anticipated celebration. Preparation may only begin if both the bride and groom are canonically free to marry.
- UVA alumni and Catholics from out of town who want to be married at the UVA Chapel must book a reservation through the UVA. They must also find a Virginia-licensed and diocesan-approved Catholic priest or deacon to perform their ceremony. We are not able to supply a priest or deacon as a wedding celebrant for those coming from outside our parish for a destination wedding at UVA or in the Charlottesville area.
- All Catholic weddings scheduled at the UVA Chapel or on the University grounds do require marriage preparation documents to be filed at St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish, and any Catholic priest or deacon wishing to celebrate a wedding at UVA or St. Thomas Aquinas church must supply the marriage preparation documents file and have the permission of our pastor to validly celebrate the wedding.
- We can offer no guarantee of a wedding date before the necessary documents to determine the freedom and ability to marry in the Catholic Church are completed.
- We discuss marriage and wedding preparation ONLY with the prospective bride or groom and approved celebrants. No calls or planning meetings are taken with parents, family, or wedding planners.
- Any church fees/donations are due by your rehearsal.
Here’s a short list of how to proceed:- Please read through our the overview of marriage preparation requirements above.
- Fill out our form (below).
- If you do not hear back from us within a month, please contact Jillian (see above) to inquire about the status of your request.
Your preparation will include the following:- Individual meetings with the priest or deacon preparing you.
- FOCCUS premarital inventory (we will set this up for you) and discussion of the results.
- Pre-Cana weekend, such as Engaged Encounter or Unveiled.
- Course in Natural Family Planning (NFP)
- Liturgical and music planning
Note that no fees may be accepted until a Prenuptial Investigation Form has been completed by the couple with a priest or deacon to ensure that the couple may be married validly.
Our prayers are with you in this time of vocational preparation.
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Contact Us
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Jillian Millerweddingsstauva.org
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