Marriage

 

Congratulations!

The Sacrament of Christian Marriage is a serious and sacred union that calls a man and a woman to each other in a most profound and permanent way; it is not something to be undertaken lightly or hurriedly. Therefore, the Church invites engaged couples to prepare themselves spiritually for marriage.

 

For Engaged Couples

The first thing you should do is set an appointment with one of our parish priests. You can do this by contacting Parish Secretary, Ana Monson at 813.752-8529, ext. 301 who will set the appointment for you.

Marriage preparation must begin at least 6 months in advance of the anticipated wedding.

Saint Clement typically performs marriages and marriage prep (for those getting married somewhere else) for couples living in the Plant City area with at least one party registered and active. Couples who do not live in Plant City must contact their local church to begin wedding prep and may use our church for the ceremony if desired (please call for associated fees).

 

Setting a Date for Your Wedding

Please note that we will not book a date for any weddings more than 12 months in advance for active parishioners (or 9 months in advance for non-parishioners). Wedding dates will not be added to our church calendar until after the couple meets with the priest and the deposit paid. You can ask by phone or email about dates that might be available, but nothing will be added officially (or even penciled in) to the calendar until after meeting with the priest.

Weddings are scheduled with respect to the couple’s wishes and subject to the availability of the church (which seats 900) or our Chapel (which seats 50-60).

Most weddings are scheduled on Saturdays at 1pm.

Please note: in order to maintain the dignity of the Sacrament of Marriage, animals are not allowed to be a part of the wedding ceremony, or allowed inside the church or chapel.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,
and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh.  
– Genesis 2:24

 

 

 

Marriage Process

 

Begin collecting the documents needed to start the marriage process, this includes:

 

• Bride and Groom’s Baptismal Certificates

If Baptized Catholic, a recent baptismal certificate issued 6-12 months before the wedding date is required. Please call the Church of your Baptism and request a newly-issued Baptismal certificate with sacramental notations on the reverse side.
If Baptized in a Protestant Denomination, then a copy of the baptismal certificate is needed.

• Communion and Confirmation Certificates 

We just need a copy of these.  If you received all your sacraments at the same Church, many times they will indicate this and send with your Baptism Certificate.

Previous Marriage? 

•  If either the bride or groom has been married previously, we will need a copy of the marriage certificate, and your divorce decree.  We can then help guide you through steps in the annulment process as necessary.
   
•   Married already and now would like to marry in the Church?  Couples married civilly will still need to go through the same process.  In this case, we will also need a copy of your marriage certificate.
  
  

Not registered as a member of St. Clement Catholic Church?
A letter of permission from the pastor giving us permission to witness the sacramental exchange of vows is needed.

 

A requirement of both the Diocese of St. Petersburg and St. Clement Parish, is your pariticipation in a designated program of preparation for the Sacrament.  This preparation includes:

 

An initial interview with one of our parish priests.

Taking the FOCCUS survey.  The survey assists you in knowing each other better and offers valuable insight into your relationship.

Subsequent interviews with the priest to include further discussions regarding the Catholic understanding of Marriage, and the scheduling and planning of the ceremony.

 Journey to Matrimony - an extended one day program offered on designated Saturdays throughout the year. It is the preferred preparation program for those marrying for the first time. This comprehensive experience uses various presentation methods with the goal of enriching and enhancing the remainder of the couple’s engagement. It is our hope that Journey to Matrimony will also provide a firm foundation on which couples can build their future as they prepare to enter the Sacrament of Marriage and spend a lifetime together.  Click HERE for more information.

 

Wedding Date/Time:
All weddings at St. Clement are scheduled on a first come, first served basis, usually on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. Only the parish priest sets the date once the necessary paper work is completed.

 

To start the process, please call the parish office to speak with a priest to schedule your first appointment.

 

This is a joyful time in your lives. We are here to support you and guide you through your preparation.