Contemporary Catholics are often searching for a non-judgmental, sacramental experience different from that offered by the institutional church. You may want to have a Catholic wedding but may not be permitted, for various reasons, by the institutional church. We at St Francis offer you an alternative.

Those entering into second marriages, those experiencing religious differences with the church and others will find openness and acceptance here. We provide marriage services in a compassionate manner. Perhaps you have concerns about perceived barriers? We treat you with the same care Christ gave to all who came to him.

If you are not a member of our parish, we ask that you attend worship prior to pre-marital conversations and that you help the parish to continue to be able to provide the facility and services through financial support.

The choice of location for your wedding is yours. Depending on weather and other factors ceremonies may be held outdoors. You may hold your wedding at our chapel, or arrange to use another interdenominational church or chapel. Hotels, banquet halls, private homes, museums and other locales are other options. A wedding consultant or the yellow pages can yield additional suggestions.

Your wedding ceremony will be very similar to that celebrated in the Roman jurisdiction since we share the same liturgical forms. The Nuptial Mass is the preferred way of celebrating the sacrament. All people participating in the ceremony are invited to the altar for communion, regardless of religious affiliation. On a practical side, it only adds a minimal amount of time to the length of the ceremony. Wedding ceremonies can also be celebrated outside of the Mass.

Your marriage represents a change in how you see yourself and your relationship with others. It is both exciting and frightening. You can control only part of what happens to you. Your family and friends are here to support you and so is the community as a whole. Marriage (Pre-Cana) preparation courses and individual counseling can help. We encourage you to take time to prepare yourselves and will assist you as time and distance allow. Your marriage will work only if both of you are committed to making it work. Ideally, the priest would like to meet with you at least once before the ceremony.

To be legally married, you will need to have a license from the county clerk or the state department of registration for the place in which the ceremony will occur. Often, there is a short waiting period, a definite expiration date and sometimes other requirements. After the ceremony, the priest will make sure that your license is signed and sent to the appropriate agency. He will also provide a marriage certificate for your more immediate use. You will need to have this or a document issued by the county clerk to change driver’s licenses, bank accounts, insurance plans and other legal documents after the wedding.

Each jurisdiction has its own criteria for recognition of sacraments. St. Francis American National Catholic Parish is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. Through apostolic succession in the Old (Dutch) Catholic tradition, we celebrate the same sacraments as those in the Roman and Orthodox communities. Your marriage will be legal with the state and a sacrament in the eyes of God.

The financial donation is $800. Currently St. Francis of Assisi parish has a limited number of clergy; a priest may be required to travel great distances to celebrate the sacrament with you. If the couple is getting married on Long Beach Island (LBI), Manahawkin or outside the state of New Jersey, the donation is $1000. This donation will help cover the cost of travel for our clergy. A donation check made payable to the Rev. George R Lucey may be considered tax deductible as the we are a New Jersey not for profit organization and the IRS recognizes the American National Catholic Church as a publicly supported (religious) organization. Please check with your priest regarding this matter as we do not deny the sacraments to anyone in financial distress.