Weddings
As a married priest I understand more fully now, than when I was a celibate priest, what it is like to be married. The foundation of a Life together with your spouse must be rooted in faith and in the Lord. I cherish the opportunity to meet with a couple who wish to be married and share with them (and they with me) not just autobiographical facts, but dreams, hopes, and wishes that are part and parcel of a marriage. It is also important to share what frustrations, struggles, and pains they might encounter along the way.
As you know the marriages that I witness are legal in the eyes of the state but are not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. A long time ago a priest told me in charge of my formation that I marched to the beat of a different drummer. Well this is true and the drummer is Jesus. Though the Roman Catholic Church has recognized Lutheran, and Episcopalian married priests converted to Roman Catholicism and continue to be priests there are still thousands of us, married priests, who simply ask for the reinstatement of optional celibacy. If you want to learn more about the history of celibacy I would refer you to the CITI Ministries site:
rentapriest.com, and click on the section entitled: “39 Popes were married”.
As an ordained married priest I am licensed through CITI MINISTRIES and the International Community of Christian Churches. I am available to officiate at weddings mostly in Florida, but have been known to travel to other States to witness marriages. Since I am self-supporting (not supported by a parish or diocese) I ask an offering of $400 (USD) which includes travel and lodging for those weddings out-of-town (i.e. the Tampa area). If a couple is having a wedding within the Tampa-St. Petersburg area then the offering suggested is $300 (USD).
It is interesting to note that Jesus began his public ministry at a wedding at Cana in Gaillee. Weddings are a joyous occasion and as such many couples need to experience that joy. Some couples that have come to me have experienced very painful and abusive first marriages or have been subjected to negative and despairing remarks by their priest or minister. I believe that Jesus we worship would extend a healing embrace to these couples. As a priest I like to meet a couple a few times (if possible) before the marriage so that the marriage ceremony can be a meaningful experience.
Again, please
contact me if you would like to have me witness your wedding. I look forward to meeting you and your fiance’ as you prepare for a life together.