The Sacrament of Matrimony

 

As you formally prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony, the pastoral staff of Santa Clara shares your joy. We are honored to assist you in the coming months crafting a prayerful and personalized celebration that reflects the values we hold as Roman Catholics.  Below, please find information regarding paperwork appointments necessary to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage.  In addition, each couple will need to schedule a few other pre-marriage counseling appointments with a priest or deacon to review the results of the FOCCUS questionnaire.  Finally, each couple must attend an approved pre-Cana form of marriage preparation.  As of 2022, this requirement can accomplished on-line or in person.

To get going, please schedule your first wedding appointment by calling our wedding paperwork coordinator, Noemí López, Wedding Coordinator at  (805)487-3891.
 

FEE/DONATION SCHEDULE (includes coordination and basic music fees)

Santa Clara Church (capacity of 600)

As of January 1, 2022, the updated fees for marriage at Santa Clara church are $800 for registered families, and $1750 for non-registered/non-active parties.

Santa Clara Chapel (capacity of 225)

As of January 1, 2022, the updated fees for marriage at the Santa Clara Chapel are $700 for registered families, and $1000 for non-registered/non-active parties.

 

 

 

 

For your first appointment, the couple will meet with a priest or a deacon.  You will complete the Pre-Nuptial Inquiry (PNI) which helps to determine your freedom and readiness to marry.  The general guidelines and requirements to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony at Santa Clara Parish or Chapel will be explained to you.  If there are no complications or impediments, you may reserve the wedding date with a $200 non-refundable deposit. The date must be booked at least six-months in advance. 

You will both be asked to provide copies of birth certificates along with recently completed (signed and sealed) certificates of Baptism, First communion, Confirmation.  In most cases, a signed and sealed baptism certificate with "Sacramental Notations" will suffice.   (Please be aware that if one or both of the parties was baptized out of county, it can take several months to receive these certificates from the parish of record.)

After the first meeeting, a FOCCUS assessment link will be sent to you to be completed within 30 days. You will schedule a separate meeting or series or meetings to review FOCCUS results with a priest or deacon. 

 

This appointment is scheduled with our wedding document coordinator.  This meeting is usually 60-90 days after your first appointment.

• Official signed and sealed copies  of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation certificates are presented and placed in your wedding file.
• Couple will receive information for Catholic marriage preparation retreat or class (Engaged, Re-marrried, or Convalidation).  Please note that there is an additional cost for the retreat/class which varies depending upon type.
• The wedding date will be reconfirmed and information for selecting readings will be shared with couple. 
• Couple will be asked to obtain a civil State of California marriage license and to have their Liturgy planning form completed by the third/last appointment. Rehearsal date and time will be given.

• Couple must bring a State of California Marriage License, certificate copy/PDF proof of Catholic Marriage Retreat and selection of Bible Readings noted on the Liturgy Planning Form.  
• Couple will be reminded about celebrating the Sacrament of Confession prior to ceremony.
• Fees must be paid-in-full by this time and no paperwork should be pending. 
• You will also speak in person or on the phone with our music coordinator to plan your musical selections.
• If you are bringing a priest or deacon from outside the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, permission letter (celebret) must be received and on file at this time.

To obtain a marriage license in the County of Ventura, please click here.

• When can we schedule our wedding?  You must first meet with a priest to determine your freedom to marry prior to scheduling your date.

• Do both of us need to be present for the first appointment?  Generally, yes.  However, in case of military deployment or other out of state work requirements, provision can be made to meet on-line via Zoom or telephone.

• What is one of us is not Roman Catholic?  Please speak to your interviewing priest or deacon about the celebration of a wedding between a Roman Catholic and non-Catholic baptized person (mixed marriage), or between a Roman Catholic and a non-baptized person (disparity of cult.)

• When are weddings celebrated at Santa Clara Church and Chapel?  Generally, on Saturdays from 10:00am to 3:00pm.  However, we can also schedule a wedding ceremony on Friday at 12:00pm or 2:00pm and even consider other days based on church and chapel availability and timing.

• What if I or my fiance have previously been married?  If the former spouse is deceased, please bring the death certificate.  If the former spouse is still living, please bring all previous marriage and divorce records to your first appointment for a detailed review of your situation. Almost certainly, more time will be needed to examine each case, and to possibly annul or declare invalid these prior bonds of marriage.  Please note that a wedding ceremony date and time cannot be scheduled until all prior marriages have been adjudicated by our matrimonial tribunal.

• What if we are already civilly married and want to have our marriage blessed in the Catholic faith?  This is a very common situation, and is a called a "con-validation ceremony."  If you are already civilly married and have no other impediments such as a prior marriage, marriage preparation will be almost identical to "regular" marriage preparation.  All couples celebrating a convalidation ceremony will receive an official signed and sealed church record  at the conclusion of the wedding. Please bring a copy of the civil/state/national license to your first wedding appointment.

• What if we are living together?  Please speak with your initerviewing priest or deacon about this situation.  The general expection is for engaged couples to live in separate dwellings during the engagement period.

• Can we be prepared at Santa Clara Parish for a wedding in another parish location, even out of state or out of country?  Yes.  The fee for marriage preparation is $200.00 plus any fees to transmit official canonical paperwork to the diocese and parish of marriage.

• May a priest from outside the Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrate the Mass? Yes. However, if the priest is not from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, he must forward a written "Celebret" (Permission to Minister) letter from his bishop or religious superior.  The priest must also seek permission and delegation from the pastor to perform a wedding at Santa Clara Church or Chapel.

• May a priest from Santa Clara Church or Chapel travel to another parish location for a wedding ceremony?  Within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, yes.  For more distant weddings, it depends upon the priest's schedule. Please note that you are responsible for travel and hotel fees if the location is distant.

• Can I be married outside in a park, beach or garden?  With very few exceptions (see next question below), Roman Catholic weddings must be celebrated inside an approved Roman Catholic church.

• Can I be married in a non-Catholic church building (Jewish temple or Protestant congregation) if my spouse is of another faith or denomination?  In general, the answer is yes, but it is necessary to gain a special permisssion for this type of ceremony outside of Roman Catholic setting directly from the archbishop.  Please speak to your interviewing clergy at the first appointment  if this is a likely scenario.

• How many people can walk down the aisle?  Up to seven couples (plus flower girls and ring bearers) may walk the aisle with you.

• May children be part of the Wedding party?
  Yes. Up to four children 4 years old and up.

• May we include Mexican, Filippino or other cultural elements into our wedding?  Yes, these elements (Lazo, arras, cord and veil) are commonly included in weddings at Santa Clara Parish and Chapel.   Please note that for all weddings, we do not allow guests to throw rice or other items in the church or outside at the church steps.

• What if we have our own singers and musicians?  In most cases, they are allowed to participate, but will need to pay any associated fees for this service (i.e. microphone and amp set up) on top of wedding fees.  Outside musicians must be approved by our music coordinator, Mr. Jonathan Teichert.

• May we include non-church music at our wedding?  Since we are Roman Catholic Church, secular music at the ceremony itself is not permitted.  Consider secular musical selections for the reception.

• Can we write our own vows?
  Yes, but the vows must be reviewed by the pastor for approval.