ST. Patrick's Old Cathedral
263 Mulberry Street, New York, NY, 10012
tel: 212-226-8075, fax: 212-226-1219
263 Mulberry Street, New York, NY, 10012
tel: 212-226-8075, fax: 212-226-1219
The celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage will be one of the most important days in your life.
St. Patrick's Old Cathedral is honored to be part of your great day.
The first step in planning your wedding is to contact our Wedding Coordinator, Rosa Jimenez, in order for us to obtain initial information about you and for you to know if the date for your ceremony is available.
But before you call Rosa be sure that you have reviewed the conditions and requirements described here in order to expedite the conversation.
The Time of Your Wedding
Planning Your Wedding
Meeting with the Pastor
Marrying a non-Catholic
Previous Marriages
Pre-Cana Course
Participation of Family Members or Friends
The Rehearsal
Visiting Priest
License
Music
Flowers & Carpet
Photography
Reception Line
The Time of Your Wedding
You must secure a date on our calendar at least three months in advance of your wedding. We recommend that you do so as early as possible in order to secure the exact day and time that you prefer. It is also important that you allow for time to accomplish all that you are required to do.
On Weekdays Monday to Friday - you may schedule your wedding to begin any time from 10:00AM or after 1:00PM on Saturdays, between 10:00AM and 3:00PM. On Sundays after 2:30PM. (Weddings may not be scheduled on major holy days or during Holy Week.)
A date is reserved for a wedding only after you have completed an Initial Information Form with Rosa and when we have received a non-refundable deposit of 0.00.
Completing the Initial Information Form can be accomplished over the phone or we can have it mailed/e-mailed to you.
The donation for the church is 0.00 (for parishioners) and 0.00 for non-parishioners. This should be forwarded to the church before the rehearsal date is set. If there is any difficulty in meeting the donation, exceptions are made.
Once you have secured your wedding day with Rosa, you will be sent a booklet entitled Together for Life. You will find this publication invaluable in making choices for the ceremony. The most basic decision about your wedding is whether or not it will be celebrated with a Nuptial Mass or with a Simple Ceremony.
If you decide to exchange your vows within the celebration of the Nuptial Mass, the ceremony will include the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Mass including the exchange of vows, is 45 minutes to an hour.
If you choose a Simple Ceremony, the exchange of vows occurs after the Liturgy of the Word.
The ceremony is about 20 minutes.
Meeting with the Pastor
After you have secured a date for your wedding and reviewed the booklet, Together for Life,
Msgr. Donald Sakano, (or one of the other priests) here, will be eager to meet with you to plan the liturgy and answer details questions. But before you meet with him be sure that you collect the following documents:
If one of you is a non-Catholic, we will help the Catholic obtain the required dispensations. You should mention this in your first conversation with Rosa.
If one or both of you were involved in a previous civil marriage, please indicate this in your first conversation with Rosa so that she can advise you what to do. If one or both of you were married in the Catholic Church, you need to supply us with evidence of your freedom to marry (church annulment papers or death certificates).
Couples are required to complete a course given by the Archdiocese of New York (or your home diocese). You will be mailed a brochure along with the booklet, Together for Life, when you secure your wedding date with us. The brochure will provide you with the dates and locations where the monthly conferences are held. This information, including the registration form, can be obtained http://flrl.org/MarriagePreparation.htm. A Certificate of Completion must be sent to Rosa before the rehearsal is scheduled.
Your Invitations
If your wedding is to be celebrated within a Nutial Mass, your invitations should always clearly indicate this. For instance, you may state that "You are cordially invited to attend the Nuptial Mass of.....".
If you choose to be wed at a Simple Ceremony your invitations may should inform your guests that they are invited to "The Wedding of.....".
In using the address of the church for your guests who may be attending your wedding, do not use "263 Mulberry Street" since this is the Parish Office located in a separate building. Instead, it is better to state that the church is located at "Mott and Prince Streets".
Participation of Family Members or Friends
There are times within the Liturgy for your family and/or friends to participate:
As soon as you have completed the Pre-Cana Course, you may schedule a meeting with the Pastor. He (or another priest the priest who is witnessing your marriage) will guide you through the liturgy. It is important that the wedding party be present in order for everyone to become familiar with the ceremony. If you have selected "readers" for the Word of God, they need to be present especially if they have no prior experience.
After the rehearsal the priest must interview the prospective bride and groom separately in order to complete the "Pre-Nuptial Investigation Form". This consists of a series of questions to determine that you are marrying freely and possess the qualities of true marriage. After you sign this document you will be ready to marry.
The Rehearsal and the Pre-Nuptial Investigation will take approximately one hour. If your wedding is a Simple Ceremony it will take less time.
If you wish to have a visiting priest celebrate your wedding, you must indicate this well in advance of your wedding date. If he is from outside the Archdiocese of New York, he must provide us with a letter from his bishop and must obtain civil registration to conduct a wedding in the City of New York. It is important that he attend your rehearsal. If he is not officiating at your wedding but simply wishes to participate, he is most welcome to concelebrate with the priest from St. Patrick's Old Cathedral.
A civil marriage licensee must be obtained within 30 days of your marriage. It must be presented to the priest at the rehearsal.
Soon after you secure your wedding date you should contact the Organist, Jared Lamenzo He will guide you through the various times within the Nuptial Mass or Simple Ceremony where music is appropriate. Keep in mind that all music within the liturgy must be sacred. Popular songs or instrumentals should be done at your reception but not in church. However, you may use the courtyard in front of the church for this purpose.
Jared Lamenzo's fee is made to him directly. You can reach him by e-mail at jaredlamenzo@hotmail.com. His phone number is (917) 405-4352.
Restraint should be exercised with regard to flower arrangements around the altar. The placement of flowers in one or two vases is all that are needed in the Old Cathedral. If you are thinking of having your flowers transported to the reception, they are probably too elaborate for our sanctuary. You may, however, place elaborate arrangements in the narthex (foyer) or courtyard.
While carpet (runner) may be placed down the aisle, be aware that it is a long aisle. It should be made of a fabric that does not cause a trip hazard for yourselves or your guests.
Photographers are most welcome. They may seek the best vantage for their pictures but may not enter the sanctuary (altar area). However they may place themselves in the sacristy adjacent to the sanctuary for excellent views of the wedding party. Photographers should speak to the priest before the ceremony to understand this better.
Reception Line
The narthex (foyer) and courtyard of the Old Cathedral affords ample room for greeting your guests. You may place flower arrangements there, provide music and even serve refreshments. Throwing confetti, rice or birdseed is not allowed.
263 Mulberry Street
New York, NY 10012
Tel: (212) 226-8075
Fax: (212) 226-1219
E-mail: info@oldcathedral.org
Monday - Friday
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Click on the map for directions