God who created man out of love also calls him to love the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love. Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes. And this love which God blesses is intended to be fruitful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: “And God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.'” (CCC 1604)
Your Wedding at Mary, Star of the Sea
Weddings are special and joyful times for brides and grooms, for their families and friends, and for the parish community. The new beginning, the love, the promise and hope that weddings are for us make of their celebration a special and grace-filled time. The Church welcomes its members to celebrate and solemnize their weddings in the context of our prayer as Christians. Indeed, so important is marriage in Christian life that it is called a sacrament.
In the Diocese of San Diego, couples should plan on a minimum of 9 months for marriage preparation.
Who May Marry in Our Church?
The use of the parish church is primarily for Mary, Star of the Sea parishioners.
The parish will provide the presider/celebrant for our registered, supporting parishioners or a visiting priest may be invited to perform the ceremony. We also welcome Roman Catholics who are not parishioners of Mary, Star of the Sea to use our parish church for their weddings. However, before reserving a tentative date, non-parishioner couples MUST SECURE THEIR OWN PRIEST OR DEACON (usually from their home parish) and obtain a written commitment from him stating that he will do the necessary marriage preparation, paperwork, and perform the ceremony.
Scheduling the Wedding
Weddings at Mary, Star of the Sea are celebrated on Saturdays at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
(Mary, Star of the Sea is not able to accommodate Friday weddings.)
Rehearsals are usually held the day before the wedding, sometime between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
Weddings are not celebrated during the season of Lent (Ash Wednesday through the Easter Triduum).
Wedding Fees
The offering for the church for persons who are formally registered, supporting parishioners is $1000. “Registered” means that either the bride or groom or the parents of either is a member of our parish at least one year before the first interview with the priest regarding the wedding. “Supporting” means that the registered member is donating regularly toward the support of the parish. The offering for the church for non-parishioners is $2000.
The church offering does not include fees for music, which is contracted separately with our parish music director. Other fees would include customary stipends to the priest presiding over the ceremony, as well as to our parish wedding coordinator.
To express interest in getting married or having a civil marriage blessed at Mary, Star of the Sea Parish, please fill out this interest form before making any wedding plans in order to schedule a date and receive information on marriage preparation.