Update

GeorgiaPeachMarie

Thank you all so much for the prayers. I definitely appreciate it. As an update, I have never been one to rock the boat. My priest is making me feel as though I am this horrible inconvenience and am some horrible bridezilla. At the end of the day, I don’t feel as though I am asking too much. I mean most people fight the rules and here I am begging to do it the “proper” way and I’m being shut down. We talked after the Mass on Sunday as he canceled our meeting for Friday.

 

Basically, he is incredibly busy and told us if we wanted him to, he’d look into finding a friend to come up for the wedding. However, we’d have to pay his travel costs. He would be coming 3 ½ hours and we’d have to pay for his gas and a “travel fee.” I have never been one to complain about the cost of having our wedding in the Church, but that is completely out of our budget (especially since he committed and now HE is not keeping the arrangement). I didn’t get an expensive dress and we’re paying for everything out of pocket since our parents are not supportive. So it looks as though we will be having a Communion service with our Deacon. My FI actually knows one of them as he is a corrections officer and one is in charge of the prison ministry. What makes me angry is everyone keeps looking at me as though I am being a problem. Including my FI. Sigh. It isn’t what I wanted or what I thought I would have, but I guess it is better than nothing. It is still valid, correct?

agapecarrie

Yes indeed, it is still valid. You can also have a mass said for the intention of your marriage.

I would still keep looking though...I'll bet you there are some religious communities around you.

HandBanana

Are you kidding me?  Is there any way you can complain to your Archdiocese?  He sounds a bit like someone that isn't a priest for the right reasons.

GeorgiaPeachMarie

I can't complain. The reason why he backed out is because our Diocese is having a weeklong retreat where all parish priests are required to attend. The reason for having to pay so much is because the new priest would have to come from a neighboring Diocese 3+ hours away. Its a rotten situation, but I don't question why Father Dan backed out. It is just horrible timing for me, but as others have suggested if the retreat was some other weekend it would ruin someone else's day. I don't think there is ever a perfect week for all the priests to be recalled to the Diocese offices. It just sucks it was my weekend.

Calypso1977

that is really too bad.  yes, your marriage will still be valid.

any idea what this priests travel fee would be?  im still amazed that he doenst have to keep his commitment to your wedding.  can you press the diocese to pay the travel fee since the diocese is the one who cant provide you a priest??