Renewing wedding vows in Rome, need help with a church/priest

Are you Catholic? Do you want a Catholic ceremony or a Protestant ceremony?

We are of Christian faith. To be honest, the faith of the priest does not matter to us at all. As long as he provides a short marriage ceremony with us we would be happy.

However, it probably matters to the priest. I would ask your church for any contacts in Rome.

What Frank said. A Catholic ceremony like that requires a lot of hoops to go through- first you would need to be Catholic and then most likely in that parish. And that's just a start.

This may be more challenging a task than you have assumed so far, as it appears (from your 2nd post) that you're not Catholic. I'm going to guess that a Catholic priest in Rome will not perform a wedding renewal ceremony for non-Catholics (but I'm not claiming to know this as a fact, it's only a guess). And I'm also guessing that there are a relatively small number of "Protestant" churches in Rome; since that may be your only option, you'll want to focus on identifying one of those and seeing if arrangements can be made in advance from the US. What Frank suggested (asking your church here for any contacts they may have in Rome) is your best bet.

I agree that a Catholic priest may have issues doing this kind of ceremony if you aren't Catholic. However there are many churches of other denominations in Rome, including the American Episcopal church on Via Nazionale, that might be more open. Otherwise I suggest contacting one of the wedding planners that so many people on this site have praised--maybe they are in good with a priest in Rome. But why would you want a Catholic priest to renew your vows if you aren't Catholic? It's like going to Israel and saying you want a Rabbi to renew your vows even if you aren't Jewish. Maybe ask a Catholic priest in the States for suggestions about what might be needed and if they have any contacts.

If there is still enough time, you could try contacting Santa Susanna in Rome.

"You are welcome to renew your vows at Santa Susanna at our weekday evening mass at 6 PM. It means that a congregation will be present to celebrate with you, and you can then go out for a romantic dinner afterwards. Contact Father Greg or Father Tom and we will help arrange a time.

You need to make these arrangements at least a month in advance. We require that you send us a copy of your Church wedding certificate AND a letter from your pastor stating that you are active parishioners of your parish.

http://www.santasusanna.org/faqLinks/faqLinks.html

If not Catholic, it appears there is also an American Episcopal church in Rome--St. Paul's Within the Walls (not the St. Paul's outside the walls!). I couldn't find any information on vows, but you might be able to contact them. http://www.stpaulsrome.it/english/nav.html

Good luck!

If you or your husband are not Catholic, a Catholic priest will not marry you. I'm sure you should be able to find someone, perhaps a non-demoninational minister, but it won't be in one of Rome's beautiful Catholic churches. Good luck and have fun!!!!!

Depending on what denomination you belong to, perhaps you can go online and find a group you could relate to in Rome...probably not Catholic. Perhaps the place where you're staying may have an idea for you.

Thanks for all your help everyone. I really appreciate it and will definately consider all these avenues for our upcoming second honey moon.

Why does the renewal of vows have to have a clegyperson? My parents reread their vows every anniversary. They do not new or use a cleryperson. The only exceptions I know of was when they hadtheir 50th celebration at the church they attend. Then the paster did the paster's role. And once when I was with them on the anniversary, I got to do the pastor's role.But every other time it's just been to two of them.

The advantage of just doing it yourselves is that you could go into any church you find interesting, pretty, or whatever and sit in a pew and get out the celemony and read it to each other with either one of you doing the pastor's words (prayers and such) or you alternating.

Doing it this way means you don't have to do the bureaucratic stuff that governments and some denominational hieracies insist on.

This is just a suggestion.

Going into a church and performing your own religious ceremony could be considered disrespectful to those that run the place. Most places of worship have there own traditions, rituals, and dogma; they're not generic, public domain, wedding-vow factories.

Michael,

I have trouble understanding why two people quietly reading something together in a pew in any church would be considered an insult. I was under the impression that churches left the doors open for that perpose. And since I was under the impression it was a renewal of vows for an anniversary, I did not think it was necessary to make a big production out of it unless you wanted to do so.

I was just suggesting an easier way of doing it if Sally and her husband wanted to try it.

It would not surprise me if there is a box for donations that you could put some money in to say thanks for the use of your church building.

Many Catholic churches have side chapels that this private reading of vows could be done it that would not bother anyone in the main sanctuary.

Sharon

I said it "could" be disrespectful. You won't know unless you ask, and I think you should. You seemed to be making a blanket assumption that one could walk into any church that a couple fancied, and perform a mini-service that may or may not even conform to the faith that place of worship practices. It may not be kosher (pardon the pun) for a Protestant couple to hold a mini-service in a Catholic Church and vice versa. Being a Jew, I doubt it would be okay for me to walk into a beautiful mosque and and recite a Jewish prayer. As well, I would be uncomfortable for a Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Muslim, or satan worshiper to walk into the synagogue I belong to, to a perform a mini-service that didn't conform to Jewish traditions.

Michael,

Sorry to hit a button. Since I was considering something more like private prayer in a pew, I didn't think it would or even could be disrespectful. But there are members of every religion and denomination that are uptight about that. You are the only person who can decide if you are or not.

May The Almighty God be with you today.

Sally.....

Here is a list of English speaking/non-Catholic churches that you might be able to contact for this purpose:

Rome Baptist Church - Piazza S. Lorenzo in Lucina 35 ////

Ponte St Angelo Methodist Church - Piazza Ponte Sant'Angelo

St Andrews' Church of Scotland - Via 20 Settembre 7

Anglican Church of England - Via del Babuino 153

St Paul's Episcopal - Via Napoli 58