Saint John’s Abbey
and University Church
Wedding Policy

Saint John’s Abbey and University Church serves as the primary place of worship for the monastic community of Saint John’s Abbey. In addition it serves the needs of Saint John the Baptist Parish, Saint John’s University and Saint John’s Preparatory School. The needs of these entities have priority in scheduling use of the church.  The information below answers many initial questions.  For more information, please contact:

Those eligible to be married in the Abbey and University Church

In addition to members of the Saint John the Baptist Parish, the following constituencies may request to have their wedding in the Abbey and University Church:

• Employees of the Order of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University and their immediate family members

• Alumni of Saint John’s University and Saint John's School of Theology

• Alumni of Saint John’s Preparatory School

 All marriages will be recorded with the Saint John the Baptist Parish here in Collegeville.

Diocesan Policies

Saint John’s is located in the Diocese of Saint Cloud, Minnesota. In order to have a wedding in the Abbey and University Church the policies of the Diocese of Saint Cloud must be adhered to. These policies may be found at http://omf.stcdio.org/marriage-ministries/marriage-preparation/marriage-preparation-resources-for-clergy/marriage-preparation-policy/.

Note that a minimum of six months is required before the wedding date to fulfill the diocesan requirements.

Securing a priest or deacon

Please secure a priest/deacon at the time or very soon after you reserve the Abbey and University Church. If you do not secure a priest/deacon 6 months before the wedding, your date may no longer be held for the church.

There is only one Campus Ministry priest. You are encouraged to invite your Catholic pastor (or associate pastor), or another priest or deacon whom you know to preside at your wedding liturgy. If you need help in finding a priest/deacon, please notify the Saint John's wedding coordinator who will provide you with a list of possible priests for you to contact.

Priests/deacons from outside the St. Cloud Diocese must provide a letter from their ordinary verifying their good standing in their own diocese or religious order. Priests/deacons from out of state need to be registered to preside at weddings in Minnesota. Please inform the Wedding Coordinator of this when you secure a priest.

For those Catholics marrying someone from another faith tradition, you may invite your non-Catholic minister to participate in the Catholic wedding liturgy with the priest/deacon presider. The Catholic minister must be the officiating party at a wedding in the Abbey and University Church.

Times for weddings and rehearsals

Because of the needs of the monastic community and the other groups using the church, the time available for wedding ceremonies is Saturday afternoon. The ceremony will be scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM. Wedding parties may not use the church prior to 12:30 PM. Rehearsals are scheduled at 5:45 PM on the Friday before the wedding. If for some reason a later time is needed, please check with the Wedding Coordinator about scheduling rehearsal at 7:45 PM.

State Marriage License

Bring the Minnesota Marriage License to the church on the day of your wedding rehearsal. After the wedding the presider and/or the Saint John's wedding coordinator will mail it to the county for recording purposes. The sacramental record will be filed with Saint John the Baptist Parish here in Collegeville.

Fees

The fee for the use of the Abbey and University Church is $1,500 for all alumni and employees; and $950 for members of Saint John the Baptist Parish with a minimum of three years of active membership. Parish members with less than three years of active participation are asked to contribute $1,200 for the rental of the Abbey Church.

The Senior Council reviewed and approved this change in policy on May 27, 2014. 
The monastic chapter reviewed and approved this change in policy on July 8, 2014.