Christian Community of Saint Joseph Church
Celebrating 159 years of living faith since the foundation of our parish in 1851

Faith Life and Parish Worship:
Spiritual Growth and Community Participation

I. Parish Membership

St. Joseph’s Church is the oldest existent Roman Catholic Church in the City of Providence. Founded in 1851, it continues to serve the Catholic Community of Fox Point and the lower East Side of the capital city, and reaches out to enrich the entire community through its religious, social, cultural, educational and charitable ministries and activities.
Engaged Couples seeking to be married at St. Joseph’s must be eligible for a Catholic Marriage. At least one person must be a Catholic, formally registered as a parishioner for at least one year, or who has a written letter from the pastor of one’s resident parish, giving permission for the marriage to be celebrated at St. Joseph’s, and attesting that all paper work and Marriage Preparation requirements of the Diocese have been completed, including any dispensations and/or annulments.

II. Worship and Spiritual Growth

Engaged couples preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony at St. Joseph’s Church are asked to make a mutual commitment to grow together in faith by:

• Weekly worship and participation as a couple at Mass
• Regular reception of Holy Communion (cf. “Guidelines for Receiving Communion”, for Catholics, Other Christian, and Others not Receiving Communion and Non-Christians)
• Sharing Bible reading, prayer and the use of Christian symbols as a couple and their Christian Formation as a couple to promote familiarity with the Word of God
• Participation in Christian Service projects as a couple, in order to establish and develop a Christian life-style of volunteerism and the sharing of your time and talent with the Parish and/or the local community
• Contributing to the regular support of the Parish by a weekly pledge or offering that is deliberate, prayerful, sacrificial and given in gratitude to God for His many blessings. (The Scriptures teach us to set aside a tenth or portion of regular earnings and to offer this portion to God for one’s parish, other diocesan or universal Church services, and to other worthy charities through the year.) The giving of one’s time, talent and treasure is a sign of discipleship and good stewardship.

III. Practical List of Necessary Documents:

A. Preliminary: kindly obtain and give to the priest:

• A recently dated copy of your Baptismal Certificate, within 6 months of the proposed Wedding.
• A copy of your First Communion Certificate.
• A copy of your Confirmation Certificate. (Catholics who have not yet been confirmed will need to enter an Adult Rite of Christian Initiation (R.C.I.A.) Program or a Sacramental study group in order to complete one’s Catholic membership by reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation & Eucharist. (The RCIA Program is offered annually at St. Joseph’s to satisfy this requirement.)

B. If there was a previous Marriage, kindly obtain:

• A copy of the death certificate of your former spouse; or
• A copy of the divorce and annulment of your former marriage

C. Civil License: should be obtained within 90 days prior to the Wedding at any City Hall in R.I and presented to the priest at the rehearsal (cf. Enclosed R.I State General Marriage Requirements.)

See also:
Policies and Guidelines
Suggested Liturgical Musics for Weddings