Comments on: My Marriage and the Catholic Church http://chicagoweddingbridal.com/2009/02/my-marriage-and-the-catholic-church-pre-cana-chicago/ Written by a real live Chicago bride - All the Chicago Wedding Planning info from the real deal. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:21:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Matt http://chicagoweddingbridal.com/2009/02/my-marriage-and-the-catholic-church-pre-cana-chicago/#comment-59 Matt Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:33:33 +0000 http://chicagoweddingbridal.com/?p=78#comment-59 Oh, and I forgot to mention - sometime I'll have to tell you about the pre-cana we did. It was only one day, but at least the only message wasn't "pray together a lot". The couple who taught it were hysterical (not in an intentional way) and I'll have to regale you with that story offline sometime. Oh, and I forgot to mention - sometime I’ll have to tell you about the pre-cana we did. It was only one day, but at least the only message wasn’t “pray together a lot”. The couple who taught it were hysterical (not in an intentional way) and I’ll have to regale you with that story offline sometime.

]]> By: Matt http://chicagoweddingbridal.com/2009/02/my-marriage-and-the-catholic-church-pre-cana-chicago/#comment-58 Matt Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:32:20 +0000 http://chicagoweddingbridal.com/?p=78#comment-58 It's interesting - Carrie and I had a very different experience. She was raised Catholic and I am a non-practicing Jew. Since it was important to her to be married at Old St. Pat's in Chicago, I was willing to consider it. Until I met Father John Cusick - then it was not something to consider, but a no-brainer. The man is one of the most spiritual people I have ever met, and I can't imagine anyone else marrying us. His best friend is a rabbi, and he knows more about Judaism than I do. He's also a big Cubs fan, and through a weird twist of fate, the season tickets I bought into last summer were actually the seats right in front of his. At no time through the Catholic marriage process were we made to feel as if we were doing anything wrong - and that's why I love Fr. Cusick. He is a straight-talking South Side priest, but at the end of the day, he knows that the message he is on this planet to promote is about love. Half of the people at our wedding were Jewish. And through the whole ceremony (we did not have a Mass because that would have been pushing it for the Jews), at no time did I feel that this was all about my wife's traditions. He was respectful of my family's beliefs and traditions, my wife's family's beliefs and traditions, and at the end of the day, my favorite part of our entire wedding was the homily he gave - and Carrie agrees. My point is simply this - it SUCKS that there are religious folks out there like the ones you mentioned, and I think it's a terrible thing to make people feel badly in the name of religion. Yes, sometimes people need a little kick in the butt, and you can't always use kid gloves, but I think that priests like the one you mentioned have completely missed the lessons of Jesus. And I'm not even a Christian, but I think I understand Jesus better than that dude apparently does. It’s interesting - Carrie and I had a very different experience. She was raised Catholic and I am a non-practicing Jew. Since it was important to her to be married at Old St. Pat’s in Chicago, I was willing to consider it. Until I met Father John Cusick - then it was not something to consider, but a no-brainer. The man is one of the most spiritual people I have ever met, and I can’t imagine anyone else marrying us. His best friend is a rabbi, and he knows more about Judaism than I do. He’s also a big Cubs fan, and through a weird twist of fate, the season tickets I bought into last summer were actually the seats right in front of his.

At no time through the Catholic marriage process were we made to feel as if we were doing anything wrong - and that’s why I love Fr. Cusick. He is a straight-talking South Side priest, but at the end of the day, he knows that the message he is on this planet to promote is about love.

Half of the people at our wedding were Jewish. And through the whole ceremony (we did not have a Mass because that would have been pushing it for the Jews), at no time did I feel that this was all about my wife’s traditions. He was respectful of my family’s beliefs and traditions, my wife’s family’s beliefs and traditions, and at the end of the day, my favorite part of our entire wedding was the homily he gave - and Carrie agrees.

My point is simply this - it SUCKS that there are religious folks out there like the ones you mentioned, and I think it’s a terrible thing to make people feel badly in the name of religion. Yes, sometimes people need a little kick in the butt, and you can’t always use kid gloves, but I think that priests like the one you mentioned have completely missed the lessons of Jesus. And I’m not even a Christian, but I think I understand Jesus better than that dude apparently does.

]]> By: Weddings on the Strand http://chicagoweddingbridal.com/2009/02/my-marriage-and-the-catholic-church-pre-cana-chicago/#comment-37 Weddings on the Strand Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:01:01 +0000 http://chicagoweddingbridal.com/?p=78#comment-37 Lengthy post, but I liked it. My wife and I believe that for one's health, one can give up one's wealth. For one's religion, one can give up one's wealth and health. But, for God, one can give up all three. We see God as the Source of Love. Anyway, there are many breathtaking settings for your wedding ceremony, and not the least of your considerations might be in a beautiful outdoor setting perhaps in a park, something with a whole lot of "Mother Nature," perfect for celebrating your love and God the Creator. Lengthy post, but I liked it. My wife and I believe that for one’s health, one can give up one’s wealth. For one’s religion, one can give up one’s wealth and health. But, for God, one can give up all three. We see God as the Source of Love. Anyway, there are many breathtaking settings for your wedding ceremony, and not the least of your considerations might be in a beautiful outdoor setting perhaps in a park, something with a whole lot of “Mother Nature,” perfect for celebrating your love and God the Creator.

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