Catholics believe that the Mass is the highest form of worship to God because in it we unite ourselves to Christ’s sacrificial offering to the Father. The Mass is a celebration of the entire Paschal Mystery: the last supper, the crucifixion and the resurrection. It is primarily and firstly the sacrifice of Calvary. Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of God offered once and for all. This one sacrifice is made present at each mass. Christ does not die over and over. His sacrifice is mystically made present to us, re-enacted in an unbloody manner. His one sacrifice, sufficient for all time, is made present by the priest with the words of Institution/consecration. When the priest says the words of consecration as Christ did at the Last Supper, the bread and wine become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. By receiving God’s word in hearing the readings from Sacred Scripture and by receiving Christ’s real presence in Holy Communion, the Catholic Christian is given the gift of grace to grow in holiness and share Christ with others.
You do not have to be Catholic to attend a Catholic Mass! You are very welcome, and we hope you still come to our wedding Mass! If you are not Catholic, though, we ask that you do not receive the Eucharist (the communion bread and wine). Because we believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, we ask anyone who does not share this belief to abstain from reception of the Eucharist. Instead, however, you can receive a blessing from the priest if you wish. If you want to know more, there is an excellent video on YouTube titled "Why Non-Catholics Can't Receive Communion" that explains what we mean.
Because we have local accommodations for the bridal party and for ourselves, we did not reserve any hotel blocks for the wedding. That said, the hotels listed on our website are in walking distance of several bars and restaurants, and have easy access to the highway. They are about 15 minutes away from the church and reception venue. You are also of course welcome to coordinate with other guests to reserve a smaller block of rooms if that is something you are interested in.
Due to the limited space of our reception venue, we ask that you do not bring a date unless you are engaged or married. The wedding Mass, however, is open to anyone.