Weddings
At Holy Cross Parish and Friary, Christian marriage is received as a sacred covenant of love, fidelity, mutual care, and lifelong devotion. In the blessing of marriage, the Church prays that a couple’s life together may be rooted in Christ, strengthened by grace, and marked by faith, tenderness, and steadfast commitment.
We welcome couples who are seeking a reverent, sacramental, and pastoral approach to marriage in the Old Catholic tradition. Whether you are preparing for your wedding, seeking the blessing of an existing civil union, or wishing to renew your vows, Holy Cross Parish and Friary is honored to walk with you with dignity, warmth, and prayer.
Christian Marriage in the Life of the Church
Marriage is a holy vocation in which two people offer themselves to one another in love, faithfulness, and shared life. In the Church’s blessing of marriage, a couple’s promises are placed before God and received within the prayer of the Christian community.
Holy Cross Parish and Friary understands marriage not simply as a legal arrangement or public celebration, but as a sacred covenant to be lived with grace, honesty, patience, and enduring love.
Our Old Catholic Understanding of Marriage
As an Old Catholic parish, Holy Cross Parish and Friary approaches marriage with reverence, pastoral care, and respect for the dignity of the couple. We believe the grace of God is present in faithful, covenantal love, and that the Church is called to bless, guide, and support those who seek to enter marriage prayerfully and sincerely.
Our marriage ministry is rooted in sacramental life, grounded in pastoral wisdom, and shaped by a commitment to truth, compassion, and holiness. We seek to honor both the sacred depth of Christian marriage and the real lives of those preparing to undertake it.
We believe the Church should receive couples with dignity and grace, helping them prepare for a life of love, stability, mutual devotion, and spiritual growth.
Who We Welcome
Holy Cross Parish and Friary warmly welcomes couples seeking a Christian marriage celebrated with reverence, beauty, and pastoral care. We joyfully serve couples, including LGBTQIA+ couples, who desire a sacramental marriage rooted in faith, dignity, and love.
We welcome those who are longtime members of the Church, those returning after time away, those coming from other Christian traditions, and those who are seeking a church home where ancient faith and gracious hospitality are held together.
Our desire is to receive each couple with respect, honesty, kindness, and a sincere commitment to pastoral care.
Preparation for Marriage
Marriage preparation is an important part of the Church’s care for couples. Holy Cross Parish and Friary offers pastoral conversation, spiritual guidance, and practical preparation so that couples may enter marriage thoughtfully, prayerfully, and with a strong foundation for their life together.
During preparation, we speak with couples about the meaning of Christian marriage, the promises to be made, the spiritual life of the home, and the practical realities of shared commitment. This process is intended not as a barrier, but as a gift of pastoral support and discernment.
If one or both persons are also seeking Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation, those sacramental needs can be discussed as part of the preparation process.
Couples Already in a Civil Marriage or Union
Some couples come to the Church after already entering a civil marriage or civil union and wish to have that relationship blessed sacramentally. Holy Cross Parish and Friary welcomes these couples and is honored to help them seek the Church’s blessing upon their life together.
If you have already been married civilly and would like to enter into a Christian marriage blessed by the Church, we invite you to contact us to begin that conversation.
Vow Renewals
Holy Cross Parish and Friary also offers vow renewal ceremonies for couples who wish to give thanks for their life together and renew their promises before God. These occasions may mark an anniversary, a season of healing, or a desire to celebrate the enduring grace of marriage.
A vow renewal can be simple or more formal, and we are happy to speak with couples about how best to honor the meaning of the occasion.
Planning the Wedding Liturgy
We work with couples to plan a wedding liturgy that is reverent, beautiful, and appropriate to the sacred nature of Christian marriage. This includes guidance regarding prayers, Scripture readings, music, vows, and the overall order of service.
Our goal is to help each couple celebrate their marriage in a way that is meaningful, prayerful, and centered in the presence of God. Whether the ceremony is simple or more formal, it should reflect the sacred promises being made.
Wedding dates are scheduled according to the couple’s needs and the availability of the parish.
Marriage License Information
Couples are responsible for obtaining the appropriate civil marriage license. Once the license has been secured, Holy Cross Parish and Friary can perform the marriage according to both civil and church requirements.
For local civil requirements, please review the marriage license information provided by Montgomery County.
How to Begin
If you are interested in being married at Holy Cross Parish and Friary, the first step is simply to reach out. We will be glad to speak with you about your hopes, answer questions, and help you begin the preparation process.
Every inquiry is received with respect, confidentiality, and pastoral care. We would be honored to help you prepare for a marriage blessed in the life of the Church.
Contact and Visit
Phone: (832) 900-0304
Email: bishopben@myholycross.org
Location: The Woodlands, Texas 77380