Requirements

Process for SJU alumni/employees who wish to get married
at the Chapel of St. Joseph-Michael J. Smith, S.J., Memorial

(revised Fall 2025)

The following are the requirements set forth for weddings occurring at SJU.  Keeping in mind the requirements of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, these have been developed to make wedding celebrations beautiful and meaningful.

1. The following people are eligible to be married at the Chapel of St. Joseph:
   • SJU graduates who have spent their undergraduate years at the University;
   • Current employees of SJU;
   • Current Seniors at SJU.
   • Please note: Permission for marriages other than those with the listed eligibility may be obtained on a case-by-case situation approved by both the SJU Wedding Coordinator and the Director of Campus Ministry. Please contact the Wedding Coordinator for more information on this.
2. An SJU Wedding Registration Form must be completed by the priest requested to be the presider at the wedding or by the pastor/priest of either the bride/groom’s parish. The form can be found on our website (click on the link for “Registration Form”) or can be obtained by calling the wedding coordinator at SJU (610-660-1673). 
   Please note: SJU does not supply priests to preside for weddings. It is the responsibility of the couple to contact and confirm a presider.
3. A Letter of Permission to marry at SJU must be obtained from the pastor of the parish of either the bride or the groom.
4. Please note: The SJU Wedding Registration Form and the Letter of Permission must be in the hands of the Wedding Coordinator before a date can be given.
5. Those who are eligible for a wedding at SJU may call for a wedding date at least 6 months before the date of the wedding.
6. When the two required forms are present, the SJU Wedding Coordinator will give the couple a date.  An agreement will be sent outlining SJU’s requirements.  This agreement and a check for $1,000 (payable to Saint Joseph’s University) should be returned to the Wedding Coordinator within three weeks to confirm the wedding date. The name, address and phone number of the priest who will preside must be included on the Wedding Agreement form.
7. There are two times set aside for weddings at SJU: Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. and at 3:30 p.m. Rehearsals are on Friday evenings: 5:00 p.m. for the 1:00 wedding and 6:00 for the 3:30 wedding.
   • The paperwork for the wedding should be done by the priest who is the presider or by a priest in the bride/groom’s parish. This paperwork includes the Prenuptial Investigation form, two witness forms for each party and any necessary dispensations or permissions.
   • The Wedding Coordinator will send the priest the necessary forms after a signed agreement and check are received.
8. If the paperwork is done locally (in the Philadelphia Archdiocese) it should be given by the priest to the SJU Wedding Coordinator one month before the wedding date.
9. If the paperwork is done by a priest in another diocese, it needs to be sent by the priest to the Chancery office of his diocese. They will then send it to the SJU Wedding Coordinator..
10. Although it is not offered at SJU, an approved Marriage Preparation Program is required by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Wedding Coordinator can assist you in finding local Marriage Preparation Programs to attend in the Philadelphia area. In addition to this requirement, there are a number of pre-marriage assessment inventories available to assist engaged couples in communicating with each other about important issues that will affect their married lives together. Saint Joseph’s University does not require or administer a particular pre-marriage inventory. However, we strongly recommend that couples talk with their assisting priest about taking an inventory. For more information, please visit https://phillycatholiclife.org/marriage-prep-classes/
11. All couples need to meet with the SJU Wedding Coordinator for a liturgical planning session 3-4 months prior to the wedding to discuss appropriate readings, music, etc. for the wedding liturgy.
12. The SJU Guidelines deal with various policies and requirements of the University, liturgical and musical preparation, instructions for photographers and videographers and all the other details surrounding the celebration of the sacrament. All weddings taking place in the Chapel of St. Joseph need to follow these requirements.

(Revised Fall 2025)

1.) WEDDING AGREEMENT: To confirm your wedding date the agreement form and fee are to be returned to the Campus Ministry Office within three weeks of the date you receive the contract.  For use of the chapel we request a fee of $1,000.  This fee includes the services of a wedding coordinator, a wedding sacristan and silk floral arrangements for the altar.

Please make checks payable to Saint Joseph’s University.

The fee does NOT include:
-payments for the wedding musicians
-any gratuities for the wedding presider or wedding sacristan.
 

2.) LETTER OF PERMISSION FROM THE BRIDE’S OR GROOM’S PARISH: According to Canon Law, the Sacrament of Marriage is to be celebrated in the parish of either the bride or groom.  Proper canonical permission is needed for the sacrament to be celebrated elsewhere.  This document presumes the pertinent information on the sacrament of Marriage in the Code of Canon Law and the Church’s inter-faith and ecumenical directives. 

3.) BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE: Catholic partners must obtain a NEWLY ISSUED Baptismal Certificate from the parish of their baptism. This is NOT the original certificate or copy of that certificate, but a standard form the baptizing parish fills out for you. The phrase “no notations” of marriage must appear on the document or a notation if appropriate. This certificate must be requested and obtained from the church once you are within six months prior of your wedding date and not before. It also indicates that parish records state you are free to marry.

If one party is not Catholic, they need only submit a photocopy of their original baptismal certificate.  These documents should be brought to your meeting with the priest who is doing your paperwork or mailed to the Wedding Coordinator.

4.) PRE-NUPTIAL INVESTIGATION: Couples will complete this form with their presider, or with a consulting priest in the case that the presider is unavailable to do so.

5.) CATHOLIC MARRIAGE PREP (PRE-CANA) CERTIFICATE: Once you have completed a Marriage Prep program, you will receive a certificate of completion which needs to be sent to the presider or wedding coordinator.  You may complete a Marriage Prep program either in person or online. Please check with your local parishes about this or go to catholicmarriageprep.com.

6.) WITNESS TESTIMONY: Two testimonies affirming each person’s freedom to marry will be completed by the priest. Each person is required to give the priest the names and phone numbers of two people who know you well (parents, siblings, friends).

7.) MARRIAGE LICENSE: The license must be obtained from a Clerk of the Orphan’s Court in Pennsylvania. It is valid for 60 days. The entire original Marriage License should be received by the Office of Campus Ministry THREE weeks prior to the wedding date. It may be brought directly to the Office of Campus Ministry or sent by registered mail.

The wedding coordinator will ensure that the license is in the sacristy the day of the wedding for the priest to sign. The couple will receive the original certificate and the duplicate will be sent to the courthouse of origin for recording.

There are some situations when other documents may be required. The consulting priest will assist in this regard.

If you would like to register to hold your wedding at Saint Joseph’s University, please download the following form, complete it, and mail it to

Diane Hankee
Wedding Coordinator
SJU Campus Ministry
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131

Saint Joseph’s University Weddings Registration Form