An
experienced, carefully chosen officiant adds meaning to your wedding. This
person will preside at the ceremony, guiding you through it and offering support
and reassurance during what can be a nerve-wracking experience. Your officiant
can also assist you in planning a ceremony that reflects your love, values and
beliefs.
My experience officiating at weddings and life ceremonies of all kinds helps assure you of a meaningful and beautiful ceremony.
I usually have one planning meeting with the couple several weeks or months before the ceremony. This meeting usually lasts an hour or so, and is spent planning a ceremony that is just right for the couple.
Preparation and fees
Couples wishing to be legally married in Ontario need to apply to a municipality for a marriage licence. Residents and non-residents of the province/country can obtain a marriage licence from the clerk of any Ontario city, town, township or village. Since June 2003, Ontario has issued marriage licences to same-sex couples. There is a set fee payable to the municipality for the purchase of the licence (currently $110 in Toronto). The marriage licence is valid for use anywhere in the province for three months from the date it is issued. Details and the application are available on-line at www.cbs.gov.on.ca/mcbs/english/marriages.htm. The licence must be presented to the officiant at the ceremony. There are additional charges negotiated separately for an officiant, space and other arrangements. All these preparation steps and fees are the responsibility of the couple.
My basic fee for officiating is $400. This covers a ceremony for up to 20 guests which requires no more than an hour of preparation time and is to take place in the city of Toronto. Additional requirements are discussed with the couple and an appropriate fee agreed upon.
I officiate the following types of marriage ceremonies:
Secular ceremony
A secular ceremony consists of the exchange of marriage vows before a licensed officiant. A secular ceremony does not include specifically religious elements. The addition of readings and music special to the couple can make it a more beautiful and meaningful occasion.
Spiritual ceremony
Many people without a specific religious affiliation want a ceremony which reflects their spiritual beliefs. Together with the couple, the officiant designs a ceremony incorporating spiritual or religious elements which have significance for the couple.
The Sacrament of Marriage
For
couples wishing the Catholic Sacrament of Marriage, this is done either
within the context of Mass or outside of Mass; the choice is the couple's. The
Eglise Catholique Eucharistique - Eucharistic Catholic Church,
of which I am Bishop, solemnizes both opposite- and same-sex
marriages. Ceremonies for same-sex couples - like those for heterosexual couples
- affirm that God’s love is witnessed and embodied in these relationships.
Therefore, these are sacramental events.
Divorce is not an automatic impediment to re-marriage in the Church.
Interdenominational & interfaith weddings
Couples from different denominational or religious backgrounds wishing to honour these in their wedding ceremony can do so by working with the officiant to design a service incorporating personally meaningful religious elements from their respective traditions.
Want to know more?
Contact Bishop Roger at 416-937-9459.
Biographical Profile
Roger LaRade, bishop of the Eglise Catholique Eucharistique - Eucharistic Catholic Church, entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1977 and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1986. He left the Jesuits in 1990. His decision to leave was based on two factors: taking a public position against the Church’s teaching on gay and lesbian lives and a desire to be in a committed relationship. He and his husband Mark met in 1991 and live in Toronto. After 12 years together, they were married in the summer of 2003 under Ontario’s recent recognition in law of same-sex marriages.
Bishop
Roger was called back to ministry by the gay and lesbian couples who asked him to officiate at their commitment ceremonies and Holy Unions. He returned to active ministry as a priest in 2003. He was ordained a bishop in Apostolic Succession on December 10, 2005.Reflecting on his ministry, Bishop Roger says, “My life as a Jesuit for thirteen years has given me experience and training which is helpful to others as they search to make sense of faith and spirituality. This search can be difficult because it is often based in the context of a negative experience within the church of their youth. My ministry is open to all. As an openly gay man prohibited as such from ministry within the Roman Catholic Church, I feel a special calling to assist others excluded by their church of origin who are searching for spiritual meaning. We desire to claim our rightful place in Christian life. The Eucharistic Catholic Church, through its affirming and respectful inclusion of all believers, provides a Catholic community which can nurture our spiritual yearning.”
