St Joseph’s Catholic Church Upland

This is a review of their wedding program/​coordination/​total screwups. I’ll warn you, I am livid as I am writing this. I know you’re supposed to be all pious when it comes to your religion, hold it to a higher standard, overlook the petty things, but when it comes down to the wire this church totally dropped the ball on THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT IN OUR LIVES.
I’ll divide it into strikes:
Strike one: Upon reading the guidelines for the Holy Sacrament of Marriage at this church, the whole idea seems easily attainable; contact church 6 months in advance of the wedding, sit down with the Priest and hash out what sacraments you’ve achieved and what ones you haven’t; set up your FOCCUS (compatibility test) and discuss your results with the Priest conducting your ceremony, fulfill any and all pre-​marriage enrichment programs, and meet with the ceremony coordinator and music cooridinator. ALL of these WOULD be easily attainable IF the people running the show were on the ball as much as the Bride and Groom. They expect that you know how a Catholic wedding works. Yes, my husband and I are considered Catholic but let’s face it, many parishioners have become prodigal sons and daughters. And not only that, THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME GETTING MARRIED. We have NO idea what the guidelines are, thats why we needed some GUIDANCE. Strike one is lack of guidance.
Strike two: The office has SPECIFIC people that hold SPECIFIC responsibilities for a SPECIFIC priest. If one Father’s receptionist is not in the office, you cannot make an appointment, OR gather any information regarding your wedding until that specific receptionist is back in the office. And GOOD LUCK getting a call back.
Strike three: I had to hunt down EVERY PERSON involved like it was MY duty to conduct the whole shebang when I have NO IDEA what to do. Three months before the wedding I had to hunt down the wedding coordinator for the church, Vern, whom was easier than most to get a hold of once I got a number, BUT when I asked if my own wedding coordinator can sit in on the meeting he was more than gracious when it came to my request. BUT when she was there, he was very rude to her. She was told under no circumstances was she to contact or even look at the priest. She knew that as she was Catholic and an outside wedding coordinator. She knew outside ones were not as welcomed under the Catholic roof, but since he gave me the green light to bring her I did, and it all came to a bust. He was so rude to her that she felt the need to not come to my rehearsal or ceremony.
Strike four: TWO MONTHS before the wedding we still hadn’t completed our enrichment requirement. This is due to the fact that the receptionist for the Priest did not call us AT ALL when our FOCCUS results came in IN JUNE! (THIS IS AUGUST). And every person who answers the phone at the church office didn’t seem to understand the dire emergency we were in now, as it takes 6 WEEKS to complete this requirement. Finally I said, «I need an emergency appointment with Father», to which I get responses on the lines of I’m speaking Greek, like they couldn’t understand the phrase «EMERGENCY».
Strike five: After the above debacle, getting a hold of the person who coordinates the enrichment programs for engaged couples was a JOKE! First we get a call right away, then we wait all Labor Day weekend, and finally, the Thurs after Labor day we get a couple and begin the process of completing the Evenings for Engaged classes. To our assigned couple’s surprise we were getting married in 7 weeks from the date of us starting the course. We were basically thrown into a whirlwind crash course. Not any fault on our couple, but we were deprived of a lot of the activities and discussions normally conducted during these classes due to our Johnny-​Come-​Lately circumstance.
Strike six: CEREMONY DAY: our wedding was at noon. There was a wedding after ours, so we were time-​crunched to be out of the church by 130 for the next wedding at 2. We show up at the exact time told to us by Vern the wedding coordinator (11 am) only to find him zipping OUT of the parking lot as soon as my wedding party and flowers show up. I call him at 11:15 as the church IS LOCKED and my future husband showed up, so I had to hide behind EVERYONE so he doesn’t see me. I get «I’ll be there in five minutes». Traditions seem lost on Vern! We had hardly any time to put decorations up, put the flowers up, get everyone in order. My guests were showing up just as Vern pulls up a hair before 1130. NOT A HAPPY BRIDE!
Strike Seven: Post-​ceremony: My husband called the church office 10 days after the wedding to make sure that all our license paperwork was sent in. We were told it was «all done» but not told that we needed to send it in. We were under the impression that the church would handle it. Not so much! If you’re planning a wedding with this church be prepared to be stressed out, and do their jobs for them!

Terrific Catholic Experience in the Inland Empire.
Willing to drive from Fontana for priest and readers of the word that project themselves clearly, the eloquence is a bonus. Quick service.
(I’m sorry but I can not stand being in service for longer than 1:15 hours. If I am I need to FEEL the spirit of the LORDDDDDD! Halleluiah!)
The overwhelming majority of people know how to behave during mass (quiet). Spacious. I love going here!