Carrie Thysse and her fiance, Pat O’Neill, pose at their 2017 graduation from the St. Thomas school of law. The couple, who graduated from the St. Thomas school of law in 2017, had to move their summer wedding date from June 13 to Sept. 5 in hopes that their 280 guests can attend at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas on the St. Paul campus. (Photo courtesy of Carrie Thysse)
Carrie Thysse and her fiance Pat O’Neill, who met during their first week of law school at St. Thomas, were ready to say their vows on June 13 in the newly renovated Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas on the university’s campus.
COVID-19 had different plans for Thysse and O’Neill, as well as many more of the 50-some couples who celebrate the sacrament of matrimony every year in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Chapel of St. Thomas More.
“It’s definitely an emotional thing to decide to change your wedding when the circumstances are out of your control,” Thysse said.
The chapel, which was built under the leadership of Archbishop John Ireland in 1916, holds familial significance to Thysse, whose parents were married there in 1985.
While two couples chose to keep their ceremony on the same date with 10 or fewer guests and appropriate social distancing measures, Thysse and O’Neill moved their wedding date to September 5 in hopes that their 280 guests can attend.
Carrie Thysse and her fiance, Pat O’Neill, pose during their engagement shoot. (Photo courtesy of Carrie Thysse)
“We both wanted to have a wedding where people could be excited and could hug and could dance,” Thysse said.
Campus Ministry sacramental coordinator Christina Crow said the unusual circumstances have provided a silver lining to couples who choose to get married under COVID-19 restrictions. It means couples can focus on what matters most, which is receiving the sacrament in a Catholic chapel at a place that means a lot to them.
“You know what,” Crow said, “something matters more than figuring out the flowers.”
The other silver lining for couples who postpone is a newly renovated Iversen Center for Faith, opening at an unannounced fall date. According to the Rev. Lawrence Blake, university chaplain, couples who postpone will experience the full bravado of the renovations and expansions that began April 2019.
Late summer weddings have hope, according to Blake. Archbishop of St. Paul Bernard Hebda is expected to release a second set of orders for religious gatherings after considering recommendations and rules from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention. .
“If Gov. Walz allows a gradual reopening, we asked if there might be a way to celebrate weddings this summer … beginning in July … that would allow a larger group,” Blake said. “Maybe 100.”
The Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas’ capacity is approximately 550.
Although the number of guests could be limited for a long time, marriage preparation carries on through St.Thomas’ Campus Ministry. Couples must answer questions with their presider over Zoom, complete a virtual retreat and take natural family planning classes over Zoom or phone call.
In the meantime, Thysse and O’Neill get to do the “once in a lifetime” all over again.
“We’ve been planning our wedding for a second time,” Thysse said.
Mia Laube can be reached at mia.laube@stthomas.edu.