Where to Attend Pre-Cana?

Read Time: 4 minutes

Pre-Cana is a marriage preparation course for those seeking marriage in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church teaches that the Sacrament of Matrimony is a covenant between a man, a woman, and God. Marriage is lifelong and permanent.

Engaged couples should meet with their priest well in advance of their intended wedding date. Most parishes require at least six months of preparation time. Your parish priest will follow the guidelines of your diocese as to the required Pre-Cana instruction.

Pre-Cana is named after the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. This miracle is commonly regarded as a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. Marriage is a turning point in the life of an engaged couple.


a. Types of Pre-Cana

Pre-Cana courses can be taken in several ways. After engaged couples meet with their priest, well in advance of their wedding, they should have a list of approved Pre-Cana options.

The topics included in most Pre-Cana courses are: Theology and Spirituality of Marriage, Personal Values, Careers, and Practical Issues, Money, Sex and Intimacy, Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution, Effective Communication, Family of Origin, and Natural Family Planning (NFP).

Couples may also be required to complete a pre-marital inventory, which is a science-based process that identifies areas for further discussion and reflection.

Following are common Pre-Cana Catholic Marriage Preparation options. Choices will vary by dioceses. Some parishes and dioceses may allow or require a combination of course completion options.

  • ·Online Pre-Cana: Courses are taken online through an approved source. The Marriage Group offers fully online and on-demand Pre-Cana that can be completed in about 8 hours. The courses are available in both English and Spanish. The Marriage Group’s Pre-Cana marriage preparation courses are listed on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.
    Pre-Cana Retreat Weekends: Some dioceses offer weekend retreats that cover all of the Pre-Cana topics in one weekend. These Pre-Cana weekends are offered at various times throughout the year and reservations often need to be made many months in advance.
  • Pre-Cana Workshops: Dioceses and larger parishes may offer workshops throughout the year. These may require travel to get to an available workshop on a date that works for the engaged couple.
  • Mentor Couple Meetings: Some parishes may require a series of meetings with a mentor couple to complete the Pre-Cana requirement.
  • Meetings with a Priest, Deacon, or Parish Representative: Couples will meet with clergy over several months as they prepare for their marriage.


b. How to Find Pre-Cana Near You?

Pre-Cana course options can be found in a variety of ways. The parish website for the church where the wedding is planned may have information or links to Pre-Cana options. In many cases, the parish website will link to the website for the local diocese or archdiocese.

Diocesan websites are usually huge and full of content. Finding the right page might take a few clicks. Marriage and engagement information can usually be found under the heading of “Sacraments” or “Family Life”. Sometimes there is a search bar that can be helpful. To search for Pre-Cana information, type in “Pre-Cana”, “Marriage Preparation”, “Sacrament of Matrimony”, or “Planning a Wedding”.

An online search can also help you find Pre-Cana options. With AI integrated into most browsers, there should be an option to search for local Pre-Cana in-person events by entering “Pre-Cana near me” into the search window. Be sure to get any Pre-Cana options you are interested in approved by your priest, deacon, or parish representative before you sign up. Be aware that in-person Pre-Cana retreats, weekends, workshops, and classes often fill up quickly as soon as they are scheduled. Look early and sign up early, if you need an in-person Pre-Cana course.

An online search for Pre-Cana is an easy way to find online and on-demand Pre-Cana options. The Marriage Group is often at the top of the list, as it offers a popular format that is user-friendly, accessible, and convenient. The Marriage Group’s Pre-Cana course is highly rated by couples with lots of 5-star Google reviews.

Online and in-person options can be combined and are sometimes required by parishes. Finding and scheduling required Pre-Cana might take some work, but finding the best Pre-Cana course for your personality, schedule, and lifestyle will make preparing spiritually and emotionally for your wedding even better.

Remember, when searching for the right Pre-Cana course:

  • Meet with your priest FIRST and EARLY- at least six months before your intended wedding date
  • Find out what type of Pre-Cana courses are allowed as soon as possible. In-person courses may fill up quickly and you want to have plenty of time to get it done and not be rushed.
  • Consider online Pre-Cana if it is permitted by your diocese and priest. Online Pre-Cana, such as the course offered by The Marriage Group, is comprehensive, convenient, and used by thousands of parishes all over the world.

The Marriage Group’s online Pre-Cana course, Living Our Faith In Love, is 5-star rated by couples and used in parishes in every U.S. diocese and over 90 countries. Join thousands of other couples who are building a strong marriage with our faithful, flexible, and fun course today!Pre-Cana Online | Approved Marriage Prep by The Marriage Group | Register here

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Are You Quiet Quitting Your Marriage?

Read Time: 3 minutes

Quiet quitting is a hot topic in the work-world, but how do the same behaviors translate to our other relationships? Jessie sits down with Pat & Kenna Millea, co-founders of the Martin Center for Integration, and discusses the ways we check out, detach, and otherwise quit our marriages while also showing up everyday like everything is okay.

In This Episode…

Fun & Interesting Quotes on Quiet Quitting in Relationships:

 

“I thought marriage was going to solve all my problems. That once we’re married, I won’t have these attachments, desires, temptations, addictions anymore because it’s a sacrament and, and God is good and he’s gonna rescue me from all these human frailties.”

“A sacrament is not magic. It doesn’t automatically make someone a disciple. It gives them all the grace they need by the Holy Spirit to be a disciple, but they have to say yes to that gift.”

“It’s a lack of willful, intentional investment when we quietly quit anything, essentially to go through the motions, but without the heart, without the sense of conviction.”

“Some of that conflict is actually what makes the relationship exciting and good.”

“It doesn’t take much to really make a seismic difference in a marriage.”

 

Key Takeaways on Quiet Quitting:

 

Everyday Distractions Can Impact Our Relationship:

There are so many things vying for our attention and many of them are an incredibly easy lift compared to the rigors of maintaining a healthy marriage. Couples have to be realistic about how their stress-relieving behaviors like scrolling devices, binge-watching, extended focus on hobbies, can steal time and energy for checking in with one another and connecting.

Marriage Won’t Solve Your Personal Issues:

Every vice you came into the marriage with will still be with you after the wedding day. It’s natural to think that marriage will make you a better person, and it can, but that’s a process that extends over years with lots of hard work.

Embracing the Sacramental Aspect of Marriage Opens the Door to Grace:

When couples realize that marriage is a sacred bond, it can transform they way they approach their relationship. The sacramental understanding of marriage can help couples see the connection between their faith and the rest of their lives together. It gives meaning and purpose to the everyday aspects of their marriage and helps them understand the self-sacrificial nature of love.

How to Reverse or Avoid Quiet Quitting:

 

Intentional Investment:

Be proactive in investing time and effort into your relationship. This includes setting aside dedicated time for meaningful conversations and activities that strengthen your bond.

Embrace Complementarity:

Recognize and appreciate the differences between you and your spouse. Instead of viewing them as threats, see them as opportunities for greater understanding and complementarity in your marriage.

Pursue Communication and Conflict Resolution:

Engage in open and honest communication. Accept that conflict is a natural part of any relationship and can be an opportunity for growth and excitement when handled constructively.

Grace & Human Effort

Balance the grace of the sacrament with human effort. Make room for the grace of marriage by actively working on your relationship, allowing the spiritual and practical aspects to work together.

Who Are Pat & Kenna Millea?

 

Photo of Pat & Kenna Millea co-counders of the Martin Center for Integration

Pat & Kenna Millea, co-founders of The Martin Center for Integration

Pat & Kenna Millea bring their love for people and the Church to their work supporting mental health, faith, and families. They met at the University of Notre Dame, where they both received degrees in Theology (among other things).

 

Kenna is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Pat is a speaker, musician, leader, and former youth minister. They are co-founders of the Martin Center for Integration, an organization supporting the integration of mental health & faith, and they co-host a podcast, This Whole Life. They have been married for 16 years and live in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota with their 7 children.

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The Marriage Every Day™ community is the place for couples who want to have fun growing strong, sacramental marriages.

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Community chats, free mini-courses, and engaging activities help couples build a marriage they love alongside thousands of couples just like them!

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Can You Do Pre-Cana Online?

Read Time: 4 minutes

Yes! Fully Online Pre-Cana Option: Living Our Faith in Love

Yes! But, first, what is Pre-Cana?  Pre-Cana is marriage preparation. Sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church is a sacred covenant between a man, a woman, and God. It is not to be entered into without sufficient planning and preparation. Pre-Cana courses are marriage preparation courses that are required for marriage in the Catholic Church. Pre-Cana refers to the wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine.

Parishes and dioceses have varying requirements for Pre-Cana. They include in-person retreats, workshops, classes, and online courses. Engaged couples should always meet with their priest first, at least six months before their wedding, and then choose their Pre-Cana path.

The Marriage Group offers online Pre-Cana through their course Living Our Faith in Love. The course meets all Pre-Cana requirements and includes the following topics: Theology and Spirituality of Marriage, Personal Values, Careers, and Practical Issues, Money, Sex and Intimacy, Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution, Effective Communication, Family of Origin, and Natural Family Planning (NFP).

The Marriage Group’s online course, Living Our Faith in Love®, features expert instruction from theologians, medical professionals, authors, and seasoned married couples. The course includes videos, discussion questions, and His and Hers journals. The course takes about 8 hours to complete and is listed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as one of the programs that are widely used in dioceses and parishes. It was also found to have no conflict with Catholic teaching according to the USCCB.

Pre Cana Courses For Catholics

Online Pre-Cana is popular with couples who desire more privacy for discussion than they would be able to get in an in-person group meeting. It is also a convenient option for couples who are separated by distance, such as military couples or students, and can not attend an in-person class together. Online Pre-Cana marriage preparation is ideal for couples with very busy schedules or who have caregiving responsibilities that do not allow for a weekend or series of evenings away.

Online Meeting or Hybrid Pre-Cana Options

Online Pre-Cana can be taken in tandem with in-person marriage preparation courses or meetings. Some parishes may require some level of in-person meeting with clergy or a mentor couple.

Some online courses are held “live” so you have to show up online at a certain time to watch the course. Couples are sometimes required to meet with a mentor couple virtually to have a discussion online. The format for some online Pre-Cana courses is in a cohort or group of many couples who meet virtually at a set time over several weeks. For example, couples may meet for 2-3 hours one night per week for four weeks. They will be in an interactive online platform with group discussions.

The Pre-Cana marriage preparation course offered by The Marriage Group is on demand. The course can be taken all at once in one day, spread out over a weekend, or little bits at a time over many months. There are no group components, so there is complete privacy for the couple. The course can be completed in as little as 8 hours. A certificate of completion is awarded.

How Do You Find The Pre-Cana Course That Works Best For You?

Choosing the style of instruction that works best for you is important. If you enjoy an all-day presentation or a series of meetings over several weeks, in-person Pre-Cana is a great choice.

How Do You Know If Online Pre-Cana Will Work For You?

Distance. Not all couples live close to each other. Some are navigating long-distance relationships because of military service, schooling, or other reasons. Planning a wedding is hard enough. Taking an online Pre-Cana can take some of the stress off of planning, and can provide a fun and meaningful virtual date night as you watch the videos on your own and get together on Facetime or otherwise to discuss the topics.

Responsibilities. Sometimes you just can’t get away. Securing childcare or taking time off work for weekend or evening classes is just not an option for some people. Taking an online course on your schedule makes Pre-Cana easy and meaningful.

Abilities: Online Pre-Cana takes away the stress of “getting there” for those who may have mobility issues, an injury, or anxiety issues with large groups. Those with hearing and vision impairments can use captioning, volume control, and any personal devices to make Pre-Cana work for them.

Privacy: Pre-Cana topics get personal. Not everyone is comfortable addressing sensitive topics with strangers or even with friends. Taking a fully online on-demand Pre-Cana marriage preparation course gives couples the freedom to laugh and cry as needed to properly discern the important topics that are part of marriage preparation.

Language: Online Pre-Cana offered by The Marriage Group is available in both English and Spanish.

On-Going Support: The Marriage Group’s Pre-Cana course is delivered in the Marriage Every Day™ community, a place for couples who want to keep growing their relationship skills and avoid the status quo. Couples get tools and inspiration for a long and happy sacramental marriage. They can connect with one another, do fun events, and get free mini-course to become better communicators, parents, and lovers.

Please take the time to research the different types of Pre-Cana marriage preparation that are best for you as a couple. Online Pre-Cana, such as The Marriage Group’s Living Our Faith in Love course, is designed to give your marriage a beautiful beginning, and it doesn’t end on your wedding day.

The Marriage Group’s online Pre-Cana course, Living Our Faith In Love, is 5-star rated by couples and used in parishes in every U.S. diocese and over 90 countries. Join thousands of other couples who are building a strong marriage with our faithful, flexible, and fun course today!Pre-Cana Online | Approved Marriage Prep by The Marriage Group | Register here

Living Our Faith in Love® - Pre-Cana

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Can You Fail Pre-Cana?

Read Time: 4 minutes

Pre-Cana Isn’t a Pass/Fail Kind of Course

No, Pre-Cana can not be failed. There is no test at the end and no grades are given. Pre-Cana is marriage preparation for those planning sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church. Pre-Cana offers tools for couples to use to manage conflicts and offers exploration of topics to help couples in their marriage.

Marriage is a huge commitment that requires daily self-sacrifice and adjustment of expectations. Those characteristics do not come naturally for most people. Pre-Cana is a bit of a reality check for engaged couples as they head into the sacred life-long union of marriage. It also provides valuable information and tools that can be used to build a firm foundation for a happy and fulfilling marriage that honors God.

Marriage is a big deal! If you were planning to run a marathon, you would train for it. If you were entering a chili cook-off, you would practice your recipe before the day of the contest. Marriage is one of the biggest decisions of your life, if not THE biggest, so why wouldn’t you prepare for it earnestly? Pre-Cana gives couples an opportunity to dive deeply into topics that they may have never thought to discuss.

Pre Cana Catholic Courses


What is Pre-Cana?

Pre-Cana is the term used to describe marriage preparation for couples wishing to get married in the Catholic Church. Pre-Cana is a general term for the instruction given to engaged couples. Couples are required to complete a Pre-Cana course as part of their wedding planning and marriage preparation.

Pre-Cana topics include:

  • Theology and Spirituality of Marriage
  • Personal Values
  • Careers, and Practical Issues
  • Money
  • Sex and Intimacy
  • Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution
  • Effective Communication
  • Family of Origin
  • Natural Family Planning (NFP)

Pre-Cana prepares couples for marriage using the teachings of the Catholic Church and the expertise of medical professionals, theologians, authors, and seasoned married couples. The Catholic Church teaches that the Sacrament of Matrimony is a covenant between a man, a woman, and God. Read more here.

Not every discussion will be easy, but it will be worth the effort. Pre-Cana can indeed raise “red flags” for some couples. They will have the opportunity to work out those potential conflicts before marriage. In rare cases, couples find that they need to postpone marriage to give themselves time to work on personal issues or to work on issues as a couple.


How do you complete Pre-Cana?

Pre-Cana can be completed in person or online. Engaged couples should meet with the priest at the church where they plan to marry many months before the intended wedding. Most churches require couples to contact their parish at least six months in advance.

Different parishes and dioceses have varying requirements for allowable Pre-Cana courses. Some Catholic parishes and dioceses offer Pre-Cana through in-person weekend programs that are scheduled for a few weekends throughout the year. These often require registration well in advance of the program.

Other options are in-person Pre-Cana class series that are offered over several weeks or months. Sometimes an engaged couple is paired with a mentor couple to guide them through the process.

Another option is a fully online Pre-Cana marriage preparation program. The Marriage Group offers a fully online and on-demand Pre-Cana course that is ​​listed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as one of the programs that are widely used in dioceses and parishes. It was also found to have no conflict with Catholic teaching according to the USCCB.

The course takes about 8 hours to complete and includes comprehensive videos, discussion questions, and His and Hers discussion guide. It can be used independently by couples, with a mentor couple, or with oversight by a priest, deacon, or other parish ministry leader.

Online courses are appealing to those who wish to have more privacy than an in-person course would allow. They are also more convenient for couples who are navigating long-distance relationships or who have incompatible work schedules or heavy demands on their time and in-person courses are not possible.

Online Pre-Cana can also be used alongside in-person options. For example, couples who want to dive deeper into preparing for a lifelong marriage may choose to do online Pre-Cana after a weekend retreat. Many find they can have deeper discussions over time and benefit from the privacy and self-paced nature of online experiences.

Online Pre-Cana courses are on-demand, so couples can go at their own pace and review topics as many times as they wish. There is no pressure to complete discussions in a certain time frame, and they have the freedom to discuss intimate topics in the privacy of their own environment.

The Marriage Group offers Pre-Cana courses in both English and Spanish!


How do you get a Pre-Cana certificate?

When an engaged couple completes a Pre-Cana course, they will get a certificate of completion. There is no pass or fail, nor are there grades. Married couples will be living out the things they learned in Pre-Cana throughout their lives as sacramentally married couples.

In fact, preparing for a healthy lifelong marriage is an ongoing process. Couples get the most out of programs that go beyond the initial Pre-Cana course and support them long after their wedding day. Some parishes offer marriage enrichment activities, and The Marriage Group’s Marriage Every Day Community is an online version of a supportive community for couples who want to grow strong marriages.
Author: Jennie McClelland

The Marriage Group’s online Pre-Cana course, Living Our Faith In Love, is 5-star rated by couples and used in parishes in every U.S. diocese and over 90 countries. Join thousands of other couples who are building a strong marriage with our faithful, flexible, and fun course today!

Pre-Cana Online | Approved Marriage Prep by The Marriage Group | Register here

Living Our Faith in Love® - Pre-Cana

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