Where to Attend Pre-Cana?
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!
