Q. Is there a difference between marriage preparation and Pre-Cana?
A. Marriage prep generally refers to the at least six month process of meeting with a priest. Pre-Cana generally refers to the course, usually over a weekend, which is part of the marriage prep requirement. We recommend Our Lady of Bethesda’s Three to Get Married.
Q. What happens during marriage prep?
In the initial meeting, the couple will fill out the prenuptial questionnaire that determines their freedom to marry in the Catholic Church . The rest of the process involves regular meetings with a priest or deacon, collecting sacramental certificates, completing and working through an inventory such as FOCCUS, and attending a Pre-Cana course, taking a Natural Family Planning class, and planning the wedding liturgy.
Q. Do we both have to be Catholic to marry in the Church?
A. One party must be Catholic. If there is a non-Catholic party, a permission/dispensation form must be obtained during marriage prep.
