St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 23-33, taken in its entirety and properly interpreted, contains a beautiful explanation of marriage, a “great mystery.” God sees how a husband and wife give their lives for each other just as Christ gave his life for us. Knowing the depth of love between husband and wife, God deems it a sign of Christ’s love for his bride, the Church.
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Pre Cana Registrar
Family Life Office
400 Wyoming Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: 207-2213, ext. 1118
Only the bride and groom can consent to give their lives to each other faithfully and forever. The bride and groom speak the marriage vows and confer the Sacrament of Marriage on one another. A decision to enter marriage is sacred, permanent, and indissoluble and requires careful preparation
If you are seriously thinking about marriage or are engaged, know that Christ and the Church are with you, yet you alone are responsible for understanding what marriage vows entail and assessing whether you will be able to live them. We rejoice that you want a Christian marriage and come to your parish and diocese for assistance. We want to help you prepare not only for your wedding day but for a lifetime of love together.
Even if you are not yet engaged but are seriously contemplating marriage, it is not too soon to talk with a priest about the important step you are considering.
As soon as you start planning marriage, make an appointment to visit with your parish priest.
A year before your anticipated wedding will give you adequate time; nine months is the minimum time to allow. Be sure to schedule an appointment before making any wedding arrangements.
Your questions about Catholic marriage preparation may be answered at http://www.usccb.org/laity/marriage/marriagefaqs.shtml
During preparation for marriage in the Diocese of Scranton you can expect to:
- Meet with a parish priest or his delegate (a deacon or pastoral staff member) to learn about guidelines and procedures, begin the prenuptial inquiry that gathers information needed for Church records, and tentatively set a church wedding date.
- Fill out a premarital assessment instrument. This inventory will help you explore your relationship, think about what each of you is bringing to marriage, and become more aware of your strengths and challenges. The assessment instrument enables marriage preparation to fit your needs.
- Attend the enrichment program the priest specifies. It may include a Pre-Cana Conference and/or sessions with a mentor couple.
- Obtain Natural Family Planning (NFP) instruction.
- Meet again with the priest or deacon to follow up on the enrichment program and sign Church forms.
- Plan your wedding liturgy with the assistance of a priest, deacon, or liturgist.
- Use the final months before your wedding for intense spiritual preparation through prayer and the sacraments.
Click Here for General Information on Pre-Cana
DIOCESAN PRE-CANA SCHEDULE AND REGISTRATION:
Saturday, May 19, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monroe (Tannersville)
Sunday, June 3, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Scranton (Dalton)
Saturday, June 9, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Drums (South Luzerne)
Sunday, June 24, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Scranton (City of Scranton)
Saturday, July 14, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Lycoming/Tioga (Williamsport)
Saturday, August 4, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wilkes-Barre (Wilkes-Barre)
Saturday, August 11, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monroe (Tannersville)
Saturday, August 18, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wayne/Pike (Milford)
Sunday, August 19, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Scranton (City of Scranton)
Saturday, August 25, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mid-Valley/Lackawanna (Peckville)
Sunday, September 9, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Scranton (Dalton)
Saturday, September 15, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., North Luzerne (Pittston)
Saturday, September 22, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Lycoming/Tioga (Williamsport)
Saturday, October 6, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Mid-Valley/Lackawanna (Peckville)
Saturday, November 3, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mid-Valley/Lackawanna (Peckville)
Saturday, November 10, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Drums (South Luzerne)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR ONE OF THE PRE-CANA SESSIONS LISTED ABOVE
Online Marriage Preparation Course
If it is impossible for you to attend a Pre-Cana conference, your pastor may permit you to take a course of preparation via the Internet. Talk with him about Catholic Marriage Preparation, Inc.
Catholic Marriage Preparation is an online program based on Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The program provides print and CD study materials and requires the completion of five worksheets, which are submitted electronically. The program covers these and other topics:
- God’s plan for humanity
- Vocation of man and woman
- Sin and its consequences
- The Sacrament of Matrimony
- Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians
- Humanae Vitae and conscience
- The Rite of Marriage
- Freedom, self-gift, faithfulness, and openness to life
- Forgiveness
- Your body is a temple
- Relationship tools
- Potential problems in marriage
- Praying together
This course costs $165 including materials and personalized responses to each workshop. You may register by phone (866-425-7193) or at the Catholic Marriage Preparation, Inc website. You must have permission of the priest assisting your marriage preparation to take this online course instead of attending Pre Cana.
Pre-marriage enrichment programs and processes
Parish Pre-Cana Conferences
Spanish Language Marriage Preparation
Natural Family Planning
