Catholic Marriage Prep Courses

We've met with the priest twice now and all we did was fill out paperwork, answer some questions about the marriage (is anyone forcing us, will we raise any children in the church,etc) and review the FOCUS test. Basically we had to talk about the questions we answered differently. We don't have to meet with him again until next month when we review the layout of the ceremony. Nothing was too awkward.

We've done fully engaged, pre cana and have met several times with priest. It's been very pleasant, no akward conversations.

The purpose of the focus questionnaire and the classes is to facilitate open communication.. since that is what makes any relationship work and last. The focus questionnaire just shows areas you could improve on and they will help you with ways to do that

Following lol.

We've only done our first pre Cana which I thought was useful. Nothing awkward. A lot of It FH and I have either already talked about or currently do. Ours went through how to resolve conflict in the best way, our partners love language, family planning, our top priorities in life, etc. nothing really religious or awkward or uncomfortable. We haven't done the second class or the fully engaged one yet.

I've met with the priest, but FH hasn't since he was deployed. We are both going to meet him next month to have a mini interview basically before he approves us getting married, but I don't think it would be awkward

It seems alot of engaged couple haven't discussed really important topics like raising a family in faith, finances, discipline of future children, personal relationships outside of the marriage and so on, my FH and I communicate well and had only 2 questions of 186 that we didn't agree on and it turned out that I misread one and he the other. It was a wording thing. If you communicate well it'll be easy. If not then you'll just have more you talk about with eachother.

Our meetings with the priest have been fine, nothing awkward. We took the FOCCUS test and discussed differences, and nothing awkward came up.

But the pre-cana we attended sucked in all honesty. We did a day thing, and the couple leading it was not very organized and made some of the topics a bit more awkward than they needed to be for grown adults getting married.

I think it all just depends on who you are meeting with.

My parents did it, and they said there was some awkward questions, but not horrible ones!

I completed my required courses and almost done with one on one sessions with the priest. Honestly, it is a waste of time and money spent on the required courses (pre-cana).

I don't feel like I learned anything of significant value.

We met with our parish priest several times, answered the FOCUS questions and discussed with the priest and then took a 2 day seminar. The awkward part of the 2 day seminar was the natural family planning section.

Money and finances, children/family planning, those types of things. Nothing awkward!

@K If you don't mind me asking, how so?? I think I'm most nervous about the family planning part being awkward!

Something I know! I work for a Catholic Church. In our diocese, The meeting with the priest is nothing. Just questions nothing awkward. Then you have the marriage mentor couple whom you meet with a few times and discuss communication, differences, how married life is, and how to deal with difficult things. The Focus test is important to do honestly..it's genuinely a good thing. Next up, you have your one-day retreat. It is all about natural family planning and it's awkward as hell. And graphic. I haven't done mine yet but I plan on being blunt and honest when they ask me questions.

Each diocese handles this differently.

Some diocese require 4 months of prep and others at least 6 months.

We have done 6 months of prep and plan to marry soon. A short engagement.

First meeting with Priest and take a test which is called PIP

Meet with licensed marriage counselor appointed by diocese (pass or fail)

Meet with priest again to discuss details

Go through a type of pre-cana. Each diocese does this differently and if you're active duty you can do it online. Attain certificate.

Go to a Natural Family Planning Session with a licensed nurse. Attain a certificate. Yes, they do ask you questions with something called a SPICE form. It's personal. You will speak about how contraception is bad. Just sit and bear it.

Present your baptismal and confirmation records. (if non-Catholic, and a Christian from another kind of Christian church those are still asked for).

Your friends or family: Fill out two forms each declaring that you have a right to marry. Notarized and submitted or sealed by your local Catholic church.

Pick out your readings for wedding ceremony or if it is a mass, those additionally.

Deposit any money owed to the church. Typically parishioners who are active Catholics ( must attend mass and be involved in the church in some way to be considered active) have a discounted or free use of the church. Non-parishioners will have to pay more. My church was $700 which pays for music, classes for most of the marriage prep, and a donation to the church. I am an active parishioner so that's $1,200 or $1,000 for Non-parishioners.

Then you by guidance of your priest get your city marriage license at a discount (depending on what state) because you got a marriage prep.

Marry