STV Marriage Preparation (Pre-Cana) Information for Engaged Couples:
Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming marriage! The St. Thomas of Villanova parish community is blessed and happy to accompany you on this exciting journey toward sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church. Marriage preparation (also known as “Pre-Cana”) is required of all couples being married at St. Thomas and within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. We call it “Pre-Cana” because the first miracle that Jesus performed in the Gospels was at a wedding feast in the town of Cana! Please rest assured that we are a welcoming parish who understands that individuals and couples often have diverse faith backgrounds and religious experiences. We invite you to lean into your pre-cana journey and remember that “wedding preparation is for a day, but marriage preparation is for a lifetime!”.
Information for Parishioners. For parishioners and local couples, our Pre-Cana program has two components. The first is the completion of an online and self-paced educational course which takes approximately 8 hours to complete. The second component is a mentoring experience with a married couple in the parish, which typically consists of (a) an orientation call, (b) an in-person session of about 2 hours (typically over dinner in the mentor couple’s home), and (c) a concluding call.
Pre-Cana Steps for Parishioners:
Information for Villanova University alumni couples. For alumni and other non-local couples, our Pre-Cana program has two components. The first is the completion of an online and self-paced educational course which takes approximately 8 hours to complete. The second is participation at a group retreat experience with other engaged couples which is offered several times throughout the year at a location near the University (the retreat is typically over a weekend that includes a tour of the church and covers wedding logistical matters.)
Pre-Cana Steps for Alumni Couples:
Please direct any questions about Pre-Cana to Deacon Don DiCarlo. Questions about wedding registration or wedding day logistics should be directed to Patty Greenhalgh.
Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming marriage! The St. Thomas of Villanova parish community is blessed and happy to accompany you on this exciting journey toward sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church. Marriage preparation (also known as “Pre-Cana”) is required of all couples being married at St. Thomas and within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. We call it “Pre-Cana” because the first miracle that Jesus performed in the Gospels was at a wedding feast in the town of Cana! Please rest assured that we are a welcoming parish who understands that individuals and couples often have diverse faith backgrounds and religious experiences. We invite you to lean into your pre-cana journey and remember that “wedding preparation is for a day, but marriage preparation is for a lifetime!”.
Information for Parishioners. For parishioners and local couples, our Pre-Cana program has two components. The first is the completion of an online and self-paced educational course which takes approximately 8 hours to complete. The second component is a mentoring experience with a married couple in the parish, which typically consists of (a) an orientation call, (b) an in-person session of about 2 hours (typically over dinner in the mentor couple’s home), and (c) a concluding call.
Pre-Cana Steps for Parishioners:
- Initial steps-- Register for a wedding date with the parish ([email protected]) and communicate with the Priest who will be celebrating your marriage.
- Upon registering, the parish will provide you with a voucher code and a link to register for the online course (the cost is already included in your wedding registration fee). Please follow the instructions and register for the course, listing Deacon Don DiCarlo as your parish contact (his email is [email protected]). You can familiarize yourselves with the website and the course, but do not begin the sessions until step 4 is completed. The link to the course is here: Catholic Marriage Prep: Living Our Faith in Love - Online Pre-Cana and NFP by The Marriage Group (advancedministries.com)
- Contact Deacon Don (610-787-1559 or [email protected] ) to schedule and prepare for the orientation call with your assigned mentor couple.
- Complete the orientation call with your mentor couple and follow any advice or guidance you may have been provided.
- At your own pace, complete the online course. The course will generate a completion certificate that you will need to forward to Deacon Don.
- Schedule and complete a concluding call session with your mentor couple.
- Please note that the Priest or Deacon celebrating your marriage will often supplement your Pre-Cana experience by administering a pre-marriage “inventory” survey and/or meeting with you separately. All steps should be completed within 2- 12 months prior to the wedding date.
- Waivers/Exceptions. If you prefer to complete Pre-Cana at another Parish or in a different manner, please contact Deacon Don to request a waiver from our Parish requirements. You will need to provide St. Thomas with evidence of completion of an approved Pre-Cana program at least 60 days prior to your wedding date.
Information for Villanova University alumni couples. For alumni and other non-local couples, our Pre-Cana program has two components. The first is the completion of an online and self-paced educational course which takes approximately 8 hours to complete. The second is participation at a group retreat experience with other engaged couples which is offered several times throughout the year at a location near the University (the retreat is typically over a weekend that includes a tour of the church and covers wedding logistical matters.)
Pre-Cana Steps for Alumni Couples:
- Initial steps-- Register for a wedding date with the Parish ([email protected] )and communicate with the Priest who will be celebrating your marriage.
- Upon registering for a wedding, you will be provided with a coupon code and a link to register for the online course (the cost is already included in your wedding registration fee). Please follow the instructions and register for the course, listing Patty Greenhalgh as your parish contact using the email address above. The link to the course is here: Catholic Marriage Prep: Living Our Faith in Love - Online Pre-Cana and NFP by The Marriage Group (advancedministries.com)
- Register to attend an upcoming retreat weekend. Contact Patty for dates or follow this link to register.
- At your own pace, complete the online course. The course will generate a completion certificate that you will need to forward to Patty. Please note that the completion certificate must be received prior to your Retreat date.
- Waivers/Exceptions. If you prefer to complete Pre-Cana at another Parish or in a different manner, please contact Deacon Don to request a waiver from our Parish requirements. You will need to provide St. Thomas with evidence of completion of an approved Pre-Cana program at least 60 days prior to your wedding date.
Please direct any questions about Pre-Cana to Deacon Don DiCarlo. Questions about wedding registration or wedding day logistics should be directed to Patty Greenhalgh.