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Pre-Cana Requirements

LolyalyssaLolyalyssa member
100 Comments
in New Jersey
Hi Ladies, long time no talk!  We'll I'm back after the new year as the wedding preparation is back in full swing.

I'm getting married at St. Leo's in Elmwood Park in the Newark Diocese. 

I know we to do Pre Cana but do we also have to do "God's Plan for a Joy Filled Marriage"?  What about the "Natural Family Planning Seminar"?

They make it sound like its all required and I seem to remember that might not be the case.

Thanks for the help!
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Re: Pre-Cana Requirements

  • kristen8040kristen8040 member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    It really depends on what your priest says.  I know some girls have to do both of those and others like myself only have to do pre-cana.  I'd ask him.
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  • smw42smw42 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    We had to do God's Plan but Natural Family Planning is not required. I believe you either do (a) God's Plan along with a 1 day Pre Cana, or (B) the Pre Cana weekend.
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  • viviannacviviannac member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    It all depends on what your priest so definitely talk to him about it.  We were only required to do the Pre-Cana. 

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  • USER876USER876
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We just did the pre-cana.

    Natural familiy planning?  I am a devout catholic, but that is a bit much.  My friends sister now has 7 kids because they relied 100% on that.  
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  • 37 Butter Knives37 Butter Knives member
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    "God's plan" was made mandatory last year. The NFP class is optional - for now.
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  • asweet21asweet21 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am in the Metuchen Diocese and my priest requires us to to "Marriage Prep" and "God's Plan".  I went on the diocese website and it says NFP is optional. 
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  • cindy91788cindy91788
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    It completely depends on the church and the priest. My church (in the Newark Diocese) requires a 6 session program with a mentor couple, which takes the place of "pre-cana". And we do not have to do the other programs either.
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  • erpooh15erpooh15 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We went to St Marys in Nutley and it was pretty painless one Saturday and we were done. Our church (not St Mary's) does not require Joyful marriage class. We just meet with the priest everyother month for about an hour. He is very nice and laid back and fun to talk with.
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  • tamarakaitamarakai
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    From the archdioceses of Newark website - Joyfilled Marriage and PreCana are required. Our priest told us the same.
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  • cindy9178cindy9178 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_pre-cana-requirements?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:51f1758b-2969-4a00-ac61-e6da74eee406Post:4ccc248e-69c7-46b7-a6b4-1305f4bb6a84">Re: Pre-Cana Requirements</a>:
    [QUOTE]"God's plan" was made mandatory last year. The NFP class is optional - for now.
    Posted by 37 Butter Knives[/QUOTE]
    This entirely depends on the Priest. My church is in the Newark Diocese, and we did not have to do anything in addition to the Pre-Cana.The first time I even heard of these other courses was on TK.
    Also, our priest has a program different from the usual Pre-Cana weekend. We had to meet with a mentor couple on 6 separate occasions and go through a workbook with them. (and they actually skipped over the NFP section).
    You need to ask your Priest what he requires of you. All of the info you get here is just based on each individual Priest.
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  • kristen8040kristen8040 member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_pre-cana-requirements?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:51f1758b-2969-4a00-ac61-e6da74eee406Post:5f4b4837-248d-4130-bb87-b4d9dd0b084b">Re: Pre-Cana Requirements</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Pre-Cana Requirements : This entirely depends on the Priest. My church is in the Newark Diocese, and we did not have to do anything in addition to the Pre-Cana.The first time I even heard of these other courses was on TK. Also, our priest has a program different from the usual Pre-Cana weekend. We had to meet with a mentor couple on 6 separate occasions and go through a workbook with them. (and they actually skipped over the NFP section). You need to ask your Priest what he requires of you. All of the info you get here is just based on each individual Priest.
    Posted by cindy9178[/QUOTE]

    Agreed. Just because that's what the "requirements are" doesn't mean the priests follow them. 
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  • kristen8040kristen8040 member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Why did I just respond to a post from January?
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  • cindy9178cindy9178 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_pre-cana-requirements?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:51f1758b-2969-4a00-ac61-e6da74eee406Post:f22aeb27-ce21-4cde-b5c4-794baae21016">Re: Pre-Cana Requirements</a>:
    [QUOTE]Why did I just respond to a post from January?
    Posted by kristen8040[/QUOTE]
    Lol, I just noticed that too!! Looks like someone recently commented on it.. didn't notice the original post date.. lol
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