What if I’m not registered in a parish?

Find the Catholic Church closest to your home and contact a priest there to begin the process.

Do I have to get married in my own parish?

No, but you must obtain a letter from your local parish giving you permission to marry in another parish. This letter becomes part of your marriage file.

Is Confirmation necessary before marriage?

It is not mandatory in the United States, although it is in most of the rest of the world. Since it completes your Sacraments of Initiation as a Catholic, it is encouraged before marriage.

What happens to my papers if I am getting married outside the Archdiocese of Chicago?

Be sure you start this process as soon as possible. Once your file is complete, your parish priest will send your marriage file to the Office for Canonical Affairs at the Quigley Center for review and stamping of approval. It is then sent to the diocese where you are getting married. They review it, stamp their approval and send it on to the Catholic Church where you will be getting married. The Office for Canonical Affairs needs at least three months to get the paperwork stamped, sealed and sent out to another country if you are not getting married in the United States.

Once our paperwork is completed, what happens to it?

If you and your future spouse are both Catholic and parishioners of the same parish, it stays in the parish marriage files. In other instances, please call the Office for Canonical Services at 312.534.8207 or 312.534.8382.

What do I do if I want to get married at a chapel that has special meaning for me?

Write a letter the Office of Canonical Affairs (P.O. Box 1979, Chicago, Illinois 60690-1979) with the details of your wedding and the reasons why you wish to marry at this site. You will get a response via mail. You also have to get permission from the place where you wish to marry.

What if I want to have my Catholic wedding in a garden, at a hotel, or on a beach?

A Catholic wedding must be held in a Catholic Church before a priest and two witnesses.

Can my dog be part of the wedding?

No, only people may take part in this sacred ceremony.

On behalf of all of us here at the Archdiocese of Chicago, congratulations on your engagement! We are blessed to accompany you on your journey to the sacrament of marriage.

To register for PreCana sessions in English, please click here.
To register for PreCana sessions in Spanish, please click here.

To register for PreCana sessions in English on or after Saturday, June 13, 2020, please click here.
To register for PreCana sessions in Spanish on or after Saturday, June 6, 2020, please click here.

The Office of Lifelong Formation offers PreCana virtually using Zoom in English and Spanish. PreCana sessions are held live and led by trained married couples. Engaged couples enjoy the benefit of live interaction with other couples as well as the comfort of having private conversations. PreCana programs are offered as one six-hour session or two three-hour sessions. Couples can choose between weekend and weekday evening options. Couples to do not need to be living or getting married in the Archdiocese of Chicago to participate.

A full schedule for English PreCana sessions through the end of June and registration can be found here.

A full schedule of Spanish PreCana sessions through the end of June and registration can be found here.

PreCana Sessions are available at the following dates and times. To register, click here.

• Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Saturday, June 6, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Saturday, June 13, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Tuesday and Thursday, June 16 and 18, 6 – 9 p.m
• Saturday, June 20, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Saturday, June 27, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 14 and Thursday, July 16, 6 – 9 p.m
• Saturday, July 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Saturday, August 15, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 18 and Thursday, August 20, 6 – 9 p.m
• Saturday, August 22, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Saturday, September 19, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 22 and Thursday, September 24, 6 – 9 p.m
• Saturday, October 10, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 13 and Thursday, October 15, 6 – 9 p.m
• Saturday, November 14, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 17 and Thursday, November 19, 6 – 9 p.m
• Saturday, December 12, 2020 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 15 and Thursday, December 17, 6 – 9 p.m
• Sunday, December 20, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Reviews of Virtual PreCana from Participants

“I thought it was nice to do it in the comfort of our home. I feel as though we shared more bc we were not worried about what we were saying.”

“We really liked using Zoom as we felt that when we could talk about topics as a couple it was private and just amongst the two of us and then we would tune back into the classroom when time was called.”

“Being at home made it easier for my fiancé and I to have open and honest discussions. We enjoyed everything more because it was private.”

PreCana Virtual en Espanol

En nombre de todos nosotros aquí en la Arquidiócesis de Chicago, ¡felicidades por su compromiso! Tenemos la bendición de acompañarlo en su viaje al sacramento del matrimonio.

Para registrarse para las sesiones de PreCana en inglés, haga clic aquí.
Para registrarse en las sesiones de PreCana en español, haga clic aquí.

Para registrarse a una sesión de Precana en Ingles el sábado 13 de Junio, 2020 o para después, por favor presione aquí.  
Para registrarse a una sesión de PreCana en Español para el Sábado 6 de Junio o después, por favor presione aquí.

La Oficina de Formación para toda la Vida ofrece programas de PreCaná virtualmente usando Zoom en inglés, español y polaco. Las sesiones de PreCaná se llevan a cabo en vivo y son dirigidas por parejas casadas capacitadas. Las parejas comprometidas disfrutan el beneficio de una interacción en vivo con otras parejas, así como también la comodidad de tener conversaciones privadas. Los programas de PreCaná se ofrecen como una sesión de seis horas o dos sesiones de tres horas. Las parejas pueden escoger entre opciones del fin de semana y días entre semana en la noche. Las parejas no necesitan vivir ni casarse en la Arquidiócesis de Chicago para participar.

Encuentre el horario completo para las sesiones de PreCaná en español hasta finales de junio y la inscripción aquí.

Encuentre el horario completo para las sesiones de PreCaná en inglés hasta finales de junio y la inscripción aquí.

PreCaná está disponible en las siguientes fechas y horarios:

• Sabado 30 de Mayo: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Sabado 6 de Junio: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Sabado 23 de Junio: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Sabado, 18 de Julio, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 
• Sabado, 22 de Agosto, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 
• Sabado, 12 de Septiembre, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 
• Sabado, 3 de Octubre, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 
• Sabado, 7 de Noviembre, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 
• Sabado, 5 de Diciembre,  9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Reseñas de los participantes sobre las sesiones virtuales de PreCaná

“Me pareció agradable hacerlo en la comodidad de nuestro hogar. Siento que compartimos más porque no estábamos preocupados acerca de lo que estábamos diciendo”.

“Realmente nos gustó usar Zoom ya que sentimos que cuando podíamos hablar de temas como pareja era privado y solo entre nosotros dos y luego nos sintonizábamos otra vez con el aula cuando era el momento”.

“Estar en casa hizo que fuera más fácil para mi prometido y para mí tener discusiones honestas y abiertas. Disfrutamos todo más porque era privado”.

What’s Covered

Some of the topics presented include the sacrament of matrimony, Natural Family Planning, growing in faith, the changing nature of marriage, couple adjustment, mutual decision-making, the elements of effective communication, conflict management, intimacy and sexual expression, financial planning, goal setting, the extended family, Theology of the Body, stewardship, the Church, how to pray as a couple and counseling.

Documentation

At the completion of the class, couples will receive a certificate of attendance. This fulfills the Catholic marriage preparation requirement of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

After PreCana

After you take the class you have access to supplemental videos on specialized topics that may be appropriate for your unique marriage preparation, such as cohabitation, children of divorce, forming a stepfamily, as well as second, military, interchurch, and African American marriages. Please click here for downloadable resources and worksheets.

One In Christ – currently offered virtually as a home study

This seminar is about the Vocation and Sacrament of Marriage. It can help you rediscover or discover for the first time the beauty, truth, and goodness of the Catholic faith relating to marriage. The pedagogical approach to the seminar is threefold: presentations teach and assist couples to see how the Catholic faith relates to marriage and family life and are then followed by reflection, discussion, and prayer. The seminar takes place on two Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The $280 fee covers the two days, books, resources, catered breakfasts and lunches, NFP class, and stipends. For dates and locations, please visit oneinchristmarriage.com.

What is PreCana?

PreCana is an umbrella term for marriage preparation classes presented by Office of Lifelong Formation, an agency of the Archdiocese of Chicago. PreCana fulfills one of the steps to marry within the Archdiocese of Chicago and in other dioceses with approval of the priest or deacon that will marry you. Most dioceses accept our PreCana sessions as marriage preparation, but you must check to be sure prior to taking part.

Cana is the place where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding, so we use the term PreCana for marriage preparation.

I had to postpone my wedding. Will my PreCana expire or should I wait?

PreCana does not expire. Many couples have postponed their weddings. PreCana has been an opportunity to still move forward in preparing for their wedding. If you are unsure, ask the priest overseeing your marriage preparation.

Where does PreCana take place?

Virtual PreCana is now available on Zoom via the Archdiocese of Chicago. In addition, the Archdiocese of Chicago has 15 locations throughout the archdiocese (mostly parishes) that host marriage preparation classes. See our English and Spanish registration pages for information on the various class dates and options.

When does this take place?

Virtual PreCana sessions are offered as one six-hour session or two three-hour sessions. Couples can choose between weekend and weekday evening options. PreCana sessions that take place in-person occur on most Saturdays at a variety of locations throughout the year. As of May 2020, all in-person sessions have been cancelled due to COVID-19.

What does the registration fee include?

The fee for in-person sessions pays for the cost of the class, continental breakfast, lunch, handouts, workbooks, resources and site rental.

The online class fee covers the cost of hosting the videos, worksheets, downloadable resources and eBooks, as well as the premarital Catholic Couple Checkup, and access to the videos and material for one year.

What if I can’t attend on Saturdays?

All of the in-person PreCana sessions are on Saturdays.

Virtual PreCana is offered as one, six-hour session on Saturdays or as two, three-hour sessions, on select Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Is there a dress code?

It's an informal class, please dress casually.

How long does the class last?

In-person PreCana sessions begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Please plan to arrive early for registration. The online class takes about eight hours to view the videos, take the premarital questionnaire, reflection questions, fill out the worksheets and share them with each other.

Virtual PreCana sessions are offered as one six-hour session or two three-hour sessions. Couples can choose between weekend and weekday evening options.

Is lunch provided for in-person sessions? 

Yes, boxed lunches are provided. Dietary restrictions are requested on the registration. Couples are also welcome to bring their own lunch or go out for lunch. There is a one hour lunch break.

When should we attend PreCana?

We recommend attending PreCana four to six months before your wedding, but no more than 12 months in advance. It is more beneficial if taken earlier in the engagement process.

Are children or relatives allowed to attend?

No, PreCana classes are designed only for engaged couples.

Do we have to be there for the entire day?

Yes, you receive your proof of attendance at the end of the day. 

My future spouse cannot attend the session, is that ok?

PreCana is an interactive day that requires participation and discussion amongst couples. Both members of the engaged party must attend the class. If one person cannot attend the session, you can take advantage of live Virtual PreCana classes via the Zoom platform. If you are not able to make any of the dates available, you can also use the online PreCana option, here.  

We live in Chicago but will be married outside the area. What do we do?

First, speak to the priest or deacon that will marry you. Most dioceses accept our PreCana sessions as marriage preparation, but you must check to be sure. After completion, we can send an official document stating that you attended a PreCana session directly to your priest or deacon.

Who can attend PreCana?

All couples, regardless of religion or location, who are planning to marry are welcome to attend our marriage preparation classes.

What if one of us is not Catholic? Should we both attend?

The program is designed for both the bride and groom, regardless of your religious traditions. Both are expected to participate.

What is the best way to register?

You may register online (English | Spanish) or call us at 312.534.8351 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to register by phone.

My fiancé and I can no longer attend the PreCana session we signed up for. What is the refund policy?

We certainly understand that outside circumstances may cause you to change the date of your PreCana session. Know that we welcome you to register for a different session – you can reschedule for free. If you would like to completely cancel, please do so with the following refund policy in mind. This policy allows the Archdiocese of Chicago to cover incurred costs and ensure that the Family and Marriage Ministry team can provide you with the best experience possible.

Please note that the following applies to all PreCana sessions on or after June 13, 2020.

• When cancelled within 24 hours of registration, there is a $25 cancellation fee.
• When cancelled at least seven business days prior to the session, there is a $50 cancellation fee.
• When cancelled six business days or less prior to the session, unfortunately there is no refund available.

As always, the PreCana certificate never expires. Most dioceses accept our PreCana sessions as marriage preparation, but you must check to be sure. After completion, we can send an official document stating that you attended a PreCana session directly to your priest or deacon.

For sessions prior to June 13, 2020, please click here for the refund policy.

I had to postpone my wedding. Will my PreCana expire or should I wait?

PreCana does not expire. Know that wedding postponements occur from time to time for a number of reasons. PreCana is an opportunity to still move forward in preparing for your wedding. If you are unsure, ask the priest overseeing your marriage preparation.

How is virtual PreCana different from online PreCana?

Virtual PreCana offers the same program that we offer on-site. Instead of watching videos, couples still have live interaction with the married couple who leads the retreat. They can ask questions in real time and also hear from other engaged couples.

My priest has questions about the virtual PreCana. What should I tell him?

Questions about the virtual PreCana retreat are welcome and can be directed to [email protected].

What happens if I have issues connecting to the Zoom call?

The facilitator couple and an additional support person are available throughout the retreat to help with connectivity concerns. Couples are also able to reschedule their PreCana retreat if needed.

How can I get a hard copy of the PreCana workbook?

Couples can request a hard copy of the A Marriage in the Lord workbook and the Prayer Book for Engaged Couples on their evaluation.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) consists of the natural, healthy morally acceptable methods of family planning that follow Catholic teaching to help couples space, achieve or avoid pregnancy. These methods use the daily observation of signs and symptoms that reflect the hormonal changes within a woman’s menstrual cycle. Couples can learn how to interpret these to recognize the fertile and infertile phases of the cycle in order to achieve or avoid a pregnancy. This knowledge can be applied to regular or irregular cycles. NFP can be used during a woman’s entire fertile years, even during periods of breastfeeding and pre-menopause.

NFP calls for mutual responsibility in family planning by both the husband and the wife and allows married couples to live their sexual relationship within natural law as well as within the moral and religious teaching of the Catholic Church. When couples learn about NFP from an instructor (in person or online), they are taught the scientific principles of the natural methods and many come to appreciate the wonderful gift of their fertility and their sexuality.

Modern NFP methods are not the same as “calendar rhythm”, which was based on a numerical estimate of when ovulation will occur. Natural Family Planning methods are scientifically-supported natural methods that allow couples to manage their fertility. According to the USCCB site, motivated and instructed couples can achieve up to a 99 percent effectiveness rate in postponing pregnancy.

Natural Family Planning Sheet (PDF)

Natural Family Planning Methods

NFP methods are completely safe and natural and do not involve the use of any medications, drugs or devices. NFP has no harmful side effects. There are three methods of NFP taught in the Archdiocese of Chicago that couples can choose from: The Billings Ovulation Method, the Sympto-Thermal Method and the Creighton Model System.

The Billings Ovulation Method
The Billings Ovulation Method is a simple but highly effective way to precisely identify the days of fertility and infertility during a menstrual cycle of any length and in any reproductive situation. Through daily observations and charting of the recognizable signs, the couple is able to reliably identify the times when they are fertile and infertile. The Billings Ovulation Method was developed by two medical doctors, and has been the subject of the most comprehensive scientific research of any method of regulating births. It has been used throughout the world for more than 50 years as an effective and scientific way to achieve, postpone or avoid a pregnancy. Please click here for more information on this method.

The Sympto-Thermal Method
The Sympto-Thermal Method is the oldest effective natural method still used in the United States. It involves observing and charting physical changes. These signs provide a cross-check by which couples can reliably determine the woman's fertile and infertile times. They can then use this information to increase or limit the size of their family. Please click here for more information on this method.

The Creighton Model System
The Creighton Model System relies on the standardized observation and charting of biological markers that help a woman understand her health and fertility. In addition to identifying when the couple is fertile and infertile, the biomarkers also help to identify abnormalities in a woman’s health. If there are any specific problems they can be addressed using NaPro Technology, the new health science that works cooperatively with a woman's cycle. Please click here for more information on this method.

Please click here to visit the Liturgy Training Publication for marriage resources.