Fall Marriage Supplement
Pre-Cana Retreat, Tobit Weekend and One in Christ program prepare engaged couples for marriage
Criterion staff report
Three marriage preparation programs offered in the archdiocese—the
Pre-Cana Retreat, Tobit Weekend and One in Christ—help prepare engaged couples for the sacrament of marriage as well as the challenges of married life.
Early registration is recommended for all programs, as each fills up quickly.
Pre-Cana Retreats cover skills for marriage, a catechesis on the sacrament of marriage and an introduction to the science and morals behind natural family planning. They are offered in English in Indianapolis and New Albany, and in Spanish in Columbus. The upcoming Pre-Cana Retreats are as follows:
Indianapolis: Two-day retreats are from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. each day and cost $200 per couple. There is one upcoming retreat on Sept. 23-24 at the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center, 1400 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis. For more information or to register, go to www.archindy.org/precana.
Columbus: There are no Pre-Cana Retreats currently scheduled in Columbus. For more information, call St. Bartholomew Parish at 812-379-9353 and dial ext. 1235 for Maria Nieto or email mnieto@stbparish.net.
New Albany: Workshops are held from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Mount St. Francis Center for Spirituality, 101 St. Anthony Dr., in Mt. St. Francis, and cost $125 per couple. The next retreats will take place on Oct. 14 and on Feb. 3, 2024. For more information, call 812-923-8355 or go to catalystcatholic.org/precana.
Tobit Weekend retreats take place at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House, 5353 E. 56th St., in Indianapolis, and are offered in English. The cost is $298, which includes program materials, meals, snacks and two rooms for two nights. The next retreat will take place on Sept. 15-17. To register, go to www.archindy.org/fatima/calendar/tobit.html. For registration questions, contact Lisa Coons at lcoons@archindy.org or 317-545-7681. For more information about the program and its contents, contact Jennifer Burger at jburger@archindy.org or 317-545-7681, ext. 106.
One in Christ marriage preparation, which includes a medical panel to address questions on reproduction and fertility, is a three-day program spanning a weekend and the following Saturday. The Saturdays are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and the Sunday is 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and the third day is 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The cost is $300 per couple, which covers meals and materials.
There is one upcoming One in Christ opportunity:
—Oct. 7, 8 and 21 at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, 10655 Haverstick Road, in Carmel, Ind. (Lafayette Diocese)
To register or for more information, call 317-600-5629,
e-mail Info@OICmarriage.org or go to www.OICmarriage.org.
Live retreats offer an invaluable experience for engaged couples and are the expected formation option.
However, for couples who experience significant difficulties attending a live retreat, including but not limited to preparing for marriage while out of state or country, being deployed in the armed forces or inflexible shift work at a hospital or factory, the online and self-paced Joy-Filled Marriage course ensures that no one misses out on valuable and comprehensive marriage formation. It is available in English and Spanish, and the cost is $105.
For more information or to register, go to lnkiy.in/MarrPrepFall2023. †
See more from our Fall Marriage Supplement