Step 2

The Marriage Preparation Program

Six to nine months before your wedding: Like other sacraments you may have already received, the Church requires some special preparation by the couple to receive the sacrament of marriage. You are asked to spend some significant time reflecting on your relationship, your commitment to one another, and God's presence in your lives.

Marriage preparation ("Pre-Cana") that can take place in any parish or diocese that has an established program fulfills the requirements for marriage preparation. The University of Notre Dame offers a marriage preparation program described below. Most parishes require that you contact them at least six months before the wedding date; if you choose to do your preparation at the University of Notre Dame, the same principle applies. However, due to the large demand, the earlier you contact us the better.

Marriage Preparation at the University of Notre Dame

Our program is open to engaged couples who are students, alumnus/a, staff, or faculty of Notre Dame, St. Mary's, or Holy Cross College, or who are parishioners at Sacred Heart Parish on the campus of Notre Dame.

Marriage preparation at Notre Dame provides an opportunity for reflection and discernment on the sacramental and vocational nature of the life-long commitment of marriage. This program fulfills the standard marriage preparation requirement of dioceses in the United States. The campus ministry staff also makes every attempt to communicate with presiders and parishes, where appropriate, to enable couples to experience their preparation as an ongoing process and partnership with the larger church community.

Contact

For more information, please call John and Sylvia Dillon or Darrell Paulsen at (574) 631-7800.