Filipino Wedding Glossary › Pre-Cana
Pre-Cana
Pronunciation: pree-KAH-nah
Origin: Filipino Catholic; named for the wedding at Cana (John 2), the Church marriage-preparation seminar
A Catholic marriage-preparation seminar Filipino couples complete before a church wedding, covering the sacrament, communication, family, and finances.
Pre-Cana is the marriage-preparation seminar the Catholic Church asks couples to complete before a church wedding in the Philippines. The name refers to the wedding at Cana, where the Gospel of John places Jesus's first miracle.
Parishes and dioceses run it, so the format varies: often a single day, sometimes a weekend or several evening sessions. Talks usually cover the sacrament of marriage, communication, family planning within Church teaching, finances, and in-law relationships. Some dioceses also include a canonical interview or a Marriage Encounter style retreat.
On completion the parish issues a certificate, one of the documents needed to book the church wedding. Pre-Cana is a Church requirement and is separate from the civil marriage-license requirements handled at the local civil registrar.