Interfaith Pre-cana

I need some seriously Pre-cana advise. I am catholic and my FH is jewish. We are getting married by a priest and a rabbi. Our priest is not affliated with a parish so we were told we don't have to do precana - but don't I need to - to have my marriage recognized by the church and have my children baptised?
If we have to do it - who do I call? I live in NYC and am getting married on LI.
Any help is appreciated.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

Yes, to have your marriage recognized by the church, you'd have to do pre-cana. It doesn't necessarily have to be 'interfaith-specific' either.

You can go through the diocese of RVC on Long Island (or the diocese in which you live). If you call them, they have programs, etc. If you have a parish to which you belong, you could also do it through them.

Also, make sure that this priest is completing all of the paperwork so that you can have your marriage recognized by the church. There is a lot more to it than just pre cana. You have to have the freedom to marry affidavit form signed if it's an interfaith marriage. You might also have to have the bans of marriage published. Paperwork needs to be filed with and approved by the diocese fora ll interfaith marriages. (It's not terribly difficult, but just needs to be done by the priest. FH Is Lutheran - Our deacon took care of all of the paperwork with the diocese). There are also papers that everyone needs to sign to have the marriage recognized in the church, whether or not it's an interfaith marriage.

Sorry if this is stuff you already knew... just wanted to make sure your priest is doing all of the other things necessary!

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

If your priest is not affiliated with a Parish then he is probably not a valid priest who is affiliated with the RC Church-which would mean your marriage would not be recognized by the church anyway.

If this is important to you I would talk to your Parish priest asap. Pre-Cana is a definite requirement and since it is inter-faith it is even more important. Good Luck.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

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Posted by carlsbride

If your priest is not affiliated with a Parish then he is probably not a valid priest who is affiliated with the RC Church-which would mean your marriage would not be recognized by the church anyway.

If this is important to you I would talk to your Parish priest asap. Pre-Cana is a definite requirement and since it is inter-faith it is even more important. Good Luck.

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This is not necessarily true. Only diocesan priests would be affiliated with a diocese - There ARE other priest who can perform valid marriages, but are not affiliated with any parish. There are priests in different orders, such as the Franciscans or the Marianists who ARE ordained priests and CAN perform Catholic marriages, but are not affiliated with a parish.

However, it's very important to verify with this priest that he CAN perform a marriage that would be recognized by the church... especially if he is saying that you don't have to go to pre-cana... I'd talk with your current priest first to find out if he can perform marriages that are valid in the Catholic church. If not, contact your parish.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

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Posted by Kara and Todd
This is not necessarily true. Only diocesan priests would be affiliated with a diocese - There ARE other priest who can perform valid marriages, but are not affiliated with any parish. There are priests in different orders, such as the Franciscans or the Marianists who ARE ordained priests and CAN perform Catholic marriages, but are not affiliated with a parish.

However, it's very important to verify with this priest that he CAN perform a marriage that would be recognized by the church.

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Which is why i used the word 'probably' From what the OP has stated, it does not 'sound' like this priest is valid, saying that pre-cana is not required, etc.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

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Posted by carlsbride

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Posted by Kara and Todd
This is not necessarily true. Only diocesan priests would be affiliated with a diocese - There ARE other priest who can perform valid marriages, but are not affiliated with any parish. There are priests in different orders, such as the Franciscans or the Marianists who ARE ordained priests and CAN perform Catholic marriages, but are not affiliated with a parish.

However, it's very important to verify with this priest that he CAN perform a marriage that would be recognized by the church.

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Which is why i used the word 'probably' From what the OP has stated, it does not 'sound' like this priest is valid, saying that pre-cana is not required, etc.

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I'm sorry if my post came off the wrong way. I understand that you used the word probably. I was just expanding on that and explaining how it's still possible he could perform a valid marriage in the church without being affiliated with a parish.

I agree with you that it doesn't sound like he can perform a valid marriage in the church. However, it's worth asking him before going to her parish, I think.

Definitely worth checking him out.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

Oops.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

Sheri,
I had to go through inter-faith pre-cana b/c I want to be able to baptize my kids. My priest told me the only way to go about that was to attend pre-cana. The pre-cana is a step towards getting approval from the diocese to be married to a person of another religion. FM me for more details.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

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Posted by Dee606

Sheri,
I had to go through inter-faith pre-cana b/c I want to be able to baptize my kids. My priest told me the only way to go about that was to attend pre-cana. The pre-cana is a step towards getting approval from the diocese to be married to a person of another religion. FM me for more details.

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Out of curiousity, I've heard this mentioned a bunch... what is pre-cana?

--the stealth groom

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

Pre-cana is pre-marital counseling (for lack of a better word) that is required by the Roman Catholic church of all couples wishing to get married in the church.

It's basically one day or a series of days where a group of couples meets with either a priest or, most likely, a married couple in the parish and discusses some 'hot topics.' Some do this 'test' (FOCUS?) that just determines areas you and your fiance should discuss.

I've heard it's really not a huge deal, but it's required if the marriage is to be a sacrament for either the bride or the groom (or both).

Hope that makes sense.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

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Posted by Dee606

Sheri,
I had to go through inter-faith pre-cana b/c I want to be able to baptize my kids. My priest told me the only way to go about that was to attend pre-cana. The pre-cana is a step towards getting approval from the diocese to be married to a person of another religion. FM me for more details.

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Perhaps it's different based on what religion the other person is or maybe just the church, but my FH is not Catholic and we do not have to attend pre-cana that is specifically for interfaith marriages. Did you have to go to a separate one? We are just going to the regularly scheduled pre cana.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

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Posted by Kara and Todd

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Posted by Dee606

Sheri,
I had to go through inter-faith pre-cana b/c I want to be able to baptize my kids. My priest told me the only way to go about that was to attend pre-cana. The pre-cana is a step towards getting approval from the diocese to be married to a person of another religion. FM me for more details.

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Perhaps it's different based on what religion the other person is or maybe just the church, but my FH is not Catholic and we do not have to attend pre-cana that is specifically for interfaith marriages. Did you have to go to a separate one? We are just going to the regularly scheduled pre cana.

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Yes, we did an inter-faith pre-cana where all the couple attending were interfaith. Maybe your diocese doesn't require a seperate one?

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

I'm in the diocese of RVC.

I didn't think separate, interfaith pre-cana was mandatory - I thought either would do. At least, we were not told we had to go to a separate pre-cana. It's possible this is b/c FH's baptism, while not RC, is still recognized.

Hmm... I'll ask just to be sure!

Thanks.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

I'm in a similar situation. I'm Catholic and FH is Jewish. We are being married by a priest who is a friend of the family in my parish on LI. Our priest had to write a letter to the parish and we definitey had to do Pre Cana. I would double check with the church to make sure whoever told you you didn't have to wasn't mistaken.

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

You do not have to get married in a church in order to have your children babtized.
I duno who told you that but it is a complete lie

Re: Interfaith Pre-cana

i live in queens and i have the pre-cana pamphlet that my priest gave me there is a special interfaith pre-cana that you have to go to. i would definately double check with your parish that this marriage will be valid if its done outside of a church and if the priest that is doing it is authorized to do so....if you need it the number on the pamphlet is:
718 229 8001 ext 342 and there's a web site :www.pre-cana.org (thats for brooklyn/queens diocese) i hope it helps