RVC Pre-Cana experience...

I've seen a bunch of pre-cana posts lately and i thought i'd share my experience since alot of girls can use the RVC diocese pre-cana program.

my FH and i just finished our 2 Sunday - 7 hour pre-cana program this sunday.

i were very apprehensive to go since we are not really practicing catholics (we are the x-mas/easter catholics). we went expecting to be preached to, but it was just the opposite.

the first day consisted mostly of a conflict resolution lecture with a very personable, interesting doctor. we learned things to help not only our relationship, but also our inter-personal dealings in everyday life, whether it be dealing with family, co-workers or strangers.

we finished the 1st with our FOCCUS results. while the questions were not always applicable, and we did agree on most things, the questionnaire just gave us some more ways to talk about some issues that we hadn't ironed out completely. we had pretty much spoken about everything, but this gave us the opportunity to spend time bring up concrete issues and how we will deal with them.

the 2nd day started with Natural Family Planning. (i.e. no hormonal birth control) it was not shoved down our thoats, the speaker just asked that we watched the video and listened with an open mind, that is all.

we ended day 2 with a speech from a priest and a mass. it was lovely, even for us who don't often attend church. (he even threw in a Mets reference LETS GO METS!!) it was completely 'couple' focused. and it made me excited to be married in the church (which i was NOT at all excited for). He ended with a 'hand prayer' where we took turns holder each others hand, which the priest said things like 'these are the hands that will wipe away your tears, these are the hands that will hold your delicate newborn children'...

i guess you get the drift. i'm sure some people thought it was completely painful. but for us, it was a great, even uplifting experience and i'm glad we had to do it.

i think the RVC diocese has a very helpful, worthwhile program put together.