July 11, 2025

Pre-Cana Retreats, 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 Conference, 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 through Catalyst Catholic in Mt. St. Francis.

The upcoming Pre-Cana retreats are as follows:

  • Sept. 20 and 21 at the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center, 1400 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis, $200 per couple. More information and registration available at tinyurl.com/IndyPre-Cana.
  • Feb. 7, 2026, at Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality, 101 St. Anthony Dr., in Mt. St. Francis, $125 per couple, register by Jan. 29, 2026, at 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 $330 per couple, which includes program materials, meals, snacks and two rooms for two nights.

The next retreat will take place on Sept. 26-28.

Registration is available at 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 available in English and Spanish. It involves an online pre-seminar course ($99 per couple, English only) and a three-day seminar ($300 per couple in English, $399 in Spanish) spanning a weekend and the following Saturday. Meals and materials are included. Scholarships are available for those with financial difficulty.

There are two upcoming seminars in English:

  • Aug. 2, 3 and 16 at Holy Spirit Parish at Geist, 10350 Glaser Way, in Fishers, Ind. (Diocese of Lafayette).
  • Oct. 4, 5 and 18 at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, 10655 Haverstick Road, in Carmel, Ind. (Diocese of Lafayette).

There are three upcoming seminars in Spanish:

  • Sept. 13, 14 and 20 at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 9900 E. 191st St., in Noblesville, Ind. (Diocese of Lafayette).
  • Oct. 4, 5 and 18 at St. Philip Neri Parish, 550 N. Rural St., in Indianapolis.
  • Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and 14, 2026, at St. Philip Neri Parish.

To register for the English seminars, go to oicmarriage.org/seminar-info. To register for the Spanish seminars, go to es.oicmarriage.org/seminar-info.

For more information, call 317-600-5629, e-mail info@OICIndy.com or go to oicmarriage.org (es.oicmarriage.org in Spanish).

Parish-led marriage preparation retreats in Spanish are available throughout the archdiocese. For a current list, go to tinyurl.com/PrematrimonialesEnEspanol.

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 $124.95.

For more information or to register, go to tinyurl.com/Pre-CanaOnline. †

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