Ethnographic evaluation: Pre-cana program in selected parishes of Manila 1995-1996, using CIPP model

• Main Author: Honrada, Victoria L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1996
• Subjects: Marriage service; Church work with married people; Wedding sermons; Peer counseling in the church; Pastoral counseling; Religious Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/1174
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study evaluates the Pre-Cana program in selected parishes of the ecclesiastical District of Manila from 1995 to 1996.Stufflebeam's Context-Input-Process-Product (CIPP) model was used. The context evaluation referred to (1) the objectives of the respondent parishes for the Pre-Cana program, (2) the directives of the Church, (3) the defined objectives of the Simbahayan Commission-Manila Archdiocese on Marriage and Family Life Ministry, and (4) the expectations that engaged couples had in participating in the parish marriage preparation.The respondents in the study included 18 program director priests, 31 Pre-Cana seminar facilitators, 109 individual participants engaged in Pre-Cana seminar, a Canon Lawyer, and a family woman. The descriptive-evaluative method of research was employed. It used ethnography in gathering data. The research was largely field-based. Participative observation, interviews, and analysis of extant documents available generated more data.The results showed that the parish Pre-Cana objectives were perceived as a program that: (1) assisted engaged couples and (2) made them aware of the essential teachings of the Church on the nature, purpose, and responsibilities of married and family life. According to the authorities consulted, however, the parish objectives reflected only to a limited extent the Church objectives for marriage preparation. The profile of the engaged couples showed that the participants were generally in their marrying age and were gainfully employed. They had adequate tertiary education and earlier received some instruction in religion and marriage catechesis. It was identified that they actively participated in Church sacraments and had a strong sense of belonging to the Church.The profile of the facilitators showed that not many parishes had lay facilitators in the team. There was a big gap seen in the preparation received between the priests and lay facilitators. The more progressive parishes had adequate materials and resources, the more systematic and effective was the implementation of the program.The services offered by the parish program for the engaged couples were, primarily, the canonical interviews, Pre-Cana seminar, the celebrations of the sacraments, and counseling. The most common format was the private session between the priest and the couple.The participants viewed the parish Pre-Cana they received was helpful to them. The facilitators perceived the program to be a valuable experience. The facilitators were also favorably evaluated on the relevance of the presentations and on their ability to answer questions raised during the Pre-Cana seminar. Generally, the participants expressed satisfaction in the contribution of the facilitators in the Pre-Cana program received in the parish.