The Franciscan Wedding Church

Cana is a Galilean town five miles northeast of Nazareth. The Church of the Wedding at Cana is now cared for by the Franciscans as many now are in the Holy Land.

The lower church has a chapel and a small museum with artifacts from the site, including a winepress, a plastered cistern and vessels of various dates. 

A replica of the stone jar (see photo below) referred to in the miracle is also found at the site - they were not small pottery jars as we have previously thought!

The wedding of Cana is the site of Jesus' first miracle or turning water into wine.  Mary, Jesus and the disciples attended a wedding at Cana.  Long before the celebrations were to have finished, there was no more wine to be had.  Mary drew Jesus attention to this, though he stated that his time had not yet come, he responded to the promptings of his mother and the water that the servants had collected in the stone jars was turned into wine. 

We celebrated Mass in the upper part of the Church, which was a particularly special one for the couples on pilgrimage with us.  Father Noel renewed the vows of the couples attending the pilgrimage. 

Those who have committed themselves to religious life were also recognised for their commitment to living their vocation.  

Have you yourself considered Religious life?  Have you ever taken the time to thank your priest, religious brother or sister for their dedication?