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The 2025–2026 academic year marked the launch of a brand-new initiative in Lyon: the young couples program.
Tailored to meet the realities of today’s couples, whether they’re living together, newly engaged, or have been together for 2–3 years, this unique program has offered many couples a special space for sharing, rejuvenation, and disconnecting together.
The goal was to enable couples in the same age group to come together and address real, substantive issues they might face in their daily lives.
The Heart of the Journey: the Fraternity
Throughout the year, participants explored themes essential to married life. The program included teaching sessions, but above all, moments of deep sharing within small groups, and sometimes one-on-one.
There were two fellowship groups of five couples each, and they quickly became true havens of trust and kindness, where everyone could share both their joys and their challenges.
Testimonial: “An adventure that feels so good”
To understand the impact of this first edition, here is the testimony of Angélique and Martial, newly engaged and deeply moved by the experience:
« When we started this program, we were already living together. While we had chosen to move in together for logistical and financial reasons, that decision was above all part of our clear vision for our future: marriage and family life. For us, the question of commitment had been at the heart of our discussions since the beginning of our relationship—it was only a matter of time. Today, we’ve invested in a home together and are very settled.
At this stage in our lives, even though we weren’t officially engaged yet, the program came at just the right time. Through sharing in community, we realized that we weren’t the only ones facing certain complex situations, particularly regarding communication and decision-making. This journey allowed us to revisit our history, put our differences into words to better understand each other, and, ultimately, move forward together more effectively. In fact, it was during this year, right in the middle of the program, that we took the plunge and got engaged! »
A First Experience of Fraternity as a Couple
As regular participants in the programs offered by the Chemin Neuf Community for 18- to 30-year-olds (JCN)—the place where they met and began dating—the couple highlights the novelty of this approach:
« At JCN, we were used to fraternities, but we were always kept separate to preserve everyone’s freedom of speech. It was an excellent decision that deepened our desire to be together while living at our own pace. But joining the same fraternity this year with CANA has been a unique and extremely enriching experience. It’s a wonderful transition before our next step: our first CANA “Toward Marriage” week, which will take place August 2–8 at the Abbaye des Dombes!»
Onward to the next chapter!
This first edition in Lyon concludes on a very positive note. It proved that there is a real demand among young couples for spaces where they can come together and share their experiences. The CANA Young Couples adventure has only just begun!