"FOCCUS is an internationally used inventory designed to provide engaged couples and those working with them a PERSONALIZED PROFILE of what is needed in their marriage preparation process."

Preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage

Preparing couples for marriage is a gradual task involving many instruments of preparation.  It is our concern that we help couples begin the marriage process by reintroducing them to each other in a manner that sets them up for a life long commitment. One such instrument of marriage preparation at St. John’s is the FOCCUS ministry.

FOCCUS is widely used as the essential "first step" which provides couples a look at their strengths and needs and readies them to move into additional marriage education programs, skill trainings and work with mentor couples.

FOCCUS was designed for couples preparing for marriage or seriously considering marriage. It provides them with a personalized profile of their relationship, its strengths and challenges. Overwhelmingly couples give this statement as their top response to FOCCUS, "It helped us to talk about what we didn't know we needed to talk about."

Initial Step

Once engaged couples come to St. John’s asking to be married, Father John will then initiate FOCCUS as a self-diagnostic inventory that is designed to help engaged couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship. After the initial inventory is finished a FOCCUS Mentor Couple will be assigned to them. This is both a starting place for couple discussion and a map of what issues need time and attention, affirmation or problem solving.

The FOCCUS Ministry helps the engaged couples to understand the above concept by:

• Asking 156 basic questions plus additional questions for remarried, interfaith and/or cohabiting couples.
• Reaffirming the couples that it is NOT a test but the source of the FOCCUS REPORT which shows patterns of strengths and challenges in 19 categories for couples to use independently with a FOCCUS Mentor Couple or as part of other preparation processes.
• Being user friendly for diverse populations: five editions in ten languages, with two options for scoring, a broad range of facilitator training options and supporting materials, suitable for administration to individual couples or groups of couples.

Can you explain why FOCCUS works so well?

FOCCUS is very strong on "Family of Origin" questions and issues. Every category of FOCCUS calls for the couple to examine what each partner brings from his/her family, culture or environment regarding money, sex, communication, roles, etc. that they are likely to repeat or react against in the new marriage. This emphasis allows a great diversity of cultural patterns and messages to emerge. It tailors the inventory not just to the couple but also to their culture(s).

FOCCUS was also designed for those professionals or trained lay persons who help prepare couples for marriage. It gives them the unique profile of a couple so that the preparation work can reinforce the strengths in the relationship and concentrate discussion or problem solving on the particular challenges that the couple may face. It also involves the engaged couple actively in the marriage preparation process rather than have them as passive recipients of a training or education process.

What are FOCCUS mentor couples?

FOCCUS mentor couples are facilitators of discussion with engaged couples that enables effective couple discussion and problem solving and helps the engaged couple examine relationship categories and patterns.

FOCCUS mentor couples are married couples from the parish who have a desire to work with engaged couples helping them get ready for married life.

Why mentor couples?

The secular world holds divorce as common place.  With the rising number of divorces in our culture it has become increasingly urgent to support engaged couples before marriage and tutor them about the holiness of matrimony. Assigning mentor couples, with various years of marriage, to engaged couples has an impact that fosters longevity in a marriage.

How does one become a mentor couple for FOCCUS?

Do you have a desire to see engaged couples start their marriage with a healthy relationship? Are you interested in being a part of helping those couples begin a marriage that is strong in commitment? Do you believe that the sacrament of marriage is a gift from God and engaged couples need to be properly prepared for marriage in order to humbly receive the gift from God? If you said yes to any of the questions above, then the first step is to call Kevin at 387-6928.

After the initial call Kevin Kroeber will set up a training time with you. Upon which, as a mentor couple of FOCCUS, you will receive the FOCCUS Facilitator Notebook that includes the Facilitator's Manual, reusable copies of the FOCCUS Inventories, and a copy of Questions by Categories for facilitators, a sample of FOCCUS for the Future and a supply of answer sheets.

This unique program is based upon married couples volunteering their time and St. John’s is always looking for FOCCUS mentor couples.  Your help has inspired many engaged couples to become stronger in their commitment and love for and with each other. As mentor couples you help weave the fabric that bind the marriage together.