Gratitude and Responsibility

That’s what executive director of FOCCUS® Marriage Ministries Sheila Simpson feels toward the many customers who have contributed to the organization’s rapid growth along with her commitment to help them use FOCCUS® marriage preparation and enrichment inventories effectively to help couples build holy, happy, healthy marriages.

So, to elevate the organization’s support for its customers, Simpson offers a standing invitation.

“We’re here to serve those who serve the couples, whatever that takes. If that takes coming in to do training, if that takes doing training by Zoom on a Saturday, if that takes a phone call, or if it’s discussing an idea I’ve never thought about, we’re open to exploring all possibilities about how we can serve our customers better.”

For example, in February Simpson spent three days in the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, training more than 50 current and future facilitators involved in their parishes’ marriage ministries on how to administer FOCCUS® inventories.

With one day each for deacon couples, Spanish-speaking lay couples and English-speaking lay couples, sessions included an overview of FOCCUS®, its current and upcoming marriage preparation and enrichment inventories, and how FOCCUS® conforms to Pope Francis’ guidance concerning marriage preparation contained in his 2022 Vatican document “Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life.”

For Carla Ferrando-Bowling, the diocese’s director of the office for marriage and family life, who attended the training, it was eye-opening to learn about the new, specialized inventories for couples in various states of life, such as:

• Deacon couples
• Cohabiting couples
• Civilly married couples seeking sacramental marriage
• And more

“We were very excited to see the new materials and updated inventories,” she said. “It will help our office better operate and support the couples, since the facilitators will be able to provide the different types of inventories according to the couple’s needs. That’s a huge plus.”

And the on-site training and personal interaction helped cement her working relationship with FOCCUS®, she said.

“I feel very supported in my efforts. I feel they partner with me in the things I need to provide for my diocese,” Ferrando-Bowling said. “I know that they care about our needs, and they are there to support us. It’s very important for us to have these connections.”

“We were very grateful for the opportunity that Sheila gave us, coming from Nebraska to visit us here,” she said.

Simpson said FOCCUS® also benefitted from the in-person interaction.

“The conference was very informative for them and for FOCCUS®,” Simpson said. “We’re not just there to teach, we’re there to listen. We love getting feedback.”

Participants had many good suggestions for possible new inventories or additions to current inventories, which FOCCUS® will consider, she said, including topics such as:

• Impediments to sacramental marriage
• Infertility issues
• Special needs children
• Dealing with serious illnesses

“We’re also going to be partnering even more closely to help Green Bay roll out FOCCUS® to all of its 149 parishes,” Simpson said.

“We’re here to help our customers in any way we can – to help those who help the couples – whether it be on-site training, a Zoom meeting or a phone call,” Simpson said. “So, reach out and let’s discuss how we can help.”

Contact FOCCUS®:

Phone: 402-537-4706
Email: sjsimpson@foccusinc.com