Expanding the mission:
Serving Hispanic couples with greater care, presence and leadership
“We’re building relationships, we’re strengthening ministry partnerships,” she said, “and we’re making sure that Hispanic couples feel seen, supported, and invited into meaningful conversations about their marriage. That’s where real impact happens.”
“We believe strong marriages start with better conversations – and that has to be true for every couple, in every culture. This isn’t a side initiative for us. This is central to where FOCCUS® is going. We are investing in the future of marriage ministry, and bringing in Deacon José is a clear step in that direction.”
For many years, Deacon José Lara Rodriguez has served his Catholic parish and the Hispanic community in Omaha, Nebraska – as a family counselor, coordinator of marriage preparation, FOCCUS® facilitator, Hispanic radio show host and local merchant.
Now, the native of Guanajuato, Mexico, will share his heart for service with couples nationwide and beyond as Hispanic Program Manager for FOCCUS® Marriage Ministries.
Deacon José joined the FOCCUS® staff April 20 and will help develop and enhance marriage preparation and enrichment products specifically designed for Hispanic couples, provide customer service and training for Hispanic customers, and share his insights into the needs of the Hispanic community.
“This is a really important step for us,” said Sheila Simpson, FOCCUS® executive director. “The Hispanic community is not on the edges of the Church – it’s at the heart of it.”
“And for us at FOCCUS®, that means we have a responsibility to show up well, to listen and to serve couples in a way that truly connects with their lives, their culture and their faith. Deacon José helps us do that in a much more intentional way.”
Deacon José came to the United States in 1992, working various jobs until opening a retail business in the heart of Omaha’s Hispanic community. As a member of Assumption-Guadalupe Parish, he was asked to help with family and couple counseling, including marriage preparation, which led 10 years ago to his becoming a trained FOCCUS® facilitator along with his wife, Consepcion Mayorga. He was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Omaha in 2025.
“What stood out to me right away about Deacon José is his heart for couples,” Simpson said. “He understands both the beauty and the challenges that Hispanic couples experience, and he meets people with a lot of respect and care.”
For example, Hispanic couples, especially the men, often find it difficult to talk about their problems or about themselves, Deacon José said. As a FOCCUS® facilitator he has seen the impact that FOCCUS® (inventories) have in overcoming that barrier and helping couples communicate and open their hearts to each other, he said.
A Calling and a Mission
Building on his previous experience, Deacon José sees his new position as more than a job – he sees it as a calling and a mission. “I’ve always liked working with couples, so when I heard about this position I went to my priest and spiritual director, and he encouraged me and said, ‘you can do this, you’ve been waiting for this.’”
Now, as a staff member, Deacon José hopes to spread to the broader Hispanic community the impact FOCCUS® can have for building strong marriages. “My goal is to attract people to the program,” he said. “What’s very important for us is to help people’s lives, especially their marriages. Our community needs this help, so I’m there for them.”
That commitment, care and leadership is exactly what FOCCUS® sought in order to build its connection with the Hispanic community, Simpson said.