St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Marriage Preparation Steps
1) Initial meeting with the priest
2) Natural Family Planning Classes
We strongly encourage you to take a Natural Family Planning class and see how this lifestyle can contribute to the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of your relationship. Your FOCCUS follow-up sessions will include an overview of NFP; however, you may wish to sign up for a class as soon as possible since you will need a few months of charting the Bride’s fertility cycles prior to confidently using NFP. Visit www.CCLI.org to register for Sympto-Thermal Method classes.
3) FOCCUS Inventory
Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding, and Study (FOCCUS) is an Inventory used to explore key areas of a couple’s relationship including Lifestyle and Career Expectations; Personality; Communication; Problem Solving; Religion, Spirituality and Values; Parenting; Extended Family; Sexuality; Finances; Family of Origin; Commitment; and Marital Readiness. The Inventory is not a test, and it takes most individuals about an hour to complete online. The FOCCUS is a requirement and should be completed six months prior to your wedding date.
Please fill out the enclosed FOCCUS Contact Sheet and leave it in Dr. Liz Carr’s mailbox in the Parish Office at your initial meeting with the priest or e-mail to . Dr. Lizz will arrange for you to take the Inventory online and will schedule three follow-up sessions with you. Each hour-long session with a couple is private and confidential. The Inventory is simply an instrument used to guide the follow-up sessions. Please see the FOCCUS Overview for more information.
NOTE: There is a $125 marriage preparation fee to cover the cost of the FOCCUS Inventory. Please make checks payable to St. Charles at your first FOCCUS session.
4) Engaged Encounter or Pre-Cana
An Engaged Encounter weekend or a Saturday Pre-Cana workshop is an opportunity for you to dedicate special time to developing your relationship prior to marriage. We strongly encourage participation in the Engaged Encounter weekend and ask you to consider this an important investment in your relationship. If work or family obligations prohibit participation in the weekend, then the Pre-Cana day will fulfill this requirement. If possible, please plan to complete your FOCCUS follow-up sessions prior to the Engaged Encounter or Pre-Cana as the FOCCUS will prepare you to get more out of the experience. Please visit www.la-archdiocese.org/org/familylife and www.CEEofLA.org for more information and a schedule of dates.
5) Final meeting with the priest