FOCCUS Test

Has anyone taken this test yet? We have to take it next week, and I am not really sure why. We haven't done PreCana yet (July), and I am wondering if we were suppose to do PreCana first. How personal do they get on this test? Any insight is appreciated.

Re: FOCCUS Test

I wouldn't think of it so much as a 'test' - there are no right and wrong answers. From what I understand, it is about 150 questions, I'm not sure how personal they get, but I have a feeling pretty personal. I think it's to assess whether or not you and your fiance have any major differences in thought on what the church perceives to be major issues. You definitely take it before pre-cana. I really wouldn't stress out about it, it'll be fine! Good luck.

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The focus test for me was HORRIBLE...we thought we were just going to have a meeting with the priest and he puts us in two different rooms and it was 150 questions... its more like psycological (sp?) than anything else.. then you have to meet with a couple from the parish to go over the answers.. heres what i thought was bad.. they ask salaries and what not .. very personal questions and i thought it was weird to go over this info with people who live in my area and in my case knows my family.. our answers were not quit the same and then it causes a little conflict.. but you have to keep it in .. cause who really wants to get into an argument in front of these people.. and after all that then it was precana which i have to say i thought was going to be a waste of time but it actually was fun...(oh by the way its more questions if you are different religions or your living together... and this may be horrible but i lied and said we werent living together)

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Pat and I took it, and while I was very worried about it before hand, it turned out to not be so bad. For the most part, the 'correct' answer (meaning the one the church wants to hear) is very obvious, and is usually the one I would have picked anyway.
The test itself is to see if you and your FH differ in opinion on any issues that should be discussed or resolved before marriage.
Please don't worry, because it's not a big deal!

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When we met with the priest, he separated us and asked my FH whether we were living togther, and he was honest, as was I. Yes, we are. He then asked me, 'Would you say you are living together as a husband and wife would?' I was very nervous, and I thought he meant do I cook and clean! Duh! So I said, 'Yes, I guess you could say that.' Then after I said that I realized he meant the sex issue, and I groaned to myself. argh. I wonder if I can NOT answer any questions that may offend me, like about sex. Some things, I feel, are personal. We have to meet with the priest afterwards. I wouldn't mind so much if it were a couple from the parish. I am really dreading this, as you can tell...

Re: FOCCUS Test

Just remember they cant tell you you cant get married or anything crazy like that... so just take the test and listen to the priest and it will be over before you know it.....and precana is fun...you will meet alot of new people and the topics are funny to talk about

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Bride02, I don't want to contradict you, but my church refused to marry my friend and her FH until they received counceling to get past some unresolved issues that they seemed to have (which, knowing them, I had to agree with the priest!). They didn't feel counseling was necessary, so they found a church that didn't require the FOCCUS test and got married there.

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wow.. i never heard that before... I guess every church is different....

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I don't remember anyone asking our salaries or info like that. The test was silly (unless you and your FI have never discussed anything important!) Mostly questions on communication, views on money, gambling, sex, religion, raising kids, etc. Very generic - as said above the answer the church wants to hear is usually the one you are going to pick! When we went over the test with a couple from our parish, we only discussed the answers where we put something different from one another (2 questions) or where we both put the same answer but it was different from what the church wanted to hear (the cohabitating questions!)...either way it was pretty painless as was pre-cana! No stress...good luck!

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the priest actually asked him how much money did he make and if he thought he could support me and children when the time came.. then wrote his answers doen in the file...

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Dont sweat the small stuff..like the FOCCUS test..we actually thought the test was awesome..and would recommend everyone to take the test before marriage--it brings up issues you may not have talked about in your relationshop thu sfar..and brings awareness to certain issues, the church just wants you to talk these issues out, its lnot like the wont marry you if you disagree with a bunch of questions--they will just talk them out with you. The test has a lot of financial questions, not specifics with your salaries, but things like joint checking--other issues or your relationships with your inlaws, drinking, gambling, sex--questions relating to if you want to start a family--and if you couldnt have a baby--would you consider adoption, other questions like if one of your parents were to get ill would you mind if your parents or inlaws moved in with you--these are all things that you probably have not talked about before...so they are just trying to bring awareness to issues that could cause bumps in the road later on in your marriage..and why not discuss them now--so anyhow, good luck, and dont even thing about the FOCCUS..its a positive experience.

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Boy, I guess I'm lucky because when we met with the priest (twice), he never separated us and we didn't have to take any test at all. He just asked us if we were married before, etc. Maybe because he knew my mother and me practically my whole life?! He also didn't charge us for the Papal Blessing, which I know some people paid $40 or more for. We also didn't have to get anything notarized, like my MOH had to do before she got married. I guess every priest and parish is different, which makes me laugh because isn't it all part of the SAME diocese? And I just love the difference in prices of the 'donation'. Again, we got lucky because my church only 'charges' $300 and no late fee.

The only tests we took were those little ones in the book they give you at Precana (which were kind of fun). I'm glad we didn't have to go through what some of you did, my husband would have passed out!! LOL :)

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We got a take home test. The priest told us to do it together but mark our answers separately, and then discuss our answers. We talked with him about any areas where we had concerns (for me, that was how involved his family would be in our lives - they're very controlling).

But it was a positive experience and definitely nothing to worry about unless you have serious money, communication or sexual issues. And those are much better off being discussed now.

There's a separate section of the test for couples living together. Anpther 10 questions or so relating to that.

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Thanks for all the responses. At least I know what to expect. I will let everyone know what I thought after I take the test on Tuesday night.

Re: FOCCUS Test

My FI and I took the FOCCUS Survey a couple of months ago. We have Pre-Cana in July. We thought a lot of the questions were very personal, and we never would of thought the Catholic Church would ask such things. They asked a bunch of sexual questions. Now, am I wrong, but doesn't anyone else think that this is inappropriate? As far as I knew, you're not suppose to be having sex before you're married in the Catholic Churches eyes. I don't know, but it was very, very weird.