When Sheila Simpson went for a walk with her dogs one June weekend, she didn’t expect it to change her life — and the future of the ministry she leads. Halfway through, she suddenly began sobbing uncontrollably. The only thought on her mind was St. Bridget of Sweden.
“I’ve known for eight years that St. Bridget is my 21st great-grandmother,” Sheila recalled. “But that day, she hit me deeply. We walked 10 miles, and I still couldn’t stop crying.”
That moment sparked intense research into the remarkable life of St. Bridget. A 14th-century wife, mother and religious founder, Bridget was known for her spiritual writings and mystical visions. She and her husband, Ulf, had eight children — one of whom, Catherine, also became a saint. After Ulf’s death, Bridget founded the Bridgettine Order and became a trusted adviser to popes and kings.
Sheila, who leads “Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study” (FOCCUS), a marriage preparation ministry, found Bridget’s story deeply resonant. “St. Bridget lived both sides of marriage — the joy of family life and the sorrow of loss — and through it all, she remained grounded in prayer and purpose,” she said. “That’s the kind of witness we want to offer to couples today.”
After 40 years of steady maintenance, Sheila saw an opportunity to breathe new life into FOCCUS by updating its resources to meet the needs of modern couples. Fueled by her personal connection to St. Bridget, the ministry embraced her as its new patron saint.
With the blessing of Father Michael Grewe, the ministry director of FOCCUS, the team commissioned an icon of St. Bridget and her family that was unveiled this year alongside a reflection booklet to offer couples a prayerful reminder of their spiritual heritage.
“She’s not just a historical figure,” said Father Grewe. “She’s a real model for marriage, someone who understood both the sanctity of family life and the suffering that often accompanies it. Her witness is deeply relevant to modern couples.”
Deepening relationships
At the core of FOCCUS’s approach is a simple but powerful belief: Marriage is not just a personal commitment but a spiritual vocation. For decades, Father Grewe has helped guide engaged couples through the FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory, watching as they grow in understanding not just of each other but of what marriage asks of them.
“Before FOCCUS, marriage prep was mostly a checklist,” he said. “But our inventory changed that. It encouraged real conversations about real issues.”
The FOCCUS process is designed to be relational. It starts with a gentle introduction to build trust between the couple and the facilitator, before gradually moving into deeper discussions. Each session helps couples reflect on key areas of life together: conflict resolution, intimacy, spirituality, communication styles and shared values.
Some topics aren’t always easy to discuss. “Finances, fidelity, family boundaries — those can be hard conversations,” Father Grewe shared. “But they’re necessary. And FOCCUS provides a space that’s safe and faith-filled.”
As the culture has shifted over time, so have the discussions. “Forty years ago, no one was thinking about internet addiction or social media boundaries,” he said. “Now those issues are front and center. We’ve made sure the inventories speak to the world couples actually live in.”
But FOCCUS does not just center on problems. It encourages couples to dream, to plan and to pray, inviting them to see marriage not just as a contract but as a calling. “Marriage is about leading each other to heaven,” Father Grewe said. “That means love, yes — but also sacrifice, forgiveness and faith.”
He recalled couples who arrived at their first session with arms crossed, skeptical and disengaged. “But by the final session, many didn’t want it to end,” he said. “They discovered something deeper not just in each other but in their faith.”
An icon of hope and unity
The icon commissioned to celebrate the adoption of St. Bridget as patron, as well as the 40th anniversary of FOCCUS, is by Father Richard Reiser, a priest and iconographer based in Nebraska. Though not formally trained in iconography, Father Reiser approached the piece with prayerful intention.
“I don’t claim to be a strict iconographer,” he said. “But I paint with prayer, letting the Spirit guide me.”
Drawing inspiration from medieval art and the few surviving images of St. Bridget, Father Reiser created a vibrant icon featuring Bridget, her husband Ulf and their eight children, including St. Catherine of Sweden. The family is arranged in a circular composition to symbolize unity and the eternal nature of God’s love.
During the painting process, something extraordinary happened. Father Reiser had temporarily removed a relic of St. Bridget from its usual place while he worked — but then misplaced it. “I thought I’d lost it,” he recalled. “I was over 200 miles away when I reached into my pants pocket — and there it was.” The relic is now embedded in the icon’s panel, making it not only a piece of art but a vessel of grace.
For Father Reiser, the icon speaks to the sacrament itself. “Marriage is a kind of icon, an outward sign of God’s invisible love,” he said. “This image helps couples remember that what they’re living is sacred.”
A new chapter
As FOCCUS enters its fourth decade, it does so with renewed vision and spiritual momentum. The ministry remains committed to forming couples who not only stay together but grow together — in love, in faith and in holiness.
With updated resources for today’s families, a meaningful new patron in St. Bridget and a sacred image to guide the way, FOCCUS is more than a marriage tool — it’s a pastoral ministry rooted in the Church’s deepest values. At its heart, FOCCUS continues to uphold a profound truth: that marriage, when built on faith and honest communication, can be a source of sanctity and strength.
Looking ahead, the FOCCUS team hopes to expand its reach — not only serving those preparing for marriage but accompanying couples throughout their lives, from newlyweds to seasoned spouses navigating new seasons. Plans are already underway to offer retreats, translate the inventories to more than 20 languages and create digital tools for ongoing support.
For Sheila Simpson and her team, the mission is clear: to help couples recognize the sacred in the everyday, and to remind them that their union is a divine calling.
As the icon of St. Bridget and her family finds its place within FOCCUS’s ministry, it stands as a visual prayer — a reminder that marriage, like sainthood, is a journey walked in community, with grace as both the map and the destination.
“We’re not just preparing people for a day,” Sheila said. “We’re walking with them toward a lifetime — and, God willing, eternity.”
This content has been brought to you in partnership with FOCCUS Marriage Ministries.
