DATE: August 15, 2001

                                                            NEWS RELEASE
                                                                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                                For More Information, Contact:
                                                                                Bud Bunce (503) 233-8373
                                                                                bbunce@archdpdx.org

MARRIAGE PREPARATION IS TOPIC OF LECTURES AND TRAINING

        The Archdiocesan Marriage and Family Life Office will sponsor two dinner-
lectures and a marriage preparation workshop. Sister Barbara Markey, Ph.D., will
present lectures in Portland and Eugene on "Preparing Cohabiting Couples for
Marriage." Sister Barbara's lecture will cover the social science evidence and consider
pastoral questions on how to approach cohabiting couples in marriage preparation.

        The lectures will be held at St. Therese Church in Portland, Thursday, September
27, and Friday, September 28 at St. Mark Church in Eugene. The time for both lectures
is 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. The cost is $15 per person, which includes the lecture, handouts
and a buffet dinner with coffee and dessert.

        Sister Barbara Markey is the Director of the Family Life Office for the Archdiocese
of Omaha. She is an international speaker and expert on marriage preparation in
church ministry. Sister Barbara serves the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as a
family life expert and consultant.

        Sister Barbara will also present a FOCCUS training workshop on Saturday,
September 29th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Grotto conference center in
Portland. This workshop is directed at pastors, pastoral associates, marriage
preparation coordinators and sponsor couples. The cost for the workshop is $50 and
includes all training materials, continental breakfast, coffee and a boxed lunch.

        For registration information contact the Archdiocesan Marriage and Family Life
Office, 2838 E. Burnside Street, Portland, OR 97214, 503-233-8319, or by email:
mlouie@archdpdx.org. Deadline for pre-registration is September 17, 2001.
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