January 10, 2003

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

Inner Peace Retreat welcomes Sister Kathleen Pruitt, CSJP

        The annual Inner Peace Retreat will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2003 at St.
Philip Neri parish (SE Division and 16th Street) in Portland. The retreat will run from
9:30 am until 2:30 pm. Sister Kathleen Pruitt will facilitate the retreat. The theme for
the retreat is "Peacemaking and Non Violence, A Challenge in this Moment". The
Archdiocese of Portland Office of Justice and Peace sponsors the annual Inner Peace
Retreat, and is hosted this year by the Peace and Justice Commission of St. Philip Neri
parish.

        Sister Kathleen Pruitt is a member of the Western Province of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph of Peace. She has been active in religious, ecumenical, educational, civic and
political communities in the Northwest since the mid 1960's. Sister Kathleen is
committed to the charism of her congregation "...to pursue peace through justice in
family life, in the church, and in the world."

        Sister Kathleen is a graduate of Seattle University with a Masters Degree in
History preceded by a Bachelors Degree in Social Studies and Education. She earned
a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Washington with a dual
concentration in community organization and counseling.

        Sister Kathleen recently completed a six-year term as Province Leader of the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Western Province. As Province Leader, she served on
the PeaceHealth Corporate Board, the St. Joseph Hospital, Bellingham Governing
Board. Sister Kathleen is Past President of the National Leadership Conference of
Women Religious. She served nine years (1990-99) as Vice President of Pax Christi
International. She co-founded and for eleven years co-directed Wilderness Retreats, a
spiritual retreat program. She served two years (1998-2000) on the National Advisory
Council to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Sister Kathleen has taught
elementary and secondary school, and for five years was coordinator of the Seattle-
King County Division of Human Service Drug Abuse Program.

        Believing in the wisdom that eastern spirituality has to bring to western
spirituality, Kathleen is a student of Zen. Body, mind, spirit are not separate 'parts' of
who we are. Recognizing the importance of this total integration, Kathleen completed
massage training at the Brenneke School of Massage. She is a licensed Massage
Practitioner in the State of Washington.

        The cost for the Inner Peace Retreat is $5.00, and includes a luncheon of
vegetarian soup and homemade bread. Please call the Office of Justice and Peace
(503-233-8361) in advance to assist in planning for the lunch and space requirements.

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