Family Life Bureau

History of the Family Life Bureau

In 1976, Archbishop Patrick James Skinner, Archbishop of St. John's, established the Family Life Bureau with the objective "to strengthen the quality of family living in the Archdiocese... in keeping with the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church."

The Bureau originally had five categories to describe the types of programs in which it was involved. The five categories were:

• Marriage Preparation
• Counselling
• Prenatal Program for Teens
• Marriage Encounter
• Outreach

 Executive Directors

• Mr. Kevin Breen, Executive Director, 1976-1978
• Mr. Tom Mills, Executive Director, 1978-1996
• Sr. Loretta Walsh RSM, Director, 2000-Present

Original Board of Directors

The Original Board of Directors (1976):

• Monsignor David Morrissey
• Dr. Louis Lawton
• Dr. Robert Walley
• Dr. Richard Cooper
• Mrs. Jerome Hogan
• Sister Margaret Mary Gosse
• Rev. Kevin J. Molloy
• John and Jennifer Scott
• Michael and Margaret Jackman
• Mary Noonan
• Cathy Cahill
• Monsignor Dermot O'Keefe

Original Mission Statement of the Family Life Bureau

"The Family Life Bureau, in keeping with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, and within the framework of the Archdiocese of St. John's, is committed to the enrichment of all aspects of family life ... with compassion and concern the Family Life Bureau responds to the needs of all people to enable them to discover their strengths."

Current Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee was re-established in the fall of 2006 by Sr. Loretta Walsh, the Director of the FLB. The 2010 membership is composed of:

• Sister Loretta Walsh, RSM
• Msgr. Francis Puddister
• Fr. John Costello ( 2013)
• Selena Delahunty
• Bon Fagan, (Chair)
• Linda Holden (2012)
• Fr. Charlie Kelly
• Pauline Lake ( Jan. - March)
• Robert O’Neill
• Madonna O’Shea
• Catherine Ryan
• Gerri Stapleton
• Harold Stapleton