Press Releases10 Feb 09

Marriage Week NI Launched by Bishop of Down & Dromore

Bishop of Down & Dromore Praises Value of Marriage at launch of Marriage Week N.I. at Stormont

The Rt Revd Harold Miller, Bishop of Down & Dromore, yesterday (9 February 2009) helped launch Marriage Week N.I. at a reception at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, when he made presentations to couples who have enjoyed long and happy marriages and spoke on a church perspective on marriage. The event – fittingly organised in the same week as St Valentine’s Day – was hosted by MLAs Pat Ramsay and Jeffrey Donaldson, MP. Organisations including Care for the Family, the Salvation Army, Christian Guidelines, Family Spectrum, CARE and the Association of Christian Counsellors were brought together by the Evangelical Alliance in order to promote the Marriage Week initiative which runs from Monday 9th to Sunday 15th February in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, England and several other European countries.

Organisers explained that Marriage Week is an opportunity to celebrate marriage, promote its benefits to individuals, society and children, and to encourage those who are married to invest in their relationships and to promote healthy, durable relationships between married couples and their families. It is also an ideal time to think about supporting those in our churches and local communities who, at whatever stage in their married lives, are on this journey together.

Speaking at the Stormont launch, Bishop Miller said, 'It is wonderful to see Marriage Week launched in Northern Ireland as in other countries. We should remember the value of marriage as one of the fundamental elements in our society.' He also congratulated two couples in particular: Mr Joe and Mrs Lila MacArthur from Magheralin who are set to celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary this year (married in St Matthew’s Church of Ireland, Scarva in 1941) and Mr William and Mrs Mary Coulter from Enniskillen who are celebrating 66 years of marriage.

Further information on Marriage week can be found on http://www.nationalmarriageweekni.co.uk or by telephoning +44 (0) 28 9029 2266

ENDS