PRESS RELEASE
22 FEBRUARY 2005
‘NEW HORIZONS – NEW OPPORTUNITIES’
THEME OF 28TH CURA ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN WATERFORD
‘New Opportunities – New Horizons’ is the theme of the 28th CURA Annual
Conference which will be held in the Tower Hotel, Waterford from Friday
25th February – Sunday 27th February 2005.
More than two hundred and sixty CURA volunteers from sixteen national
centres will be in attendance at the conference which will be officially
opened on Friday 25th February by Dr Joan Power, Director, Blood Transfusion
Services, Munster Area. The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Dr William Lee
will give a short address at the opening ceremony.
Keynote Speakers at the conference will include: The President of CURA,
Dr John Fleming, Bishop of Killala, Ms Sharon Foley, Director of the Crisis
Pregnancy Agency and Monsignor Michael Olden, Vicar General of the Diocese
of Waterford and Lismore.
In addition to the keynote addresses a series of seminars will be held on
Saturday as follows:
* Volunteering: The Professional Challenge – Nancy Nunez, Training Service
Manager, Volunteering Ireland;
* Post Abortion Counselling: The Initial Contact – Sr Anna Brady, Loreto
Sister, Counsellor, Supervisor and Trainer;
* Men and Family: Engaging Men in Crisis Pregnancy Counselling – Mr Peter
Kieran, Regional Co-ordinator for Child Care Service, Health Service Executive,
South East;
* Changing Needs of Clients: CURA’s Response – Ms Maranna Quinlivan,
Counsellor, Supervisor and Trainer.
Ms Louise Graham, National Co-ordinator, CURA will launch CURA’s Annual Report
at the conference.
Further information:
Martin Long Director of Communications (086 172 7678)
Brenda Drumm Communications Officer (087 233 7797)
Ms Louise Graham National Co-ordinator CURA (087 2439340)
Noreen Keane PRO CURA (087 2701088)
Charlotte Keery PRO CURA (086 2368380)
NOTES TO EDITORS:
* CURA (Latin for ‘care’) was established by the Irish Bishops’ Conference
in 1977 to provide a caring and compassionate service to women who felt
unable to cope with an unexpected pregnancy.
* CURA provides a range of services supporting women faced with a crisis
pregnancy, including Crisis Pregnancy Counselling, Pregnancy Testing,
Information and Support and Post Abortion Counselling.
* During 2004 CURA received 9,758 phone calls and 3,782 personal callers
visited its 16 centres throughout Ireland.
* The CURA Helpline is: 1850 622 626 (Open from 9.30am-9.00pm Mon-Fri
and 10.00am – 5.00pm on Saturday)
* CURA website: www.cura.ie