OVERVIEW

The Sisters' commitment to education extends beyond their campus schools. Through Bethany Center, they offer lifelong learning opportunities to men and women throughout the greater Portland community.

Bethany Center began in the late 1980s as a discussion between Sister Noreen Orazio and Sister Barbara Jean Laughlin on the need for a west side center where people could come together to learn, talk, listen, contemplate and pray.

Today, Bethany Center, which was established in 1990, continues that tradition through spiritual retreats, seminars and adult religious education. Qualified professionals lead seminars in many areas, including such topics as comparative religions, spirituality and the environment, domestic violence, grief and dying, homelessness, sacramental theology, icon writing, art music, the psychospiritual approach to aging, communication from birth to death, and much more.

Sister Noreen Orazio, who coordinates Bethany Center programs, issues an invitation. "Whether you're a regular visitor to our campus or are coming here for the first time, you will find that Bethany Center is a place you can take part in classes, retreat and spend quiet time. Join us, enrich yourself and be nurtured."

Bethany Center offers a rich array of programs and lectures. On the first Sunday of each month, the Sisters invite you to "Come and See" them and learn about their ministries.