CHICAGO (June 15, 2004) - Twenty-one faith-based organizations from various traditions, including the Family Ministries Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago, have joined forces to produce a Marriage Resource Center on the Internet. The site, www.chicagolandmarriage.org , is dedicated to strengthening marriages and reducing divorce in the Chicagoland area.

The Marriage Resource Center is a clearinghouse for all marriage education activities and programs in the Chicago area," notes Andrew Lyke, Marriage Ministry Coordinator of the Family Ministries Office. "The information presented," Lyke says, "covers every stage of a couple's relationship from dating and marriage preparation, to marriage itself, to being a parent or step-parent" For people whose marriage may be troubled or who might be separated or divorced, there is support as well, according to Lyke.

The resource is designed to give couples the tools they need to develop and maintain strong marriages and consequently reduce the rate of divorce. The site focuses on marriage preparation, enhancing marriage skills through training programs and providing mentoring programs,

A link to chicagolandmarriage.com is available from both the Archdiocese's web site, www.archchicago.org and from the Family Ministries web site, www.familyministries.org.