Meet the team behind FACET
Who We Are
Steve & Kathy Beirne
Steve and Kathy Beirne, Producers of FACET, have been actively involved in marriage preparation for more than 40 years.
Steve has an M.A. in Catechetical Theology and has been an educator his whole life, beginning as a high school teacher and then moving into adult education. He was an early part of an educational model that included whole families. In addition to being a lifelong teacher, he is also a lifelong learner.
Kathy received an M.A. in Child and Family Studies from the University of Missouri In addition to her work in marriage education, she has also taught child development in a local community college.
Together, Steve and Kathy have written two books and numerous magazine articles on marriage and family, and have given talks and workshops on these topics across the country. In 1993, they began publishing Foundations Newsletter for Married Couples which has continued until the present. Steve and Kathy were married in 1967, have 7 children, and live in Portland, Maine.
Additional Contributors
Martha Pezo-Marin MFT
Martha, a native of Peru, is responsible for the translation into Spanish of FACET and other materials used to promote the inventory. She and her husband, Cluber, have been active in marriage preparation and enrichment in the Hispanic community. Martha ia a bilingual marriage and family therapist. She has been married since 1981, has three children, and lives in Waterbury, CT.
Rev. Robert A. Ruhnke C.SS.R., M.Th., D. Min.
Fr. Rob is a Redemptorist priest who has been active in marriage ministry since his ordination in 1967. In 1975 he designed the program For Better and Forever, which uses sponsor couples to model and teach skills necessary for living the lifelong commitment of Christian marriage. He lives in San Antonio, TX. Fr. Rob was an early supporter of FACET, providing resources, insights, and encouragement.
Lauri Przybysz, PhD.
Lauri has a doctorate in Religious Education and Theology and has worked for many years in family life ministry both as a professional and a volunteer. She consulted on FACET and tested it, implementing it into Baltimore’s marriage preparation program. She also produced a video explaining the use of FACET. Lauri is married to John Przybysz, they have six children and live in Baltimore, MD.
Don and Chris Paglia
Don and Chris Paglia consulted on the development of FACET and brought the use of it to the Archdiocese of Hartford where they were the co-directors of the family life office. They were actively involved in creating the facilitator’s guide. Don is a marriage and family therapist in New Haven, CT, with a specialty in Family Constellation workshops. Chris is a marriage and family life educator. They have presented workshops on marriage and family across the US and abroad. The Paglias were married in 1969, have six children, and live in New Haven, CT.