Throughout salvation history, God has welcomed repentant sinners with special joy. Jesus concludes the parable of the lost sheep with these words: ‘there will be more joy in heaven over one who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance’ (Lk 15:7)

For all whose hearts ache from participating in abortion: may they be strengthened to seek the Lord’s compassion, mercy, and healing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
 

The witness of our Blessed Mother invites us to become more aware of the needs of pregnant and parenting moms in our own parish and communities. A woman with an unexpected pregnancy may have any number of fears and challenges: facing judgment from her friends and family, losing her job or housing, or being abandoned by the father of her child.

Following Mary’s example, we can ask ourselves how to better know these mothers, listen to them, seek understanding, and help them obtain the necessities of life for themselves and their children.1 How can we, like the Blessed Mother, lovingly support mothers in welcoming and caring for God’s gift of life? One option is to support the TLC of Hastings Pregnancy Resource Center.

Religious Freedom Week 2022: Life and Dignity for All

Religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all.  Beginning June 22, the feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, the USCCB invites Catholics to pray, reflect, and act to promote religious freedom.

June 22: Walking with Moms in Need   June 23: Church Vandalism
June 24: Adoption and Foster Care  June 25: Taxpayer Funding for Abortion
June 26: Religious Freedom in China  June 27: Pregnancy Resource Centers  June 28: Health Care Wokers 
June 29: Free Speech

Find all prayers for the week on one page HERE.

Mother's Day and the month of May are wonderful opportunities to highlight the beautiful vocation of motherhood and the gift of life.

On Tuesday, May 31, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast Commemorates the Blessed Mother's visit to her cousin Elizabeth and the encounter of Jesus and St. John the Baptist while in the wombs of their mothers. Join us in praying the Novena for Life from May 22-30 in honor of this special feast day. 

Day 1   Day 2   Day 3   Day 4   Day 5   Day 6   Day 7     Day 8     Day 9
 

National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes the social and emotional well-being of children and families.

When a child is abused, the effects are grave and can last a lifetime. Some of the most common effects of abuse include:

• Loss of faith and trust in God.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, and other indirect signs of trauma, such as anxiety, trouble sleeping, chronic stomach pain, and headaches.
• A greater risk of developing behavioral problems, substance abuse, and suicide.

The sense of violation goes deep into a person’s psyche and feelings of anger, shame, hurt, and betrayal can build long after the abuse has taken place.

Click here for the Novena for Protection and Healing from Abuse.

We celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on March 19th. This occasion is an opportunity to highlight the gift of adoption by seeking the intercession of St. Joseph for the many people whose lives are touched by adoption. invite others to join in prayer leading up to the solemnity, March 10-18.
Intentions

The novena is also available to download as a PDF or Microsoft Word document. 

• Day 1: For Mothers Who Place Their Children for Adoption (en español)

• Day 2: For Fathers Who Place Their Children for Adoption (en español)

• Day 3: For Family Members of Children Placed for Adoption (en español)

• Day 4: For Children Awaiting Adoption (en español)

• Day 5: For Married Couples Pursuing Adoption (en español)

• Day 6: For Adopted Children (en español)

• Day 7: For Adoptive Mothers (en español)

• Day 8: For Adoptive Fathers (en español)

• Day 9: For Family Members Welcoming Children through Adoption (en español)

The upcoming observances of National Marriage Week (February 7-14, 2022) and World Marriage Day (Sunday, February 13, 2022) are opportunities to focus on building a culture of life and love by supporting and promoting marriage and the family.

Prayer for Married Couples
Almighty and eternal God, You blessed the union of married couples so that they might reflect the union of Christ with his Church: look with kindness on them. Renew their marriage covenant, increase your love in them, and strengthen their bond of peace so that, with their children, they may always rejoice in the gift of your blessing. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We pray for all married couples: May their openness to new life Bear witness to the generous love of God.

9 Days for Life is a novena for the Protection of human life. Each intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. Click here for daily intercessions January 19-27.
Day 1     Day 2     Day 3     Day 4     Day 5     Day 6
Day 7     Day 8     Day 9 

Jesus calls each of us to ‘care for the other as a person for whom God has made us responsible’ (EV 87). …The encyclical The Gospel of Life recognizes the full range of threats against human life, from poverty and malnutrition to murder and war. Particular emphasis, however, is placed on threats to life at its beginning and end—precisely when it is most in need of protection. In modern times, children in their mothers’ wombs and those approaching the end of their lives are certainly among the ‘least of these’ in our world’s estimation.

Read more here.

Adoption is a wonderful gift. Though sometimes portrayed in negative ways by the media, most experiences of adoption are beautiful love stories—such as the one shared HERE.