Respect Life and Pro-Life Ministries
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May 2023: The Vocation of Motherhood and the Gift of Life
Mother's Day and the month of May are wonderful opportunities to highlight the beautiful vocation of motherhood and the gift of life.
On Wednesday, 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.
Sign up HERE and join us in praying A Novena for Life in honor of the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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April 2023: Mercy for Healing After Abortion
By the age of 45, as many as 1 in 3 women have had an abortion, and a similar number of men and family members have been involved.
Many feel that
abortion is “the unforgivable sin.” They need to hear that, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God forgives every sin of a repentant heart, even the sin of abortion. In fact, Jesus’ message to St. Faustina is that the greater the sinner, the greater the right to His mercy.
For those who have participated in an abortion and feel they have committed an unforgiveable sin: May they come to know the Lord’s limitless mercy, and turn to Him for forgiveness and healing. Find ways to build the bridge of mercy HERE.
If you or someone you know has had an abortion, be assured that it is never too late to seek God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Additionally, other confidential, compassionate help is available. Select “Find Help” from the menu on www.hopeafterabortion.org to find the diocesan Project Rachel Ministry near you.
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March 2023: For Those on the Path to Adoption
Leading up to the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 20,* join us in praying the St. Joseph Adoption Novena. Invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, we will pray the Lord blesses all who travel upon the path of adoption. *Normally March 19th, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is transferred to Monday, March 20th in 2023 because March 19th falls on a Sunday. The novena is also available to download as a PDF or Microsoft Word document.
Intentions- Day 4: For Children Awaiting Adoption (en español)
- Day 6: For Adopted Children (en español)
- Day 7: For Adoptive Mothers (en español)
- Day 8: For Adoptive Fathers (en español)
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February 2023: National Marriage Day and Week
National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Day (Sunday, Feb. 12) are opportunities to focus on building a culture of life and love that
begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family. This year's theme, "Marriage...one flesh, given and received" highlights the one-flesh union of husband and wife that is willed by God. It also indicates the personal self-gift of each spouse, one to the other. These concepts point to Christ who gives Himself under the appearance of bread and wine—as real flesh and blood.Prayer for a Married Couple
O God, who in creating the human race
willed that man and wife should be one,
keep, we pray, in a bond of inseparable love
those who are united in the covenant of Marriage,
so that, as you make their love fruitful,
they may become, by your grace, witnesses to charity itself.
Through Christ our Lord
Amen.
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January 2023: Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
The over 60 million abortions since the 1973 decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton reflect with heartbreaking magnitude what Pope Francis means by a “throwaway culture.” However, we have great trust in God’s providence. We are reminded time and again in Scripture to seek the Lord’s help, and as people of faith, we believe that our prayers are heard.And while, on June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, right now state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to preborn children. So, great prayer and advocacy is still very needed.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373, designates January 22 as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children”: “In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.”
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December 2022: During Advent We Pray for Expectant Mothers
During this time of preparation and expectant waiting, we also remember expectant mothers who are preparing for the birth of their children. May we look to the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph and follow their example of cherishing and protecting human life.
For women who are unexpectedly pregnant: May they be filled with trust in God’s providence and lovingly welcome the gift of their child. God is with us always.
in the case of an unexpected pregnancy, you may be unsure of how to help or what to say. Learn how to support those in their new journey of motherhood HERE.
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November 2022: Palliative Care and Hospice
In 2020, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released the letter Samaritanus bonus, “on the care of persons in the critical and terminal phases of life.” The letter reaffirms the Church’s teaching on care for those who are critically ill or dying and offers additional pastoral guidance for increasingly complex situations at the end of life.
Read a brief overview of key points from this important document with a specific focus on what it says about palliative care and hospice HERE.
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October 2022: Respect Life Month
Let's help build a culture that cherishes and protects every human life.
Pray and take action for Life when you sign up for Respect Life Prayer & Action
Help women in your community choose life with walkingwithmoms.com
Read the Respect Life Month Chairmen's Statement
Read a short reflection that connects our personal call as Christians to live out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy with care for moms and respect for life.
See the flyer The Truth About Abortion and Women's Health
Pray for the care of all human life.
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September 2022: For All Whose Hearts Ache from Participating in Abortion
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.
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August 2022: Pray to our Blessed Mother and Pray for All Mothers
Mary’s Assumption into heaven reminds us that life on earth is a pilgrimage to our ultimate destination. We prepare in hope for our own passage into eternal life by the choices we make today. When we choose to love and follow God in our daily lives, we strengthen our relationship with Him, and this relationship is the true meaning of heaven: “To live in heaven is ‘to be with Christ’” (CCC, 1025 citing St. Ambrose, In Luc.,10,121:PL 15 1834A.).
We can see how, throughout her life, the Blessed Mother continually chose to go deeper into her relationship with God. She modeled how to value and respect His precious gift of human life, from the moment of conception to its natural end. In the Annunciation, through her “yes,” Mary witnessed to the undeniable humanity of unborn children as she conceived and carried the Christ child in her womb. After the Annunciation, having learned that her cousin Elizabeth was with child, she went in haste to her aid.
Our Blessed Mother shows us how the way we live today can prepare us, in hope, to also enter into heavenly glory at the end of our lives. Are we open to God’s precious gift of new life? How do we support expectant mothers and parents of young children? Do we prioritize showing our love and care for loved ones who are ill or aging? Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
“We thank you, heroic mothers, for your invincible love! We thank you for your intrepid trust in God and in his love. We thank you for the sacrifice of your life.” (EV 86).
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July 2022: Called to Serve Moms in Need
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.
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June 2022: Religious Freedom Week
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.
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