The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ poster for Respect Life month 2015
When the Hawaii Catholic Herald caught up with Deacon Walter Yoshimitsu and Paulette Vernay of the diocesan Respect Life Office on Oct. 14, they had just made it to their offices at St. Stephen Diocesan Center after a morning vigil at Honolulu’s Planned Parenthood clinic.
Deacon Yoshimitsu and Vernay were taking part in the annual “40 Days for Life” campaign, held worldwide Sept. 23 to Nov. 1. This movement of prayer, fasting and outreach mobilizes people of faith to conduct prayerful “protests” at local abortion centers.
“We are activists in a peaceful way,” said Deacon Yoshimitsu, director of the Respect Life Office.
Life “starts when those two cells unite,” administrative assistant Vernay said, reflecting on the premise of the ecumenical campaign. “Life encompasses everything. It’s so vast.”
Abortion is just one of the issues Vernay and Deacon Yoshimitsu work to call attention to through the Respect Life Office. They also serve as advocates to the community on Catholic teaching regarding assisted suicide, contraception, capital punishment, stem cell research and cloning, and other activities that degrade human dignity.
October is Respect Life Month in the Catholic Church. Life, the church teaches, must be defended from conception to natural death. Vernay and Deacon Yoshimitsu explained many ways the Respect Life Office is encouraging local Catholics to show their solidarity.
Vernay and Deacon Yoshimitsu have been involved in diocesan pro-life activities for decades. Restoring “a culture of life,” said Vernay, is especially needed today.
On the back burner no longer
Backlash recently came against Planned Parenthood after videos surfaced of employees discussing sales of aborted fetal body parts. Pope Francis also had made strong appeals for protecting the elderly, infirm, unborn and vulnerable.
“We can’t put this on the back burner any longer,” Vernay said. “People don’t seem to know or understand the richness of the teachings of the church” when it comes to the value of life.
“This is a movement of the Holy Spirit,” she added. “God is of great love, mercy, compassion and kindness.”
Deacon Yoshimitsu said pro-life issues would particularly be highlighted during the upcoming “Year of Mercy,” announced by the pope to run from Dec. 8, 2015, to Nov. 20, 2016.
The diocesan Respect Life Office has been trying to implement the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities. The plan lists four main areas in which dioceses, parishes and organizations can build a culture of life: education, pastoral care, public policy, and prayer and worship.
Vernay and Deacon Yoshimitsu have asked every parish in Hawaii to appoint its own respect life coordinator. The coordinator’s job is to disseminate information on pro-life teachings, bring educational speakers to the parish, and get parishioners onboard with events such as the March for Life every January at the state capitol.
Vernay reported that as of August, roughly half of Hawaii’s 66 parishes had a respect life coordinator. Her office is eager to lend a hand to parishes that still have not established a pro-life ministry.
“It’s a very deep, intense, powerful and rewarding ministry,” Vernay said. “We want to help.”
The Respect Life Office earlier this year called on various parish coordinators and community members to create a new “Culture of Life” committee. This team is working on a strategic plan to foster more pro-life efforts in the diocese.
Already the Culture of Life committee has organized a “Life Symposium” for 2016. The event will feature information and advocacy sessions for clergy and parishioners under the theme “Catholics Affirming Life.”
“In this age more than ever we need a voice,” Vernay said. “What are we all together going to do? What will happen if we don’t make a positive change?”
In addition to creating pro-life educational opportunities, the diocesan Respect Life Office also serves as a contact point for diverse pastoral care initiatives.
Programs of pastoral care
The office works with the Couple-to-Couple League to offer classes on natural family planning. Vernay and Deacon Yoshimitsu also connect men and women with Rachel’s Vineyard, a powerful, healing retreat ministry for post-abortion trauma.
The Gabriel Project and Project Rachel are two budding ministries in the Islands.
The Gabriel Project was inspired by a Texas priest who, after the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973 legalized abortion in the U.S., welcomed women with unplanned pregnancies to his parish for support. The project has since spread throughout the country. Parishes involved in this ministry train volunteers to help with a woman’s practical and spiritual needs during her pregnancy and beyond.
Bishop Larry Silva noted the Gabriel Project in an Aug. 22 letter to pastors and parish Respect Life coordinators. The bishop suggested establishing one Gabriel Project program in each vicariate supported by all the parishes in that area.
The bishop as well encouraged involvement in Project Rachel, a one-on-one counseling ministry for post-abortion trauma. Pastors and respect life coordinators have been given ministry materials to post in their parishes when Project Rachel is soon made official in the diocese.
Bishop Silva in his Aug. 22 letter said he hopes these pro-life resources will be incorporated into Masses and parish discussions.
“We can become parishes of life and defeat the culture of death,” Bishop Silva wrote. “It is our mission to let the light of the God of life shine.”
The task is daunting
Although October, pro-life month, will soon come to a close, the Respect Life Office will continue to advocate in the diocese and in the community for the right of all persons to live with dignity.
Deacon Yoshimitsu said the task is daunting. It is “an education process” that will continue to be “a challenge going forth.”
Vernay echoes the difficulties in pro-life ministry, but remains optimistic that local Catholics can slowly change the tide in how society views right-to-life issues.
“It requires lots and lots of prayer,” she said. “Baby steps.”
For more resources from the diocesan Respect Life Office, visit http://www.catholichawaii.org/diocesan-offices/respect-life.aspx or call 203-6722.
