Make a difference through prayer, pastoral care, public policy, education
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The diocesan Respect Life Office logo illustrates the importance Catholics place on the dignity of human persons from conception to natural death. Visit the office website at http://bit.ly/2fFqXr2
Oct. 1 was “Respect Life Sunday,” kicking off the month Catholics have dedicated to draw attention to issues that affect human persons from conception to natural death.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops this year chose the theme “Be Not Afraid” for Respect Life Month. Available online at www.usccb.org/respectlife are digital downloads of flyers, a 20-page resource guide and customized “tool kits” for clergy, parishes, schools, youth/young adult ministries and Catholic communications professionals.
The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry will be hosting a webinar Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. Hawaii time. The webinar is titled “Holistically pro-life: Forming the next generation’s respect for and celebration of life.”
Webinars presenters are Katie Prejean McGrady and Tommy McGrady, who travel extensively across the U.S. and Canada as speakers, authors and educators. Panelists are Joan Weber, project coordinator for youth and family ministry services at the Center for Ministry Development, and Nicholas Stein, young adult ministry leader for the Sisters of Bon Secours in Maryland.
“(Teens) can begin to believe that human life has little to no value unless it ‘produces,’ something of material worth or gives immediate satisfaction,” the webinar description explained. The session aims to “address how we can shift this usury, selfish mindset … by mapping out three specific ways adults can teach and advocate for a ‘culture of life.’”
Registration for the webinar can be found at http://bit.ly/2yj8NXB
The diocesan Respect Life Office helped launch the international annual “40 Days for Life” campaign in Hawaii, which runs Sept. 27-Nov. 5. The campaign, endorsed by the Vatican and other Christian denominations, aims to end abortion through prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach.
Participants in 40 Days for Life traditionally conduct public vigils and rallies in front of abortion centers in their local areas. The diocesan Respect Life Office has modified the program for Hawaii Catholics who may be uncomfortable with such practices to make a difference instead through prayer and fasting in every parish, 12 hours a day for the 40-day campaign.
Parish respect life coordinators were mailed packets to connect with pastors and staff to create homilies or other activities in line with the mission of Respect Life Month.
The 40 Days for Life campaign runs Sept. 27-Nov. 5. Parishes have been provided resources to conduct their own activities of prayer, fasting, peacful vigil and community outreach to call for an end to abortion.
Prayer for the Gospel of Life
O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, to you do we entrust the cause of life: Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of Life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God the Creator and Lover of Life. Amen.
(St. John Paul II)
