“Caring for life from the beginning to the end: what a simple thing, what a beautiful thing! So go forth and don’t be discouraged. Care for life! “  
                                             ~Pope Francis

In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, St. Pope John Paul II writes that in our present culture, where the very meaning and value of human life is under grave threat, there is "a pressing appeal addressed to each and every person, in the name of God: respect, protect, love, and serve life, every human life!“. Keeping in mind the need to foster a “culture of life,” and using a format created by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Respect Life Ministry mission is to promote the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death through prayer, education, petition to lawmakers, and supportive care.

Some of the short term goals of the Ministry in each of these topics include:

• Prayer: We will hold monthly intentions for life, prayers of the faithful, sponsor a Holy Hour for Life, and promote rosary recitation, and spiritual adoption. 
• Education: We will provide education through guest speakers on respect for life topics, add books and DVDs to the St. Irene library, put useful informational links on the St. Irene website, and encourage the promotion of life in religious education and Confirmation programs.
• Petition to Lawmakers: We will petition lawmakers to let our voices be heard, as Catholics called to action to stand up for all human life. Current bills are on the table for legislation in Massachusetts, in both the House and Senate, not only relating to late term abortion but to physician assisted suicide. Look for links on the St. Irene website/Respect Life page with helpful sample scripts to use when contacting your congressperson’s office.
• Supportive Care: We will hold a parish baby shower in May (collecting items for both mother and baby), start a newly pregnant/new Mom of the parish support group, participate in  programs that support women who face crisis in their pregnancy, and support the archdiocese work of Project Rachel.  

Do any of these activities appeal to you? Do you have suggestions on how we can promote life? Will you join us in our efforts? Please contact us via info@cc-catholic.org

Respect Life resources at https://www.respectlife.org

Pregnancy help:   https://www.bostoncatholic.org/PregnancyHelp.aspx

Project Rachel post abortion healing:  https://www.projectrachelboston.com

Palliative care and advance care planning:  https://www.bostoncatholic.org/PalliativeCare/

Pro-Life activities:  http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/

Human life and dignity:  https://www.usccb.org/resources/catholics-protect-human-life-and-dignity

Priests for life:  http://www.priestsforlife.org

Take Action Now to have your voice heard in US, state and local policy debate:

USCCB:  https://www.votervoice.net/USCCB/home

Massachusetts Catholic Conference:   https://www.macatholic.org

Massachusetts Citizens for Life:  https://www.masscitizensforlife.org

Respect Life Education  https://www.bostoncatholic.org/respect-life-education

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