Respect Life Ministry
The parish Respect Life Ministry helps organize and implement the United States Catholic Bishops’ Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities at St. Patrick Parish, in consultation with the Pastor. The four pillars of the plan are: Education, Pastoral Care, Prayer and Worship, and Public Policy Efforts. Currently, there are no regular committee meetings. Informational emails and informal gatherings throughout the year communicate about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Contact: Cate Hansen, Respect Life Ministry Coordinator, for more information.
Education:
The Bishops’ annual Respect Life Program and monthly Word of Life newsletter supply pro-life information about various topics from conception to natural death. The Respect Life Ministry and St Gianna Committee annually host a Donut Sunday, usually in September, to highlight its upcoming activities and recruit new committee members. Members are invited to Diocesan Ministries of Mercy events with speakers and community from other parishes.
Pastoral Care:
St. Patrick supports Waterleaf Women’s Center in Aurora through news
about their activities, encouraging participation in the 40 Days For Life spring and fall in-person prayer campaigns across from Aurora Planned Parenthood, and has an annual online monetary collection each October.
Prayer and Worship:
The Respect Life Ministry and St. Gianna Shrine Committee host an annual Memorial Mass of Hope and Healing for the Loss of a Child on the third Saturday in October. The Bishops sponsor various online prayer novenas.
Public Policy Efforts:
News about important upcoming Illinois legislative activity affecting respect for life is posted in the parish newsletter. The Knights of Columbus and Respect Life Ministry organize a bus to the annual Illinois Pro-Life March in Springfield, which features a Mass, speakers, and a march around the Capitol in support of respect for life.
Resources:
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The USCCB is an assembly of the hierarchy of bishops who jointly exercise pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They have a Pro-Life Committee dedicated to helping local Respect Life ministries, as well as individual Catholics, to live and share Christ’s Gospel of Life. On their website, you can find pro-life prayers and devotions; facts about abortion, euthanasia, and bioethics; resources for supporting local ministries; Action Alerts to raise your voice politically; and practical help with sharing the truth about the dignity and value of every human person.
Diocese of Joliet | Department of Catechesis and Evangelization | Ministries of Mercy
The Ministries of Mercy focuses on Jesus’s call to reach those who are most vulnerable. The Diocese of Joliet practices the corporal works of mercy in tandem with the USCCB’s themes of Catholic social teaching, and collaborates with parishes, volunteers, and organizations supported by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services. The Diocese of Joliet offers support, resources, and networking opportunities for the parish Respect Life ministries. The parish Respect Life coordinator and members are invited to attend the Diocese of Joliet Ministries of Mercy meetings.
Contact: Susan DiDomizio, sdidomizio@dioceseofjoliet.org
National Catholic Bioethics Center
The NCBC’s mission is to provide education, guidance, and resources to the Church and society, to uphold the dignity of the human person in healthcare and biomedical research, thereby sharing in the ministry of Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Conference of Illinois
The CCI was created in 1969 to serve as the public policy voice of the Illinois bishops and lay Catholics. It interacts with the state legislature, the governor’s office, and all elements of state government to promote and defend the interests of the Church. Join I-CAN, the Illinois Catholic Advocacy Network, to stay informed with news, events, and legislative alerts.
