Sacred Heart Parish
Respect Life
Committee
CURRENT EVENTS
Prayer Campaign
The organization, “Priests for Life”
announced a nationwide prayer campaign extending from Tuesday August 31st
to Nov. 2nd, .
They are asking people to pray 1) That our nation will embrace moral values of
a culture of life and 2) That believers will reject apathy and take an active
role in the elections by registering to vote and actually voting. They are
urging that people offer Masses, Rosaries, fasting and other forms of prayer
for these intentions. Further information can be obtained by logging onto their
website, www.priestsforlife.org
and clicking on “Prayer Campaign.” The following prayer can be said daily:
O God, we acknowledge you today as Lord, not only of individuals, but also of nations and governments. We thank you for your law, which our Founding Fathers acknowledged and recognized as higher than any human law.
In
the light of so much power and money marshaled against us, it is understandable
that some may feel defeated before the even begin and thus remain discouraged
and guiltily silent. For these, the words of John Paul the second are a
rallying cry and incentive:
The
evidence shows with increasing clarity how policies and laws opposed to life are causing
societies to decline, not only morally but demographically and economically.
The encyclical [Evangelium Vitae]’s message can
therefore be presented not only as true and authentic guidelines for moral
rebirth, but also as a reference-point for civil salvation.
“Thus
there is no reason for that type of defeatist mentality, which claims that laws
opposed to the right to life- those which legalize abortion, euthanasia,
sterilization and methods of family planning opposed to life and the dignity of
marriage- are inevitable and now almost a social necessity. On the contrary,
they are the seed of corruption for society and its foundations.”
…The
changing of laws must be preceded and accompanied by the changing of
mentalities and morals on a vast scale, in an extensive and visible way. In
this area the Church will spare no effort nor can she accept negligence or
guilty silence.
May
every person of good will feel called to play an active part in this great
cause. May he be sustained by the conviction that every step taken in defending
the right to life and its concrete advancement is a step toward peace and civilization.”
Pope Paul II to the
For Life (February, 2000)
Sacred Heart Parish "Respect Life" Events
Our
parish Respect Life Board composed of nine very dedicated parishioners launched
an ambitious program during it first year and looks forward to the coming year.
It's purpose is to raise parish awareness about the crucial issues surrounding
the value and dignity of all human life in our culture and in the world. They
need our support and involvement in the educational, pastoral, political and
worship events that are planned.
On
Sunday, October 3rd, we celebrated a special "Mass in Honor of Life"
will be celebrated by Bishop Lori at St. Mary's Church in Norwalk at 3 PM.
During
the month of October, a Respect Life Display will be set up in front of the
church with some of the many educational resources the Respect Life Committee
wishes to share with you. Please be sure to visit us there and a committee
member will be present to answer any questions you may have about the Respect
Life program in general or the Parish Respect Life Committee in particular. And
of course, if you wish to join the committee in its work, there will be
available a sign-up sheet for you to sign under any one of the four areas that
serve as our goals: Public Information and Education, Pastoral Care, Public
Policy Issues, and Prayer and Worship. The parish Respect Life Library also
makes available many resources. It is located in the Religious Education Office
in the lower church. A brochure listing these resources will be available at
the back of the church. Please plan to be a part of any or all of these
opportunities to promote and strengthen the cause of Respect Life. Hope to see
you at least at one! (Be sure to visit our website at
www.sacredheartgeorgetownct.org).
Fr.
Mark