Respect Life Activities

1) January Commemoration of the anniversary of Roe vs Wade each January 22nd.

• Set up two table displays in church foyer of Respect Life literature with major focus on Abortion, Adoption, Abortion alternatives, “What the Court Really Said” brochures and posters, The Annual Right To Life March in Washington D.C., (promote the participation thru EWTN live coverage of all those activities) , promotion of other Parish Holy Hours and Prayer Services, and./or re-institute Organize & promote a Holy Hour at Saint Cletus. The director of the Archdiocesan Respect Life Office has spoken at all our Masses in previous years. That still is a possibility… so is a Speaker from Father Pavone’s “Priests For Life”
  
  Attend the Speak out Illinois Convention and Banquet
  Attend the annual Archdiocesan “Mass for Life” with Cardinal George

2) May Baby Shower and Carnation Sale each Mother’s Day Sunday

• Set up two tables in church foyer to facilitate sale of red & white carnations. Order carnations 2 or 3 weeks in advance, making sure that they are delivered on Saturday afternoon before 4 pm , loose in eight buckets with water to keep them fresh. Purchase 4 to 6 laundry baskets for each side of the tables to collect. New & Unwrapped baby clothes and related baby items. After the last Sunday Mass, all collected baby items must be taken over to the 2nd floor of the school building storage room in the East wing.

3) June Consider a Father’s Day Liturgy and/or sale of Mass Cards, pins, etc

4) July Independence Day – Special prayers for unborn denied the Right To Life

5) September

• Attend the annual respect life coordinators conference with parishes in our Vicariate
• Promote attendance at the “Celebration of Life” Mass with the Cardinal
• Recognize Grand Parents Day the 2nd Sunday in September (bulletin board)

6) October Recognition of the national observance of Respect Life month each October

• First Sunday in October is National Respect Life Sunday -- Order and insert in each Canticle, the brochure produced by the NCCB
• Organize and promote Holy Hour at Saint Cletus or promote same in neighboring parishes
• Set up tables with educational literature regarding ALL aspects of the Respect Life Ministry, ie. Euthanasia, Chastity, Death Penalty, End of Life issues, Project Rachael, Abortion, .Adoption, Stem Cell Research, Cloning
• Promote, organize, and solicit participation in the Saint Cletus Life Chain on the South side of Ogden Avenue beginning at La Grange Road going West.
• Promote the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption by suggesting that instead of giving out candy at Halloween….buy and give away “Frostys” (10 for $1)
• Coordinate an annual “Baby Bottle Collection” for a local Crisis Pregnancy Center that provides service to expectant and new mothers in our area

7) December Holy Hour during the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the National Night of Prayer for Life

• Obtain the help of a priest to assist in the conduct of the all night vigil (Really from 7 pm to 12 midnite) Eleven pm is the hour when all across the nation parishes are praying the exact same prayer.
• Prepare Holy Hour material and music.
• Promote attendance at Father Fanelli’s liturgy at St. Thomas More Parish

8) All Year Pamphlet Rack and Bulletin Board maintenance

• Keeping available pamphlets and prayer cards including information on Project Rachel and the Mass for Expectant Mothers Chastity programs, stem cell research, cloning, end of life issues alternatives to abortion hot lines, adoption, as well as official literature from the National and Illinois Right to Life organizations, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro Life Committee, and the Archdiocese of Chicago Respect Life office.
• Bulletin Board displays relating to National Holidays, special recognition activities of our parish and community, Citizenship and voting responsibilities, and other respect life announcements from the Archdiocese and other parishes.
• Furnish suggested announcements from the pulpit and articles/announcements for the Canticle for various Respect Life issues from NCCB, Archdiocese Respect Life Office & other National Right to Life Organizations
• Encourage participation from the school and religious education in service projects, and the various Respect Life Activities. The goal is to recruit a representative or two from the education areas to promote Respect Life activities there National Conference of Catholic Bishops asks that each parish have at least One Respect Life Petition each weekend Mass. We furnish monthly to the Pastor, The Liturgy Coordinator, The Editor of the Canticle, and the Hispanic Liturgist, The Word of Life from the NCCB which includes camera ready art for the Canticle, and suggested petitions for each Sunday of the month.

9) When requested Grassroots responses (develop telephone trees and coordinate postcard campaigns)

• These activities are developed and coordinated by the Archdiocesan Respect Life Office and the Illinois Catholic Conference to be carried out in each Parish
• Participate in the every other year “Ministry Awareness” displays
  either outside under a tent or in the school gym

10) Display the Respect Life Banner during Respect Life Month and other special events