Respect Life Ministry

respect life ministry

The Respect Life Ministry (RLM) supports a culture of life through education, public policy, pastoral care, prayer and almsgiving.

Respect Life News!

Summer 2023

Dear St. Edna Parishioners and those who support LIFE,

It is with a heavy heart that we share that Illinois Senate Bill 1909 (SB1909) was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on July 27th. We thank those of you who filed Witness Slips* and who prayed with us that this would never be successful. Now Pregnancy Crisis Centers (like the Women’s Center that St. Edna supports) are squarely in the crosshairs of the Attorney General’s office. The law takes effect immediately pending a court injunction filed by multiple Pregnancy Counseling Centers and Pro-Life groups in Illinois.

Speaking on behalf of these Centers, where women may find hope and trustworthy care, Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society shared: “This law is a blatant attempt to chill and silence pro-life speech under the guise of ‘consumer protection. Pregnancy help ministries provide real options and assistance to women and families in need, but instead of the praise they deserve, pro-abortion politicians are targeting these ministries with $50,000 fines and injunctions solely because of their pro-life viewpoint.”

Please share your views and zest for LIFE with your state representatives and please continue to pray that laws like these are canceled so that LIFE may be sustained. If you wish to learn more or find other ways to support LIFE in Illinois and beyond, please consider joining our Respect Life Ministry. For more information, please contact Maureen Durack at Maureen.durack2@gmail.com

Thank you!

* Witness slips are your way to tell your legislator whether you Support or Oppose pending legislation. To learn more please see:

https://illinoisfamily.org/life/you-can-file-witness-slips-for-pro-life-bills/

Respect Life Ministry

The Respect Life Ministry (RLM) supports a culture of life through education, public policy, pastoral care, prayer and almsgiving.

Welcome!

The Respect Life Ministry at St. Edna "proclaims that human life is a precious gift from God; that each person who receives this gift has responsibilities toward God, self and others; and that society, through its laws and social institutions, must protect and nurture human life at every stage of its existence."

Please explore this web site to find out more about the Respect Life Ministry at St. Edna Church, our mission, the issues we are concerned about, and to link to additional information. We welcome your comments and your support, so please contact us if you would like to learn more about the Ministry.

Respect Life Ministry: Mass of Thanksgiving

Thank you to all who attended the Respect Life Mass of Thanksgiving celebrating the overturn of Roe Vs. Wade and a new era of hope for those who cherish life. The multi-parish mass was celebrated by over 300 people at St. James Church in Arlington Heights and included St. Edna and 6 other Parishes in the NW Suburbs (St. Emily, St. Francis DeSales, St. James, St. Theresa, St. Thomas of Villanova, and Our Lady of the Wayside). We are blessed to have had all of the St. Edna clergy co-celebrate with seven other priests and deacons.

The Mass was recorded and may be found HERE

A PRAYER FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS

O Blessed Mother, you received the good news of the incarnation of Christ, your Son, with faith and trust.
Grant your protection to all pregnant mothers facing difficulties.
Guide us as we strive to make our parish communities places of welcome and assistance for mothers in need.
Help us become instruments of God’s love and compassion.
Mary, Mother of the Church, graciously help us build a culture of life and
a civilization of love, together with all people of good will, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life. Amen.

*Cf. Evangelium vitae 105 © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City. Adapted with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2019, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

More information, click here: Walking with Moms

Our Mission

To promote within our Church Community a culture where every human being is valued and protected throughout their human life. We seek to create awareness of the life affirming positions of the Roman Catholic Church regarding these most vulnerable moments in life. Ministry activities will respectfully promote education over protest, empathy over indifference, and unity over division.

Thank You

About Us

Many important Human Concerns Ministries are in place to serve people during moments in life when poverty, illness, or unjust treatment exists. The Respect Life Ministry is different in that it is concerned, specifically, with those moments when, for the convenience or preference of another, God's gift of Life is prevented from being created, or is deliberately destroyed.

Our goal, as Catholics, is to create awareness and educate others of the Church's positions on Life issues.

The goals of the Ministry can only be achieved via methods which will be peaceful, cooperative, and consistent with Christ's message that we love one another. Our approach to this important work will promote:

Education over protest - It is our belief that by sharing the wisdom of the Catholic Faith we will be successful at converting hearts and minds on all life issues.
Empathy over indifference - We will not be indifferent to other viewpoints but will offer an understanding ear and an open mind to enable meaningful dialog around sensitive life issues.

Unity over division - Through education and dialog, we hope to create a welcoming environment where all points of view can be shared. Finding common ground among our fellow parisoners will be difficult, but far more meaningful and rewarding, than pointing out obvious differences in opinion.

IMPORTANT LINKS

https://illinoisrighttolife.org

Illlinois Legislation needs your VOICE NOW!!!
www.ilga.gov (Illinois General Assembly)
Info. to call or fax your
state Representative or Senator
www.ilcatholic.org

"Walking with Moms in Need"