WHAT DOES THIS MINISTRY DO?

A Respect Life Ministry (RLM) is a dedicated group of people who are pro-active in pro-life programs to serve their parish by teaching the importance of life from conception to natural death under the guidance of our parish priest, Diocese Bishop, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

This means we support all life by conducting educational programs and providing educational materials to our parish and outreach to our community whenever possible. 

 We help women in difficult situations to have their babies through partnering with our local Women’s Help Center, our Diocese Programs, and programs of the USCCB to stay in focus with their four-part plan for pro-life activities to promote a culture of life.

Our local Women’s Help Centers provide pregnancy tests, ultra sound tests, prenatal and well-woman care, trauma and loss counseling, and many educational programs on parenting. They also provide baby supplies and clothing, diapers, and many other needs, as well as providing resource information to other Florida State programs. There are many other resources available throughout our Diocese to assist our families to prosper.

How does RLM do this?

Our Diocese is very supportive of Respect Life programs and ministries. We do not take away from any other ministry, but join in to assist them in their projects and programs.

• After re-organizing in June of 2024, our initial focus was to defeat Amendment #4. Now our focus is on educating ourselves on pro-life issues and programs and bringing educational programs to our parishioners. 
• Monthly planning meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in Haryasz Hall.  This is subject to change in the future.
• We lead & pray the Rosary for the Unborn, with the Council of Catholic Women (CCW), the first Saturday of the month after 9 am Mass. 
• We educate our parish community by providing many items that relate to the growth of the baby in the womb and the tragedies we are facing in the culture of death. 
• Our focus is not only on abortion. There are many facets to protecting and encouraging life as God has planned for us. We display information every Hospitality Sunday on our “Education Table” which will resume with “Pancake Breakfasts” in 2026, and there is a small display of pamphlets in the Narthex.
• We support and promote Rachel Vineyard healing retreats for men and women
• We take part whenever possible in prayer vigils at abortion sites
• We attend the annual Life Chain along Blanding Blvd which is organized by members of St. Catherine’s parish on the first Sunday of October each year. (October is Respect Life Month)
• Several members attend monthly Diocese “Muffins4Life” meetings, and other local events to keep informed about events around the Diocese and to continue to learn from their wonderful speakers. 
• We organize our parish Spiritual Adoption Program beginning sign-ups in Sept. with a free gift bag filled with information and a fetal model. This is a prayer program for 9 months (October to June) that was started by Bishop Fulton Sheen many years ago, and will end with a ‘Baby Shower’ for all participants. It coincides with 2 annual month-long Diaper Drives (September and May). All donations are then delivered to the Women’s Help Center along with the gifts (optional) from the Baby Shower. The coordinator of this program provides monthly encouraging messages to keep participants engaged and updated.
• We are planning a new program to honor and recognize all new births in our parish to start soon. 
• We will encourage our parish to provide a memorial stone to honor the aborted, miscarried and stillborn. 
• We are newly organized and are open to suggestions

What does the ministry require of members?

There is no specific requirement except that you believe in life from conception to natural death. However, the more involved you are, the more help you will be and the better we can be a ‘family’. 

 

There are no dues. We may have fund raisers to provide for the necessary funds to help us with this work. This year we provided Advent Candles (traditional wax and flameless) and simple candle holders that can be decorated in your own home along with printed information about the purpose of the candles and suggested prayer ceremony to bring life to the candles while we await the birth of Jesus. 

A handbook is provided to members with some guidelines along with a booklet of Fr. Pavone’s prayers to end abortion. We ask that you purchase a ministry T-shirt ($25) with our logo and wear it at all parish and ministry events as often as possible. This helps other parishioners know who members are and think about joining us. If worn in public, it can be a tool to evangelize as well. 

Most of our members are active in other ministries. We understand that you must help where you have committed to help, therefore, there is no requirement to attend meetings or events if you cannot do that.  We have many different facets of the ministry, choose where you fit in best. Come and observe a meeting – be a guest and see if it is something that fits into what you believe and care about. 

You don’t have to do everything, but we ask that you do something!!

Why would you want to join us? 

In a word – LOVE! We love one another. We love Life. We love babies, mothers/fathers, grandparents, and above all, God! The Second Commandment is to love one another as we love ourselves.