Oct. 4, 2017

By Colleen Miner
Diocesan director, Respect Life Office

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has chosen the theme “Be Not Afraid” for October’s Respect Life month.

Its purpose is to provide encouragement and comfort in difficult times, as well as to inspire the motivation and courage to help others and stand for life.

New materials are produced each year to help Catholics to understand, value and become engaged with supporting the God-given dignity of every person - which naturally leads to protecting the gift of every person's life

In this year’s packet, pastors received a beautiful poster with the artwork from a 17th century, Italian painting of The Ascension and the following informational brochures:
• What to Do When a Friend is Considering Abortion
• How to Build a Culture of Life
• Top Reasons to Oppose Assisted Suicide
• Catholic Considerations for Our Earthly Passing
• Death Penalty: Catholic Q & A
• Understanding Conscience

Once again this year, Respect Life Month opened with LIFECHAIN across the diocese, in Saranac Lake, Schroon Lake, Massena, Plattsburgh and Potsdam. LIFECHAIN is a peaceful, prayerful, prolife witness.

Youth buses for life
Online registration became available Oct. 1 for the Youth Buses for Life high school pilgrimage to the March for Life in Washington, DC.

Three coach buses will depart the North Country Jan. 18 and return January 20.

Pick up locations include:  Northern bus:  Massena, Canton, and Gouverneur; Western bus: Immaculate Heart Central Jr/Sr. High School; Eastern bus: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Schroon Lake.

A $150 fee includes transportation, hotel, breakfast, dinner and t-shirt. In addition to participation in the annual March for Life, the teenagers will tour the Saint John Paul II Shrine, Holocaust Museum and National Basilica.
All chaperones must be Virtus: Protecting God’s Children trained.

This year, Bishop LaValley will join the Youth Buses in Washington. Sign up at www.rcdony.org/prolife

Catholic Action Network
Catholics of the diocese are encourage to register for the NYS Catholic Conference Action Network at www.nyscatholic.org. This will allow them to stay informed about important legislation and receive “action alerts” to send to state representative to let   voices be heard in Albany. Recently we were alerted that The New York State Court of Appeals unanimously refused to legalize physician-assisted suicide which is a huge prolife win!

Gabriel Projects
During Respect Life month you may consider helping a Gabriel Project. The list of crisis pregnancy parish outreaches in our diocese is available at the Respect Life website. The newest Gabriel Project is a joint effort between Notre Dame and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. There are others who could use help too - Birthright or the Plattsburgh Pregnancy Center in Plattsburgh.