Pro-Life Ministries and Activities
Prayer and Worship
Diocesan Pro-life Masses are celebrated each January by the bishop in prayer and thanksgiving for the beauty and goodness of God's wondrous gift of life. The Austin Mass is always held in conjunction with the March and Rally for Life sponsored by the Texas Rally for Life Committee. Masses are held in Bryan-College Station and Austin. Check the diocesan calendar for more details.
Respect Life Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday of October. Parishes are invited to focus attention and raise awareness to respect life issues. Priests are invited to give a homily on the need to respect life.
Night of Prayer for Life is a nationwide prayerful event. Parishes are encouraged to have adoration and invite the faithful to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament in prayer for greater respect for human life on the night of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8.
The Word of Life Series, which consist of bulletin briefs and general intercessions, are mailed to each parish monthly for use in the parish bulletin and weekend liturgies. Other useful resources are also included in this mailing.
Prayer Vigils organized by the Prayer Vigil Committee of Voices for Life are scheduled once a month on a Saturday morning. The vigils begin with Mass and continue with a car caravan to a designated abortion facility where four rosaries are prayed. Adoration is also available during this time at the host parish.
Pending Executions are published monthly to encourage the faithful to pray for those on death row, their victims and family members.
The Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe travels the diocese going from parish to parish for a week at a time. During the visit parishes are urged to plan prayerful activities with intentions going toward greater respect for human life.
Masses for Life is a diocesan-wide project in which all parishes are invited to schedule a monthly daily or Sunday Mass with the intention of greater respect for human life throughout the year.
A Day of Reflection is offered during Lent for pro-life volunteers and other interested Catholics as an opportunity to grow spiritually and develop deeper bonds with other pro-life volunteers.
Quilt for Life is a beautiful quilt where names of individuals who have promised to say 50 rosaries for the intention of greater respect for human life have their name sewn in to the quilt.
A Rosary for Mercy is prayed for every death row inmate to be executed at 5:30 pm on the day of the execution at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the University Catholic Center in Austin. All are invited to attend or join in prayer at another location.