To affirm the dignity of human life, embracing the certain reality that society must respect, defend, and promote life at every moment and in every condition, without regard to distinction.

Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need.

The 25th anniversary year of Evangelium vitae gives us a wonderful opportunity to assess, expand, and communicate resources to pregnant moms and families in need. We are inviting parishes, through the support of their bishop and pastor, to join a nationwide effort from March 25, 2020 to March 25, 2021 entitled: “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service.”

For this Year of Service, the Pro-Life Committee is developing educational, pastoral, and action-oriented resources for parish use, such as:

• Tools for documenting an inventory of local resources for pregnant mothers in need.
• Ideas for improving parish responses.
• Prayers for building a culture of life and a civilization of love.
• Reflections on the teachings of Evangelium vitae, Evangelii gaudium, and Laudato si'.

• Prayer for pregnant mothers
• Pledge to Walk with Moms in Need

• Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann - Opening Mass, 2020 National Prayer Vigil for Life

The celebration of Respect Life Month in October kicks off the 2019-2020 Respect Life Program cycle with the theme, “Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life.”Continuing through September 2020, the annual Respect Life Program is a year-round, nationwide effort to help Catholics understand, value, and become engaged in building a culture that cherishes every human life. Although sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Respect Life Program is essentially an effort of leaders like you, through the many ministries of the Church, to integrate respect for human life into your respective areas.

For more information and resources please visit www.respectlife.org