Holy Family Catholic Community will observe Respect Life Month— 31 days which remind us of our duty to care for and defend life from conception to death, particularly the lives of the most vulnerable. Every person has an inherent dignity that comes from being made in the image and the likeness of God, and central to this dignity is a respect for all life. The theme of this year’s Respect Life Month is “Live the Gospel of Life.” It commemorates the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s encyclical “The Gospel of Life,” which mounted a strong defense of the right to life for all, including infants in the womb, those with disabilities, the elderly, and those who are
marginalized, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’, or USCCB, statement on Respect Life Month. In a conversation with Archbishop of Kansas City Joseph F. Naumann, Pope Francis stated that if we do not protect life, “no other rights matter.” This shared belief is why the bishops of the United States named the “the threat of abortion” their “preeminent” priority last year, while, at the same time, acknowledging the serious threat that poverty, the environment, racism, and the death penalty pose to life, as well, according to the USCCB.
Several events will take place throughout the area in honor of Respect Life Month, starting off Sunday, October 4 at 1 p.m. with the praying of the Rachel Rosary at the Sacred Heart Adoration Chapel, 200 S. Peters Ave. Including five Sorrowful Mysteries and one Glorious Mystery, the Rachel Rosary is an
intercessory prayer which prays for those who suffer from post-abortion syndrome. The Annual Life Chain Sunday will follow from 2 to 3 p.m. on the corner of West Johnson and Peters Avenue. Hosted by the Fond du Lac Chapter of the Wisconsin Right to Life, the Life Chain invites people
to silently pray for: the sanctity life; those who are considering abortion, and those who have already made the choice; lives vulnerable to assisted suicide or euthanasia; and in support of those who chose life.
