Resolved: Celebrate Life!
For use by St. Joseph Family Life ministry, Ste. Marie Parish
By Ellen Kolb, Cornerstone Action Communications Consultant
As a Church family, we’re witnesses to the beauty of life, even in the midst of life’s messiness: caring for sick family members, puzzling over our family budget, rushing to get to hockey practice, shushing our toddlers at Mass. (Go on, admit it - I’ve done my share of shushing.) God calls us to affirm life’s goodness in the midst of a skeptical culture. That sounds tough to do, when the skepticism takes the form of seeing abortion as a “right.”
We can do it.
Pro-life marches, speeches, and political advocacy often mark January 22, the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that has led to tens of millions of aborted children and wounded mothers. The marches and speeches are fine, even essential. But as Catholics, we know that the marches, speeches, and political advocacy aren’t basic. The Cross is basic. So is prayer and ministry.
So where does that point us?
The United States Bishops have designated January 22 as a day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children. Remember, legal protection for unborn children means including judges and lawmakers in your prayers, too - even your local legislator who might seem completely beyond reach when it comes to the right to life.
Join the 9 Days for Life novena, another USCCB project. It’s scheduled to run from January 21 to the 29th, but you could make it anytime. With prayers, suggested acts of reparation, and “one step further” prompts for each day, the novena is both simple and inspiring.
Learn about Rachel’s Vineyard, a weekend retreat for post-abortion healing. If you’re already familiar with the ministry, tell your friends about it. It’s an underrated treasure among pro-life resources. Post-abortion healing isn’t just for women. As the RV website says, “married couples, mothers, fathers, grandparents and siblings of aborted children, as well as persons who have been involved in the abortion industry have come to Rachel's Vineyard in search of peace and inner healing.” The next RV weekend retreat in our area is the weekend of February 28-March 1. Contact rvofgreaterboston@gmail.com for more information.
Learn about the peaceful, prayerful witness known as 40 Days for Life. This involves being present outside an abortion facility in a totally lawful way, offering prayer not only for the babies at risk, but for everyone who enters or leaves the facility. This does NOT involve shouting, blockading, or carrying graphic images. In New Hampshire, the first 40 Days for Life campaign of 2019 will begin on Ash Wednesday in Manchester (in front of Planned Parenthood, 24 Pennacook Street), Concord, and Greenland. Learn more at 40daysforlife.com, and watch for parish bulletin announcements about 40 Days for Life events.
You may already know about some of the local ministries to young pregnant and parenting neighbors: Our Place, the Pennacook Pregnancy Center, Real Options (formerly CareNet of Manchester and Nashua), and Birthright, among others. Contact one and ask how you can help. If you’re already volunteering, thank you - and tell your friends and neighbors about the people you serve!
Each of these suggestions is centered in prayer and faith, not politics. Politics has its place, but we’ll be the “clanging cymbal” St. Paul warned us about if our actions aren’t grounded in love of God and neighbor. Let one of your resolutions for 2020 be to celebrate life! Your very celebration - “see how they love each other,” as people said about the early disciples - will reach even the skeptics.
