Respect Life
The Respect Life Committee of Holy Family Parish promotes the sanctity of life as presented in Holy Scriptures and traditional Catholic teaching through prayer, education, and activism within the community and beyond. This ministry meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall.
This wall sculpture of a baby cradled by hands is located in our Adoration Chapel/Cry Room.
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EVERY LIFE IS WORTH LIVING!
The purpose of the "pro-life movement" is to call attention to numerous human life issues. By far, the most well-known issue that "pro-lifers" interact with is abortion, but pro-lifers are also concerned with end-of-life issues as well as issues regarding any person who is marginalized: the handicapped, the disabled, the sick, the suffering. On this page, you will find information about activities that Holy Family Parish's Respect Life Ministry engages in as well as resources and Diocesan activities. Catholics are called to respect all human life, from conception to natural death, and organize for its protection. Please join us! |
This sculpture of St. Joachim and St. Ann is located in our main church, to the right of the sanctuary floor.
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HOLY FAMILY PARISH'S RESPECT LIFE ACTIVITIES
Baby Bottle Boomerang: Every third weekend in January, you will see Respect Life volunteers handing out baby bottles after Mass. You are invited to take a baby bottle and return it filled with coins, bills, or a check by the end of February. These donations are given to the Pregnancy Care Centers. We thank you for your generosity. See the parish bulletin for details and current times.
Respect Life Sunday: Respect Life Sunday is always the first Sunday in October, which is "Respect Life Month" in the Catholic Church. It is celebrated to coincide with the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (also known as "Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary") on October 7, the anniversary of the decisive victory of the 1571 Battle of Lepanto, when the combined Christian fleet defeated an Ottoman fleet off western Greece. The battle was won because the faithful were all asked to pray the Rosary before the battle, and despite great odds, the Christian fleet emerged victorious. In the same way, the faithful are asked to pray the Rosary in the current battle for a Culture of Life. Since Mary, the Mother of God, carried our pre-born Saviour and overcame many difficulties throughout her pregnancy, the faithful are asked to pray the Rosary and ask that the Moms who are considering abortion follow Mary's example of true Motherhood. Many Life Chains are held throughout the nation on Respect Life Sunday in order to witness for a Culture of Life and to pray for the conversion of our nation.
40 Days for Life: This community-based campaign draws attention to the evil of abortion through prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach-- here on the Treasure Coast! As individuals, we use a specified 40-day period to pray and fast. As a group, we keep constant vigil outside A Woman's World abortion clinic-- the Treasure Coast's only committer of abortions! Ours is a peaceful, prayerful, safe witness to the clinic's patients and staff, and to the entire community, that evil is in our midst and with God's help, it will be defeated. No experience is necessary, just a desire to cooperate with God in carrying out His plan for the end of abortion in America. We need people to sign up for a 2 hour per week time slot. Another way we will witness this year is focusing on a petition to the City of Fort Pierce that "An abortion clinic should not be allowed to do business across the street from a public elementary/middle school." We will accomplish this mainly through the churches, home, school, and community groups. We will need captains from each church and organization to supervise the petition drive. In the past, we obtained 4,000 petitions against the school's sex ed program, and we know we can collect more for this cause. www.40daysforlife.org,
Giving Tree: Every Advent, you will see a Christmas tree in the narthex with tags instead of ornaments hanging from it. We invite you to take a tag, shop for the items listed on it, and place the unwrapped items under the tree along with the tag. Large, expensive items might be easier for you to donate during this busy season when you pool together with several families, so talk to your friends! All of these gifts are given to needy families via the Pregnancy Care Center. We thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity! See the parish bulletin during Advent for current details.
Year-Round: Every Friday afternoon at 5:00pm, members of Holy Family parish's Respect Life Committee and members of other pro-life groups from area parishes and churches gather on the sidewalks near A Woman's World Medical Center, 503 S. 12th Street, Fort Pierce to pray the rosary for the end of abortion. Please join us! If you are interested in being a sidewalk counselor, talk with the Ministry Head Jim Thoma first.
Respect Life Sunday: Respect Life Sunday is always the first Sunday in October, which is "Respect Life Month" in the Catholic Church. It is celebrated to coincide with the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (also known as "Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary") on October 7, the anniversary of the decisive victory of the 1571 Battle of Lepanto, when the combined Christian fleet defeated an Ottoman fleet off western Greece. The battle was won because the faithful were all asked to pray the Rosary before the battle, and despite great odds, the Christian fleet emerged victorious. In the same way, the faithful are asked to pray the Rosary in the current battle for a Culture of Life. Since Mary, the Mother of God, carried our pre-born Saviour and overcame many difficulties throughout her pregnancy, the faithful are asked to pray the Rosary and ask that the Moms who are considering abortion follow Mary's example of true Motherhood. Many Life Chains are held throughout the nation on Respect Life Sunday in order to witness for a Culture of Life and to pray for the conversion of our nation.
40 Days for Life: This community-based campaign draws attention to the evil of abortion through prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach-- here on the Treasure Coast! As individuals, we use a specified 40-day period to pray and fast. As a group, we keep constant vigil outside A Woman's World abortion clinic-- the Treasure Coast's only committer of abortions! Ours is a peaceful, prayerful, safe witness to the clinic's patients and staff, and to the entire community, that evil is in our midst and with God's help, it will be defeated. No experience is necessary, just a desire to cooperate with God in carrying out His plan for the end of abortion in America. We need people to sign up for a 2 hour per week time slot. Another way we will witness this year is focusing on a petition to the City of Fort Pierce that "An abortion clinic should not be allowed to do business across the street from a public elementary/middle school." We will accomplish this mainly through the churches, home, school, and community groups. We will need captains from each church and organization to supervise the petition drive. In the past, we obtained 4,000 petitions against the school's sex ed program, and we know we can collect more for this cause. www.40daysforlife.org,
Giving Tree: Every Advent, you will see a Christmas tree in the narthex with tags instead of ornaments hanging from it. We invite you to take a tag, shop for the items listed on it, and place the unwrapped items under the tree along with the tag. Large, expensive items might be easier for you to donate during this busy season when you pool together with several families, so talk to your friends! All of these gifts are given to needy families via the Pregnancy Care Center. We thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity! See the parish bulletin during Advent for current details.
Year-Round: Every Friday afternoon at 5:00pm, members of Holy Family parish's Respect Life Committee and members of other pro-life groups from area parishes and churches gather on the sidewalks near A Woman's World Medical Center, 503 S. 12th Street, Fort Pierce to pray the rosary for the end of abortion. Please join us! If you are interested in being a sidewalk counselor, talk with the Ministry Head Jim Thoma first.
PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE, HOLY FAMILY RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY HEAD, RECEIVES RESPECT LIFE AWARD
Holy Family parishioner Jim Thoma was named 2015 Diocese of Palm Beach Respect Life Person of the Year during the Respect Life Conference in Tallahassee on October 24, 2015. The award was presented by Bishop Felipe J. Estevez (St. Augustine), episcopal moderator for Respect Life. Jim spearheaded fundraisers for the Pregnancy Care Center in Fort Pierce. He is a dedicated sidewalk counselor near A Woman's World abortion center in Fort Pierce. Jim and his Holy Family teammates organize pro-life activities at Holy Family including 40 Days for Life and the Giving Tree, and they invite you to join the fight for life!
Holy Family parishioner Jim Thoma was named 2015 Diocese of Palm Beach Respect Life Person of the Year during the Respect Life Conference in Tallahassee on October 24, 2015. The award was presented by Bishop Felipe J. Estevez (St. Augustine), episcopal moderator for Respect Life. Jim spearheaded fundraisers for the Pregnancy Care Center in Fort Pierce. He is a dedicated sidewalk counselor near A Woman's World abortion center in Fort Pierce. Jim and his Holy Family teammates organize pro-life activities at Holy Family including 40 Days for Life and the Giving Tree, and they invite you to join the fight for life!
In the News
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Rosary Rallies Heald on anniversary of the 'Miracle of the Sun'
RESOURCES
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Here at Holy Family: The Year of Mercy, The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, and Healing Masses
Diocese of Palm Beach's Office of Marriage and Family Life offers guidance in Natural Family Planning and fertility as well as parenting programs (including parent-child workshops regarding sexuality) Treasure Coast March for Life -- check out our page for the date and more details for the next march! Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach Rachel's Vineyard and Grief to Grace hosts post-abortion healing programs for men and women Pregnancy Care Center offers pregnancy tests, counseling, and healthcare for women; there are two locations: 761 NW Federal Hwy (Riverside Shoppes), Stuart, FL 34994 -- (772) 232-3222 1119 Delaware Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34950 -- (772) 489-9702 Sanctity of Human Life of the Treasure Coast, an ecumenical organization that lists pro-life events throughout the Treasure Coast Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach Elder Affairs This interesting article on euthanasia was written by Father Tad Pacholczyk, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, MA, who also serves as the Director of Education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Human Life International, the International pro-life Catholic organization approved by the Church Priests for Life |
LISTS
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MARCH FOR LIFE!
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Pro-lifers on the Treasure Coast have marched in the Annual Pro-Life March in Fort Pierce every year since January 2010. It always begins by gathering, singing, praying, and smiling across the street from Lincoln Park Academy in Fort Pierce. Then we move over to "A Woman's World Medical Center" (503 S. 12th Street, Fort Pierce) no later than 11:30am. There we pray and start marching to Fort Pierce City Hall, where we arrive at 12 noon. It's a short walk (less than half a mile). A rally with different speakers happens at City Hall following the March. We've averaged 100-300 marchers in the past and we really want to increase this number-- especially youth/teens and their families-- for our next march!
THINGS TO BRING: Wear sneakers or other shoes that are comfortable to stand and walk in. Bring what you need for the weather-- water bottle, hat, jacket, sunscreen-- it depends on the weather. Bring a pro-life sign that you made or banner for your church group if applicable; you can borrow a sign to carry from the Respect Life organization, or choose to not carry a sign at all. At national marches, some people sing peaceful chants and songs, sometimes supplemented with musical instruments that marchers are willing to carry. In our past marches, participants have brought and used the Jewish ram's horn. Keep it peaceful, respectful, meaningful.
Check out our Facebook page to see more photos and read summaries and requests for the upcoming march. We look forward to seeing you there!
THINGS TO BRING: Wear sneakers or other shoes that are comfortable to stand and walk in. Bring what you need for the weather-- water bottle, hat, jacket, sunscreen-- it depends on the weather. Bring a pro-life sign that you made or banner for your church group if applicable; you can borrow a sign to carry from the Respect Life organization, or choose to not carry a sign at all. At national marches, some people sing peaceful chants and songs, sometimes supplemented with musical instruments that marchers are willing to carry. In our past marches, participants have brought and used the Jewish ram's horn. Keep it peaceful, respectful, meaningful.
Check out our Facebook page to see more photos and read summaries and requests for the upcoming march. We look forward to seeing you there!
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CATECHISIS |
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Theology of the Body is renewing marriages, healing deep personal wounds, and setting people free to live the life of greatness that they are created for! In these days of abortion and euthanasia, we all ask the question "Why? What's gone wrong?" It is because humanity does not understand the real meaning of love. St. Pope John Paul II initiated Theology of the Body because he saw the desire-- the ache-- of the human heart for Love (God) and has tried to show us how to fulfill that desire with true happiness in this life and the next. For information regarding classes at Holy Family, visit our webpage, check the bulletin, or call 335-2385.
You can also listen to Crossroads, a one-hour pro-life radio talk show, every Monday at 2:00 PM and every Saturday at 11:00 AM on local Catholic radio station WJPP Prince of Peace 100.1 FM. You may alternately listen online. Crossroads is hosted by Anne Lotierzo, Executive Director of the Pregnancy Care Center.
You can also listen to Crossroads, a one-hour pro-life radio talk show, every Monday at 2:00 PM and every Saturday at 11:00 AM on local Catholic radio station WJPP Prince of Peace 100.1 FM. You may alternately listen online. Crossroads is hosted by Anne Lotierzo, Executive Director of the Pregnancy Care Center.
PRAYER WARRIORS-- WE NEED YOU!!
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"America's Finest Hour" Prayer Campaign: Held in Our Lady's Chapel every Tuesday at 6:00pm, this prayer campaign offers an opportunity to pray to save America from the evil that is sweeping across our land-- the list of evil is long, but one of the most profound crimes against God is abortion.
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Prayer Gathering: Members of Holy Family's Respect Life Committee and members of other pro-life groups from area parishes and churches gather on US1 near the northwest end of the Roosevelt Bridge. We meet on the sidewalk on US1 in front of Planned Parenthood in the Emerald Plaza, 1322 NW Federal Highway, Stuart.
9 Days for Life: This pro-life novena is organized by the US Council of Catholic Bishops. It is a focused period of prayer, penance, and pilgrimage. Surrounding the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, this novena has as its overarching intention the end to abortion; it starts on January 18th. Click here for daily prayers.
9 Days for Life: This pro-life novena is organized by the US Council of Catholic Bishops. It is a focused period of prayer, penance, and pilgrimage. Surrounding the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, this novena has as its overarching intention the end to abortion; it starts on January 18th. Click here for daily prayers.
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Rosary and Prayer with Most Reverend Gerald M Barbarito, Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach:
1-Every First Saturday of the month, pray near Presidential Women's Center, 100 Northpoint Parkway, West Palm Beach. 2-Every anniversary of Roe v. Wade in January, you are invited to participate in the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Please join the Bishop, priests, and parishioners from throughout our Diocese at the old courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach to pray for the protection of unborn children. These events are sponsored by the Catholic Charities Respect Life Office and details can be found on the Catholic Charities Calendar of Events page. |
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Adoration for Life: Hosted by the teens at St. Martin de Porres parish, Holy Family parish youth and their families are invited to spend one hour saying the Rosary for Life and meditating during Eucharistic Adoration in that parish's Adoration Chapel. Please call St. Martin de Porres' office (772-334-4214) if you are interested in joining them!