October 3 is Respect Life Sunday, part of Respect Life Month celebrated every October by the Catholic Church in the United States.
The theme this year is “Saint Joseph, Defender of Life,” which is fitting in this Year of St. Joseph in the Universal Church.
Many parishes and schools around the Diocese are planning special activities or special emphasis on protecting life during the month.
Catholic teaching says that life begins at conception and lasts until natural death. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God. Every life is sacred. Every person has human dignity.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops provides a wealth of resources for parishes, schools, families, ministries and individual Catholics who want to reflect more deeply on the Gospel of life during October.
"As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning to the end of their lives, and at every point in between,” the bishop’s conference writes as part of its Respect Life Month Resource Guide.
One suggestion for Catholics during October is to display the Respect Life Poster, an eye-catching reminder of the focus of the month. Parishes and schools are advised to find a high-traffic area for the poster, and families may want to display it on the fridge or a bedroom door.
For personal and group prayer, the bishop’s conference provides a prayer card containing the Prayer to St. Joseph, Defender of Life.”
For more information and many other suggestions and resources for Respect Life Month, visit https://www.respectlife.org/respect-life-month .
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