October is Respect Life Month. Respect Life Sunday, as designated by the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), is celebrated each year on the first Sunday of October. Respect Life Sunday starts a new year in the Respect Life Program. Every year the USCCB Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities publishes a program packet that includes information on current issues, liturgy resources and prayers, as well as other pertinent information. 

“The Church … is called to proclaim the gift of life, to serve life, and to 
promote a culture of life. … This is the message of hope we are called to 
proclaim and embody in a world where self-centeredness, greed, violence, 
and cynicism so often seem to choke the fragile growth of grace in 
people’s hearts.”

Pope Benedict XVI
Homily, Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, April 19, 2008
The sanctity of human life and dignity is at the core of Catholic Social Teaching. If you would like to be part of this ministry please contact Alfie Lopez at the church office.

The U.S. Bishops' 2001 Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities calls upon the Church -- its people, services, and institutions -- to pursue the cause of human life & dignity in four major areas.

1. Education to deepen understanding of the sanctity of human life and the humanity of unborn children, the moral evil of intentionally killing innocent human beings — whether at the beginning of life or at its end — and the mission of the Church to witness to and serve all human life.
2. Pastoral Care for women with problems related to pregnancy; for all who have been involved in abortion; for those who are disabled, sick, and dying, and their families and caregivers; for those who have lost loved ones to violent crime; and for those in prison sentenced to death.
3. Public Policy efforts directed to restoring legal protection to the lives of unborn children and those vulnerable to pressures to end their lives by assisted suicide, and to providing morally acceptable alternatives to abortion and assisted suicide.
4. Prayer and Worship directed to participation in the sacramental life of the Church and in programs of communal and individual prayer, that the culture of death that surrounds us today will be replaced by a culture of life and love.

Prayer for the Dignity of Human Life

all human life, born and unborn. We ask this through Christ our Lord.”
In your mercy, guide and assist our efforts to promote the dignity and value of 

“Lord and giver of all life, help us to value each person, created in love by you.

Amen.
- From Catholic.org