Hello everyone! Happy New Year!
Hope you are all well and your New Year's resolutions are still resolved! I'm writing to tell you all about last week's meeting as well as with some news and event updates. For now this will take the place of the more formal minutes I have done in the past...
We had a brief meeting on the 3rd of January. We met, opened with a prayer at approximately 7:20 pm and discussed briefly a few things that have been happening...or will be...
Our next Life Logic meeting, scheduled for March 28th, is going to be on the subject of Adoption. We discussed the tack we wanted to take, whether it be from a Respect Life point of view, or from a purely informational point of view and determined that the latter would be less controversial and draw a larger audience. However, we hope to subtly segue into the informational evening by introducing adoption as an alternative to other options. Patti has already contacted Diane Pietrzak from Aid for Women who has responded resoundingly with contacts at five different adoption services. Places to begin assembling our presentation. We felt that it would also be good to highlight an adoptive parent's point of view and hope to, once cleared through our new pastor, 'advertise' in The Guide for a Queens parishoner to speak to their own adoption experience. (In the meanwhile, however, if you know of someone who fits this genre and speaks well to the subject, please feel free to let Patti know how to contact them, or have them call her at any time.) It might also be good to get a mother who has put her child up for adoption for whatever reason to speak as well...just thinking out loud though.... More information will be forthcoming as this evening coalesces.
Next at the meeting, Patti introduced Shannon Martino (her eldest daughter) who was in town visiting for Christmas, but who also spoke at this meeting in her capacity as the graduate liason to Penn for Life a very active pro-life group at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Shannon explained that their group is very visible on campus, involving themselves in many ways including hosting an annual Pro-Life week, speakers, videos and other events. Their mailing list currently has over 250 participants. Shannon discussed her group's activities and their recent efforts to obtain a grant that will allow their university to provide 100+ apartments for pregnant and parenting college students, thus providing those students the ability to achieve their education AND to choose life for their unborn children. Their group is enlisting help from many other groups, extending an ecuminical hand in pursuit of this goal and it looks very promising.
This discussion thread led us to a brief discussion of the current Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act of 2005. This Act, pending in both the House (HR 4265) and Senate (S1966) (both now in committee), seeks to provide 200 federal grants totalling $10 million, to private and public universities for the same purpose; to provide pregnant and parenting students a viable, life-affirming alternative. Feminists for Life (www.feministsforlife.com) has been actively involved in this movement since 1996.
Next we covered Pastoral Care where Patti has promised to replenish the pamphlets in church and to include Respect Life contact information in the Guide, for those facing life-threatening situations; pregnancy counseling centers, suicide prevention, hospice, etc..
We discussed the fact that we're facing a deadline for our next prayer opportunity; the vigil weekend for the 33rd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states: "In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass "For Peace and Justice" (no. 22 of the "Masses for Various Needs") should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day." It was also suggested that we bring out the Respect Life candle again for this special weekend, and have special intentions written for that weekend. The Archdiocese Respect Life office also suggests a special hour of prayer. Patti and Stella are to bring these ideas to the Pastor and to other Liturgical groups as soon as possible.
There are many Archdiocesian events scheduled to surround the Roe vs. Wade anniversary as well. A short list follows:
- January 14, 2006, 7:15 p.m. - Archdiocesan Mass for Life - St. Mary of the Angels, 850 N. Hermitage Avenue, Chicago (celebrated by Reverend George Rassas, Bishop Elect and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago)
- January 20-24 - March for Life Pilgrimage to Washington DC (Many local groups including the Archdioceses of Chicago and Joliet, as well as the IL Right to Life Committee are sponsoring travel arrangements to this event. Contact Patti if you are interested in attending.)
- January 28th - Speak Out Illinois - This annual conference on Respect and Pro-Life issues is being held this year at the Drury Land Oak Brook Terrace, from 1:00-8:00 pm. (PLEASE NOTE: AT OUR MEETING WE DISCUSSED THIS IS USUALLY AN EARLY MORNING EVENT, BUT THIS YEAR IT IS NOT.) Excellent speakers including Cardinal George and Fr. Frank Pavone are scheduled. Registration is $55 until 1/16 and $65 thereafter. Check out their website at www.speakoutillinois.org for more information.
We discussed the possibility of sponsoring the attendance of Speak Out Illinois by one of our students as the prize for an essay contest or something similar. Patti to check our funds and to contact our school representatives to discuss this possibility.
Under the heading of Public Policy, we discussed the possibility of supporting a boycott of Walgreens which was begun by the Respect Life Office in Bellville, IL, in response to the firing of four of that company's pharmacists because of their faith-based refusal to dispense prescription morning-after drugs. It was, however, deemed necessary to first discuss this with the Archdiocese and our own pastor before making any such public announcement. It was also mentioned that there may be a measure of impractibility about this measure because of recent changes in Medicare D restrictions and providers. Additional information to follow as available.
We also discussed the necessity of calling our congressmen and senators to voice our support in a number of current matters including the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act of 2005 as discussed above, and in support of Judge Amuel Alito in his nomination to the Supreme Court. (A full list (as provided by the National Right to Life Committee) can be found here http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/issues/.) Contact our federal representatives as follows:
Rahm Emanuel (5th Disctric Representative (D) 773 / 267-5926 or 212 / 225-4061
Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) 312 / 353-4952 or 202 / 224-2152
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) 312/886-3506 or 202 / 224-2854
You can find more information on federal laws being enacted that effect life issues at the following link: http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/issues/bills/.
The evening ended at approximately 8:30 pm.
Following are a few other upcoming local events in which you might have an interest:
January 18-19, 2006 - Chastity Curricula "Game Plan" and "Navigator" Teacher Trainings, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago Respect Life Office
February 3 – 5, 2006 - Embrace the Mystery – A spiritual retreat for married couples. Presented by Fr. Thomas J Loya, STB MA at Marytown Retreat Center.(This was the speaker at the Theology of the Body Training that Patti attended last fall. He was great!) $300 per couple (includes all lectures, meals & accommodations)
February 11th from 4:00p.m. to 11:00p.m. "The Marriage God Gave You" - 4th Annual Marriage Retreat at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg. The cost of this retreat is $115 prior to February 3rd. If you would like to register or more information please contact Renee McIlheran at 708-579-1488.
February 25, 2006 - Theology of the Body Conference (similar to the Teachers Training conference given in October at the Archdiocese of Chicago Respect Life Office) Presented by Fr. Thomas J. Loya, STB, MA at St. George Romanian Catholic Church, 720 Rural Street, Aurora, IL. For more information please contact Claire Perez at 630-859-3922 or auroraareacenter@sbcglobal.net.
April 28 – 29 - 3rd National Forum on the Theology of the Body – www.theologyofthebody.net “Education and Evangelization”
As always, thank you all for your support, assistance, guidance and help. I am looking forward to working with you in 2006 to continue our efforts contributing to the Culture of Life at Queen of Angels.
Blessings on you all,
Patti Corbitt
Respect Life Coordinator
Queen of Angels Parish
www.respectlifechicago.com
The Queen of Angels Respect Life Committee is now on Twitter! Follow @QofARespectLife for updates on group activities as well as news, videos and reflections from other organizations which work to promote a culture of life.
