Our Lady of the Lakes Church

 

Respect Life Committee

 

          

 

Our Parish’s newly formed Respect Life Committee will be seeking ways of

educating parishioners and reaching out to those who need support in all phases of life,

from birth to the natural end of life.

 

The Respect Life Committee does not hold a formal monthly meeting. 

All activities and functions of this Committee shall continue as per usual. 

All members of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish Family are asked to

continue with any and all suggestions, qustions and participation.

Your help is always needed, encourages and appreciated.

 

Please contact the Respect Life Coordinator, Kathy Macher,

telephone number:  860-848-0205 or email:  katmckmach@aol.com

with any helpful way you may be able to contribute.

 

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The following letter was read at Masses or reprinted in parish bulletins.

 

Diocese of Norwich   Office of the Bishop

MOST REVEREND

MICHAEL R. COTE, D.D. 

January 6, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

                In Living the Gospel of Life, America’s bishops reminded the nation’s Catholics that “Only tireless promotion of the truth about the human person can infuse democracy with the right values.   This is what Jesus meant when he asked us to be leaven in society.”  To be followers of Our Lord, we as Catholics must therefore clearly understand what it means to be “a human person”.  To be “leaven in society” we must know what Our Lord intends for every person.  Above all we must understand that from the moment of conception every person is a child of Our Heavenly Father, individually known and loved by Him, destined to live with Him in love and adoration for all eternity.

 

                As Catholics and as Americans we are called by Our Lord to be His disciples, to listen to His word, and to strive tirelessly through Him to elevate the moral level of those areas in American society in which we individually live and work.

 

                Above all Our Lord calls us to defend life, because basic to all other rights is the right to life.  In Living the Gospel of Life, America’s bishops clearly taught that, “The sanctity of human life is not merely Catholic doctrine but part of humanity’s global ethical heritage and our nation’s founding principle.”  All persons, Catholic and non-Catholic, Christian and non-Christian, can know that human life is sacred.  Without the right to life no other right can have meaning.

               

                In Evangelium Vitae our beloved Holy Father John Paul II reminded the world that, “It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop.”  Therefore, as Catholics we must defend life above all other of God’s gifts.

 

                In defending life, we must recognize the many needs, material and spiritual, of our brothers and sisters and work to relieve those problems that cause life to be so devalued that it can be easily destroyed.  As followers of Christ we must teach our children the infinite moral value of life and guard them from the physical and moral damage caused by our culture’s widespread demeaning of life.  We must especially protect our children from the many dangerous influences in secular education and entertainment that lead to disrespect for life.

 

                On this Human Life Sunday, we set aside a day to ask Our Blessed Lord for His divine guidance and strength so that our nation may return again to its traditions of respect for human life.

 

                With every best wish, I am Sincerely yours in Christ,

                                                                                +Michael R. Cote

                                                                                Bishop of Norwich

                                                                                               

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We offer you the following references to

 respect life websites and organizations.

 

Diocese of Norwich

Office of Pro-Life

Focuses on education about the beginnings of life and the natural end of life

 and the threats posed by abortion and euthanasia to all human life morally

 acceptable alternatives by expanding education, health, nutrition and other

 services to disadvantaged parents and their children.

 

Office of Pro-Life Activities 

Joseph P. Collison, M.A., Director

201 Broadway, P.O. Box 587  Norwich, CT 06360-4328

Phone: 860-887-9294  FAX: 860-886-1670

 

          

 

Diocese of Norwich

Office of Catholic Charities/Office of Family Life

Recruits facilitators for marriage preparation programs and acts as liaison to Marriage

Encounter, Retrouvaille, Engaged Encounter, New Love, New Life (Remarriage Program). 

Catholic Charities offers Family Enrichment programs, provides support groups for

separated, divorced, widowed and bereaved persons.  Offers workshops, in-service training,

 parish fieldwork with various adult groups.  Promotes ministry for singles.

 

CATHOLIC CHARITIES also…

invites you to be part of our mission of "Providing Help, Creating Hope,"

for families in our diocese. Our programs, Adoption Services, Basic Needs

and Case Management; Behavioral Health Services, Pregnancy and the

Office of Family Life all need continuing support.

 

Catholic Charities/Catholic Family Services  Operates as a licensed

Mental Health Clinic providing professional counseling to families

and individuals.  In addition, Catholic Charities provides adoption,

pregnancy, emergency assistance, and family support services.

 

Office of Catholic Charities/Office of Family Life

Marek Kukulka, M.A., Exec.Dir.
331 Main St.  Norwich, CT   06360

Phone: 860-889-8346  FAX: 860-889-2658

 

          

 

Birthright

Invites You to Volunteer

Friendship counselors, clerical/clothing workers and church fundraising helpers are needed.

Birthright's guiding principle is:

It is the RIGHT of every pregnant woman to give BIRTH and the RIGHT of every

 child to be BORN.   Birthright is an emergency pregnancy service offering free

 pregnancy tests, friendship counseling and practical support to women in crisis pregnancies.

Our office is located in New London. 

Please join us and be blessed with the opportunity to help a mother and her child.

 Please call:  860-443-6205.