The Respect Life Committee Mission Statement: To promote in our parish and community respect for every human life from conception to natural death.
Goals:
- Pray for protection of all human lives
- Educate ourselves and others about Catholic teaching on pro-life issues
- Provide material, spiritual and emotional support for mothers and babies
- Support pro-life activities in our community
- Maintain a calendar of pro-life events
- Increase membership of the St. Thomas Respect Life Committee
- Promote pro-life legislation
Meeting times: 2nd Thursday of each month from 3:15-4:45pm in the parish library
If you cannot attend meetings but would like to help with various activities, projects, or events, be on the committee’s e-mail list, or wish additional information, please contact Barbara Grant Yopko at 734-355-3503, respectlife@sta2.org.
Watch parish bulletin for pro-life activities, events and information.
The inviolability of the person which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, finds its primary purpose and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights –for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture—is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition of all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination. . . The human being is entitled to such rights, in every phase of development, from conception until natural death; and in every condition, whether healthy or sick, whole or handicapped, rich or poor. . .
– The Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World (Christifideles Laici), Pope (now Saint) John Paul II
A Pro-Life Litany (adapted from a prayer by Priests for Life)
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father, Creator of the world,
Response: Have mercy on us!
For every sin against life,
For the bloodshed throughout our land,
For the silence of your people,
For the co-operation of your people in this tragedy,
For our pre-born brothers and sisters killed by abortion,
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
For our pre-born brothers and sisters threatened by abortion,
For mothers who have had abortions,
For mothers tempted to have abortions,
For fathers of aborted babies,
For abortionists,
For all who assist and cooperate in abortions,
For doctors and nurses, that they may nurture life,
For the clergy, that they may speak up for life,
For the pro-life movement,
For courage and perseverance in pro-life work,
For legal professionals, courts and judges, educators, media professionals,
For the protection of all human lives from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death,
In thanksgiving for the babies saved from abortion,
In thanksgiving for the mothers saved and healed from abortion,
In thanksgiving for all those who take a stand against abortion,
In thanksgiving for the call to be part of the pro-life movement,
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Let Us Pray
Almighty and ever-living God, You have created all things through your Son Jesus Christ. He trampled the power of death by His Paschal Mystery. May all who acknowledge you promote the sacredness of life and always serve you faithfully, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
EMBRACE GRACE
In 2022 the US Conference of Catholic Bishops launched a nationwide initiative: Walking with Moms in Need.
In response, the Respect Life Committee at Saint Thomas started a program called EMBRACE GRACE to serve pregnant women who chose life amidst difficult personal circumstances. We offer them support while introducing them to the love of Jesus Christ through our church. So far, seven women have benefitted from our ministry and we hope to grow it into the future.
To find out more about Embrace Grace, click here:
To help provide financial assistance to women in need, click here: and choose “Respect Life” in dropdown menu (In note section, type “Embrace Grace”)
Single and unexpectedly pregnant? Come to Embrace Grace at St. Thomas parish! Embrace Grace is a 12-week program that teaches single, pregnant women about God’s love and grace, and at the end, we throw a baby shower to help provide for their babies and to honor them for choosing life. We provide emotional, practical, and spiritual support to these brave women.
We meet at 7-8:45 pm on Mondays starting August 21 in the Parish library. We look forward to getting to know you and sharing your journey. Contact Kara Chavey at 734-274-0620 or karachavey@gmail.com with questions or to register.
If you’d like to help the Embrace Grace program and help moms in need, please go to the giving page on the website and choose “Respect Life Online.” or click here. Thank you for your support!
For more information on Respect Life and Embrace Grace, please go to the website at:
https://sta2.org/church/respect-life-committee/