DIOCESAN NEWS
09/25/09
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October events show respect for life
By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
      As another October approaches, I would like to call your attention to a couple of opportunities for us as a diocesan church to celebrate Respect Life Month at the parish level. I know that many of our parishes and missions have annual events to mark Respect Life Month, and I hope these two events could be easily incorporated into those events already planned.
      Both events occur on the weekend of Oct. 16-18. First, the annual Worldwide Rosary for Unborn Babies is a prayer event designed to allow Catholics as individuals and as groups to pray the rosary on this particular weekend for the intention of an end to abortion.
      Rosary circles, prayer groups, small faith groups in parishes could easily meet on one of these days even before or after Sunday liturgy to pray the rosary for this intention. This is a simple and yet powerful way to observe Respect Life Month and be united with thousands of other Catholics throughout the country in prayers to end abortion.
      Secondly, the National Children’s Sabbath weekend is an event that brings to light the plight of children in our communities.
      As Catholics we strongly strive to protect unborn babies in the womb, but we also strive to protect and nurture those same babies who once born need a decent education, decent healthcare and a safe environment in which to live.
      I am asking all of our parishes to offer special intentions during their Sunday liturgies and to also use the Blessing of Children in the Book of Blessings. We will be sending a set of suggested intercessions and the blessing to all parishes next week. These also will be posted on our diocesan website, www.jacksondiocese.org.
      The Children’s Sabbath is sponsored locally by Congregations for Children (CFC). CFC is an ecumenical initiative of the Catholic, Episcopalian and United Methodist bishops in Mississippi that focuses on advocacy for children in our state.
      As many of us are aware, Mississippi ranks near the bottom among states when it comes to poverty issues, education opportunities and quality health care for our children. Nearly 30 percent of Mississippi’s children are currently living in poverty.
      CFC promotes the Children’s Sabbath as a way to bring awareness among our congregations of the many serious issues facing our children.
      In addition to promoting the Children’s Sabbath, CFC, under the direction of Project Coordinator, Benjamin Russell, who also serves as a member of Catholic Charities Parish Social Ministry Office, sponsors an annual breakfast for state legislators and other elected officials to meet with us bishops and hear our concerns as faith leaders.
      CFC also offers legislative advocacy training for parishes and congregations of the different denominations. This training is very useful for those who might want to become more actively involved in helping to form laws and legislation that will create for children of Mississippi a better environment in which to be born, to grow and develop and become productive citizens and in turn reach the full potential that God has given to them.
      These two opportunities to observe Respect Life Month are a great way for us as Catholics to say yes we respect life from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death.
      Let us take time the weekend of Oct. 16-18 to offer a rosary for the unborn and to offer prayers for all the children of our state, especially those living in poverty.
For more information on ways to observe Respect Life Month visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops web site.

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