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rm4mrfrus
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| Posted: Sept 22 2006 at 10:59pm | IP Logged
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Hello dear ladies,
I am here once again to pick your very knowledgeable brains! Dh and I are forming our parish's first pro life committee (or whatever it is called). We are trying to figure out what to start out with, how, what activities to do, and such. This parish seems to have 1) a lack of knowledge 2) few families that use NFP 3) few families that are interested in any pro life issues. So I am not even sure where to start? I just know we need it!
Any suggestions you have would be greatly welcomed. We put an announcement in our bulletin that our first meeting will be Monday and we have had nobody respond that they will be coming. (Fr. told us that parishioners probably have no idea what it is (even though they should-his words) so we should probably issue personal invitations to join.
We were thinking of putting out an information table on Respect Life Sunday. But what info to put out? What would you suggest? I was thinking of putting some of our personal books out with a "please return to ........" inside the cover. I was also thinking of buying a bunch of prolife pencils, bumper stickers, and precious feet pins and giving them away, but so far the funds for that have not been figured out. Also the more we think about it, it seems that the parishioners are not ready to proclaim anything yet. Maybe make a bunch of copies of "10 Reasons to have another child" and pass them out? What are some of the best info brochures, etc to start with? I thought about giving away some copies of the encyclicals, but that would probably be too much at this point.
Dh called the NFP teacher in the next town over to ask for info brochures and she did not have any because they are printing up new ones. (she also told us btw that THAT parish used to have a prolife group, but it died out due to disinterest) She told us that very few people in either our parish or hers use NFP (probably 5 total that she knows about....we don't as we have not encountered a need to space our dc...but we did take the class ages ago)
We are also starting up a birthday singing ministry. It involves getting a monthly list of birthdays and calling and singing Happy Birthday and then saying "Happy Bday from your St. .......... parish family" We are trying to get volunteers to take one day each month and call the people who are on that day. We felt this would be a subtle way to introduce prolife values...and it would appeal to families with children.
We are going to be starting up a Life Chain here. The Life Chain people advised us to do it at the end of Oct to give us a bit more time to get it going.
Dh is trying to get the Knights to spiritually adopt a baby and do some other activites. Not too sure how that is going. But because he is not talking about any KoC plans, I assume it did not take off.
I approached our women's group about having showers for the pg mamas and that was greeted with disgust because there are "so many pg women" (ha, by their count there are about 8 total in our parish....that's nothing compared to our old parish up in No VA!) They also said they felt it was not the "role" of the women's group?! Ok Ok, 3 of them also said they want women to be ordained so I guess I should have expected little from the group!
Any other things that your parish does that are particularly helpful or well received? What would you do? Our parish is pretty small. About 250 families. Fr. is very supportive (naturally) of us, so we could probably do just about anything.
Thanks for making it through this missive and for any advice!
__________________
Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
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Maddie
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| Posted: Sept 22 2006 at 11:47pm | IP Logged
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God bless your efforts. I worked many years in the prolife movement and can appreciate your frustration!
I see you are thinking of doing the spirtual adoption. This is an awesome way to include the parish. My last parish would publish the stage the adopted baby was at in the bulletin in detail. It was always tasteful, for example one entry might read, " This week your adopted baby's heart began to beat" or "This week your adopted baby is 9 weeks old and has begun to suck her thumb." Or whatever. This is a great way to educate the parish in a non confrontational way.
I would really stress being very upbeat and avoid any material that would be offensive. Education on the humanity of the baby and the churches position on abortion and life issues would be my suggestion. I say this from experience, I was a hard hitting, Operation Rescue (yes, I have been arrested  ) type that thought everyone needed to know the gruesome details to be really pro life. Not that I think your doing it, your ideas sound wonderful, but I just thought I throw that in for your consideration of materials and approach.
One other idea, I would publish the number of a place where a woman who has aborted her baby could get Catholic post-abortive help. That may be just the help some poor woman in the parish needs to help her understand why she is suffering and depressed. If it's not talked about, it's easy to overlook.
God bless your efforts!!
__________________
~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Sept 23 2006 at 12:20am | IP Logged
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One year our bulletin had the "as the baby grows in the mommy's tummy" thing.. for the infant Jesus.. so that it started with The Annunciation and ended with Christmas.. it was really neat for me.. because that was the year I was due 3 days after Christmas (of course that was one of my late ones and his birthday is actually in jan  )
I think our pro-life group isn't limited to our Parish though.. I think while we have people in our parish involved.. that it is more of a joint/community effort.
I believe they give a baby blanket (and other things if they've had them donated) to any new mother in our community. Some of the blankets are purchased some are home made etc. One year they were bringing meals. But it was any new mother.. not just the women in the parish.
But with it being community-wide there's more of a base for doign things.. and they ask for donations of things (like the baby blankets) so that it's not just those involved out of pocket.
They do a booth at the county fair.
Less emphasis on NFP though that information is available.. but more on an unborn infant being a real person type of stuff.
You might also want to consider things for senior citizens.. respect life goes the full spectrum of ages.
Also, having information on adoption and the group(s) that help post abortion women deal with the trauma and guilt.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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MarieC
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| Posted: Sept 23 2006 at 5:26am | IP Logged
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A parish I used to belong to would have a rose procession in January (near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade). The rose procession was held at the end of Mass and had one person to represent every year since R v. W--they tried to have people born in those years and a pregnant mom at the end. Each person was given a rose which they placed in a vase near the front of the church. An appropriate song was played. The only thing said was something at the beginning along the lines of..."it's been ____ number of years since R.v.W.
Each participant represents one year.
Sorry I don't know more details....it's been awhile since we were there. It always brought tears to my eyes and my children and I loved participating (I got to be the pregnant mom a couple of times).
Good luck with your efforts, I'll keep you in my prayers.
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Marie
mom to 6
dds-98, 00, 02 and 09 & dss-03 and 06
Out in the Orchard
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momwise
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| Posted: Sept 23 2006 at 10:24am | IP Logged
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This Voter's Guide by Catholic Answers is being passed out at our parish every weekend during Sept. and Oct. It is one of the best things I've seen to explain what Catholics believe and how to vote appropriately.
I love the blessings for expectant moms at the end of Mass during Respect Life month (maybe Fr. would agree to do that?).
Does your diocesan Pro-Life Office have resources you could use?
__________________
Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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jdostalik
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| Posted: Sept 23 2006 at 11:53am | IP Logged
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Dear Hollee,
I just lost my rather lengthy post to you, so I will be brief. I led the pro-life group at my parish for over 6 years and have lots of wonderful ideas I'd love to share with you. Please PM me if you would like to chat! 
A few rather quick ideas that have always been popular with our parish--
1. An annual "baby shower" on the week-end closest to the Roe v. Wade anniversary. We put up two playpens at the back of church and advertise in the bulletin leading up to the event...We accept new and gently used baby/maternity items from clothing to diapers to car seats. We also have the K of C help us by standing at the exits with boxes wrapped up like baby gifts where parishioners can donate money if they haven't had time to purchase a gift. This is always a big fundraiser for our local Catholic crisis pregnancy center. We decorate the playpen with balloons and streamers--it really becomes a celebration of life and generosity!
2. Our Dallas diocese has one of the best-organized pro-life committees in the nation. Our site may give you ideas of things you could do at the parish level. We ally ourselves closely with Fr. Pavone, founder of Priests for Life and Msgr. Reilly, the founder of Helpers of God's Precious Infants. This link is the only one I could find that explains the group--Msgr. Reilly is based in New York...Trying to get a prayerful presence in front of the closest abortion center to your parish is a must and I highly recommend Msgr. Reilly's techniques. Perhaps organizing a group to pray the Rosary one Saturday morning a month? We did this and it was always a very safe, prayerful gathering and many times (as we found out later), a baby was saved! 
3. The Priests for life site I linked to above has a lot of good tips for ways to become more involved in pro-life activities. American Life League is a good site to visit, as well.
4. Your idea of having a pro-life table on Respect Life Sunday is a great one--the precious feet are wonderful symbols of life and if you can afford them (you can buy them from Heritage House, as well as a good brochure on an unborn baby's development. Giving gifts of the precious feet has always been a great way for our group to get people (especially the children, they love them!) to stop by and hear about our group's activities/needs--have a sign-up sheet for those interested in learning more about helping or learning about the pro-life movement...
Gotta run--many prayers for you and your dh and kudos to your pastor for being so supportive--that is a must!
__________________
God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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rm4mrfrus
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| Posted: Sept 23 2006 at 4:11pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the quick replies! I am hopeful that we can get something started soon!
FWIW- we will only do the "tasteful" things. We do not have any abortion mills nearby and I have never been one for the signs with the graphic pics (although I do know that sometimes there is a time and a place...I just can't think of one where we would need this right now). Our goal is to remain upbeat, like you said Maddie, and to gently educate. I love the idea of the bulletin insert. That is easily done. And I will get the phone number of a Catholic post abortive help line. Fr. already ordered an insert that we asked him to for the Respect Life Sunday. I can't remember where we ordered it from...I think Victory Won. So I am sure he will give an ok for other inserts or announcements in the bulletin.
Jodie-thanks for mentioning the whole spectrum - we are going to be including it all as much as we can. Our youngest dc's godmother is a nursing professor and geriatrics is her specialty so she is handling that end of it. She really enjoys focusing on the end of life issues. Good thing too because I don't know all that much about that or the death row stuff. So far we don't have anyone yet to focus on the death row stuff, but hope that someone steps in.
What a great thing that you have a whole community pro life group! That really does make a difference!
We do have a crisis pregnancy center here and we do a "shower" thing for them twice a year and our parish contributes $ too I think. But I have mixed feelings personally about combining too much with them. Dh and I had a meeting with the director to talk about volunteering our time, etc (about a year ago) and they did not want us because we are Catholic and they did not want us counseling anyone with our Catholic outlook. I am mad that they willingly come to our Church and ask for money every year but do not want volunteers who are Catholic to actually work with the women! Well, they would have taken us as Catholics if we had promised to not talk about any of the things that we believe in that they do not and if we would make sure we tried to get them "saved". We went around and around. Basically becuse it is their show, it was their rules, take 'em or leave 'em. So we just drop off diapers every once in a while and participate in our church's showers for them. But maybe I will have to make another effort to pair up....
Marie, I love the idea of the rose procession. Our priest would really like that also. An easy thing to do also!
Thanks for the ideas and keep them coming if you have more!
__________________
Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
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rm4mrfrus
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| Posted: Sept 23 2006 at 4:22pm | IP Logged
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Gwen and Jennifer,
I replied before seeing your responses!
Gwen, I have a copy of the Voter's Guide....I will show it to Fr. and see what he thinks about ordering a bunch to give out. I bet he will go for it! Also the expectant mom blessing...I know he will do that! I will check with our diocese to see if there are any resources...I worry a bit that there may not be much....
Jennifer, I will PM you! Would love to hear your ideas. I soo want to order the Precious Feet pins but we have not fund raised yet and our family budget has no extras this month.
Any ideas for fundraising? I fear the Knights may not be as much help as we were hoping.
I have spent much time on Fr. Pavone's site and have sent many links to our pastor. I will check out your diocese's website as well! Thanks so much for all the info. I am not really the leader type or committee starter, but we really feel the need to do something. I am much more of a joiner than an organizer. So I may be PMing you often!
Thanks so very much!
__________________
Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Pro Life Activities
