Pro–life events gain steam as Respect Life Month nears

Mark Hall and Sue Olive read a pro-life sign posted at the Cathedral St. Ignatius Loyola. Pro-life advocates are preparing for Respect Life Month which begins Sunday, Oct. 4.

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Mark Hall and Sue Olive read a pro–life sign posted at the Cathedral St. Ignatius Loyola. Pro–life advocates are preparing for busy Respect Life Month which begins Sunday, Oct. 4. “I have never seen so much stuff going on all over the nation,” said Don Kazimir, coordinator of the diocesan Respect Life Office for the past 14 years, who has been in the pro–life movement since 1976. “The Obama election has energized the pro–life movement.”

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PALM BEACH BUREAU EDITOR

Posted: 09.17.09

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Here is a list of some of the pro-life activities that are scheduled in the Diocese of Palm Beach during the month of October.

PALM BEACH GARDENS | Parishes in the Diocese of Palm Beach and around the nation will observe the Church’s annual Respect Life Sunday at Masses the first weekend of October.

The observance marks the beginning of Respect Life Month, when many parishes erect pro-life banners on grounds, and when Catholics join in prayer and activities dedicated to life and the pro-life movement that appears to be growing.

“I have never seen so much stuff going on all over the nation,” said Don Kazimir, coordinator of the diocesan Respect Life Office for the past 14 years, who has been in the pro-life movement since 1976. “The Obama election has energized the pro-life movement.”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops encourages all to join in respect life events. The organization supporting the ministry of the bishops has themed this year’s respect life program “Every child brings us God’s smile.”

“People should participate to protect the unborn,” said Kazimir. “If you don’t, who will? Speak out whenever you can.”

Parishes here have everything from a walkathon to youth events and prayer gatherings planned in locations throughout the diocese to encourage prayer and promote awareness of the pro-life cause.

For example, Port St. Lucie’s Holy Family is encouraging youths to participate in the parish’s inaugural “LifeJam” scheduled to kick off Sunday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.

“It is hopefully the first of many pro-life events that we can have for the youths in our area,” said Jim Thoma of the parish. “It’s gonna be great. Plus it is a fundraiser.”

The free evening will include music, speakers and pizza, and the goodwill offerings collected will go to benefit the nonprofit Pregnancy Care Center headquartered in Fort Pierce, which has a new, additional location in Stuart.

The organization is dedicated to the unborn and mothers, and offers a variety of services including pregnancy testing, education on pregnancy options, referrals and ultrasound. A portion of funds from the youth event also will go to the Family Life Teen ministry.

Respect Life Sunday is a day to participate in the diocese’s annual life chains, in which people line sidewalks near busy streets and intersections holding signs with pro-life messages. Many participants recite the rosary as they stand or sit to provide a powerful message. “When I participate in a life chain, I feel that I am honoring God by standing up for him publicly,” said Jim Berry of St. Mark in Boynton Beach, who is part of the parish respect life committee.

The diocesan Respect Life Office, in conjunction with representatives of respect life ministries at parishes, set up life chain gathering locations in Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton and Boynton Beach.

“So many folks believe abortion is wrong but do not take a public stand against it,” Berry said. “It is also a wonderful time of fellowship with like-minded Christians. I feel that abortion is the greatest evil of our time, and we must take a public stand to combat this evil. By participating in a life chain, we are saying abortion is evil, and we are encouraging others to join in the fight.”

Susan Pine, a parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus in West Palm Beach and president of Faith, Action, Counseling and Education for Life, a nonprofit pro-life group commonly called FACE Life, has been in the pro-life movement for 20 years. She is joining the national “40 Days for Life Campaign” and spearheading local efforts. As part of the campaign that runs until Nov. 1, participants are encouraged to fast, pray and join in prayer vigils.

“Bishop (Gerald M. Barbarito) will participate, leading us in prayer Oct. 5 at noon, outside the Presidential Women’s Center in West Palm Beach,” said Pine about activities and the center off 45th Street on Northpoint Parkway that offers abortions. “We have priests in the diocese who are participating including Father Alfredo Hernandez of St. Juliana, Father Gavin Badway of Holy Name of Jesus, Father Tom Skindeleski of St Vincent Ferrer and others.”

At Emmanuel in Delray Beach, Mary Rodriguez, a parishioner of St. Mark, is spearheading a walkathon. This will be the second time she has staged the event.

“Last year, we had more than 150 people and we collected $11,796.00,” said Rodriguez about the funds that go to Birthline/Lifeline, an organization that she directs. The organization, which is supported by Catholic Charities and has offices in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach, is dedicated to the unborn, mothers and families, and offers pregnant women a variety of services, education and referrals.

“Many of the people who attended wanted to ‘do it again and again, as often as possible’ and the reasoning was ‘we need a way to express ourselves as a people that stand for basic human rights,’” she said. “By coming together publicly and with dignity for a cause that is so serious, we offer hope to each other. As we gather, we witness the great numbers of people who are dedicated to restoring protection to the unborn. We are strengthened by the prayer and we are strengthened by the support of everyone who attends,”

Rodriguez said she hopes to double or triple attendance this year to raise funds to help make the pregnancy crisis centers possible that served “6,676 clients and saved 510 babies from certain death by abortion last year.”

The diocese encourages all to join in activities dedicated to Respect Life Month. The homebound and those who are not able to attend are asked to pray for the pro-life movement, the unborn and the dignity of life.

“Mother Teresa spoke of the poverty that exists in (at that time) the richest nation of the world,” said Rodriguez. “She described us as the poorest of all nations because we have legalized killing the baby in the womb.

“My prayer is that people of our great nation will once again realize that human life is sacred,” said Rodriguez. “Our bodies are sacred and our gift of fertility is sacred. With my work at Birthline/Lifeline, I see clients who sadden my heart because they are experiencing, in their personal lives, the pain of a culture that has lost sight of what is sacred. If a culture does not realize that life itself is sacred, how can people value anything? Their own lives have never known respect or dignity or love. Most have never experienced the stability and the love that comes through the most basic need for civilization – the family. Family harmony has been undermined and the results are all around us.”

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