December 17, 2021 – Diocese of Evansville Family & Life eNews Quarterly
OFFICE OF FAMILY & LIFE eNEWS Quarterly
January-March 2022
The Feast of the Holy Family falls every year on the Sunday after Christmas (this year, it will be the next day!) We pray to our Lord Jesus through the intercession of His Mother and St. Joseph for the protection of our families and for their blessing on us, especially upon those families suffering adversity at this time. This is a wonderul opportunity to bless all families at Mass!
National Marriage Week will be observed February 7-14, 2022.
The theme will be Called to the Joy of Love.
Plan a Mass and movie night for couples at your parish OR
Invite the parents of your school age children to a holy hour
There are other ideas like old board game night, card game tournaments OR
A good old fashioned Valentine’s Day dance for your married couples.
SHOULD WE DO SOMETHING AS A DIOCESE? DROP ME A LINE AND LET ME KNOW
2022 Retreats
FEBRUARY 18-19, 2022 (TWO DAY RETREAT)
APRIL 22-23, 2022 (TWO DAY RETREAT)
SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 (ONE DAY RETREAT)
REMINDER: ONLINE UNVIELED AVAILABLE ONLY BY PRIEST REQUEST AFTER JANUARY 1, 2022.
INTERESTED IN STARTING A SPONSOR COUPLE MARRIAGE PREP PROGRAM IN YOUR PARISH? CONTACT the O.F.L. FOR DETAILS.
COMING IN AUGUST 2022! LIFE GIVING WOUNDS IS A HEALING OPPORTUNITY FOR ADULT CHILDREN OF DIVORCE.
The HOLY FAMILY CENTER FOR LIFE provides Natural Family Planning Education in the Diocese of Evansville.
WHAT CAN WE DO IN OUR DIOCESE TO CELEBRATE THE WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES? Drop me a line and let me know!
THERE ARE 58 INDIVIDUALS FROM THIRTY PARISHES AND TWO UNIVERSITIES REPRESENTED ON THE DIOCESAN ROSARY PRAYER MAP…IS YOUR PARISH REPRESENTED? SIGN UP TODAY!
Is your parish aware that Project Rachel is available for those whose lives have been touched in some way by abortion? This is a free resource to parishes through the Office of Family & Life
Walking with Moms in Need is a resource supported by our parishes, the Diocese of Evansville and the USCCB. This map provides updated resource and location information. We are called to the Gospel of Life and in this calling we support those in need spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Diocesan Pro-Life Directors, State Catholic Conference Directors
USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities
December 17. 2021
U.S. Bishops’ Pro-Life Chairman Denounces FDA Decision on Chemical Abortion Pill
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today they will eliminate the safety requirement of in-person dispensing in the Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for the chemical abortion drug mifepristone. The FDA’s action clears a path for the drug to be dispensed by clinics, medical offices, and hospitals through the use of online pharmacies or drug delivery services.
In response, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued the following statement:
“Every life is sacred: the lives of mothers and the lives of the unborn. Not only does this decision further the tragic taking of unborn lives but it does little to care for the well-being of women in need. Far from the accompaniment that women in crisis pregnancies deserve, this decision would leave women alone in the midst of trauma, often without any medical attention or follow up care.
“One of the essential tasks of governments is to safeguard the health and well-being of citizens. As such, the FDA ought to act to protect the lives and health of mothers and children, rather than merely succumbing to the abortion industry’s pressure to loosen safety standards.
“I call on leaders of every level of government to stand with women in need by promoting policies that recognize the value and human dignity of both mother and child, rather than further promoting the devastating tragedy of abortion.”
In the documents listed here, the Vatican urges everyone concerned for the sanctity of life to protest the use of abortion-derived cell lines and advocate for the development of vaccines with no connection to abortion. To make it easier to take this action, we provide the following sample letters to pharmaceutical companies that are using abortion-derived cell lines to produce and/or test vaccines.
(NEW) Facilitators for Life Giving Wounds (Support for Adult Children of Divorce) This program is beginning in 2022. A group of 5 persons, who are themselves adult children of divorce, and a chaplain is needed to help bring other adult children of divorce the healing peace of Christ in their lives.
Unveiled Marriage Preparation Retreat Facilitator Couples
1 Facilitator Couples needed
There are always 2 Facilitator Couples per retreat
Weekend food and lodging expenses are covered
The UNVEILED marriage preparation program is a clearly defined step by step process agenda.
Parish Sponsor Couples
Parish level sponsor couple programs are opportunities for parishes to wrap around and celebrate their young adults as they prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage.
Natural Family Planning Presenter Couples Married couples who are trained or are using Natural Family Planning are needed to tell their stories and impart the NFP message to High School students and engaged couples.
Respect Life Coordinators are needed at about 1/2 of the parishes in our Diocese.
Contact me at egirten@evdio.org if you have questions about any of the above or are interested in volunteering for any of these ministries
