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Do you know someone who would benefit from one of these ministries?
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Divorced? Saint Joseph Parish is hosting a twelve-week Surviving Divorce program that begins on April 2 – June 18, 6:30 – 8 PM, Saint Joseph Ministry House (218 W 13 th Street/Catholic Radio office, WTJW 93.1FM Sign in yard) Find comfort and counsel consistent with Catholic Church teachings. Visit saintjosephjasper.org events page to register and to find out more information.
Surviving Divorce features twelve video presentations that cover topics such as shock and grief, anger and forgiveness, money issues, dealing with children and a former spouse, and annulment and remarriage. This program is for the newly separated and divorced and those still struggling with issues many years later. It will help them find answers to their questions, restore their hope, and begin authentic healing. It is open to both men and women. |
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Over 100 couples across nine of our diocesan parishes are involved with the Grace Marriage enrichment program. Couples are meeting at their parish 1x every 3 months to discuss life and marriage and become more intentional about their relationships. Feedback on this program is very positive from both women and men. Start-up is easy. CMI funds are available for this ministry. Contact Eric at egirten@evdio.org for details. |
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The Office of Family & Life is giving away ten marriage builder packages! Each package is a $59.00 value. Parishes can also create eucharistic marriage groups for their married couples. CMI funds are available for this ministry. Contact for details.
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| The Diocese of Evansville offers small group support for those who are same-sex attracted and looking to live a life in Christ. If interested, email courage@evdio.org. |
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| I saw so many people leave the Church because they had this experience [same-sex desires/gender discordance] or they loved others who did, and I wondered when my faith would give out too… Eden Invitation is a beacon for the suffering Church. The sense of belonging and being invited reminds me of early Christian communities. It’s anchored in Christ. His disciples are led by the Spirit– the priests, consecrated, married, and single come together to worship God, to celebrate the sacraments, and the vulnerable are protected in the middle of it all. It’s beautiful! It makes me more in love with the wider Church; more excited to be part of my community at home. I’ve been in Catholic communities my whole life, yet I now feel evangelized. | *Dustan, Eden Invitation Community Member |
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Hurting from abortion? Know someone who is?
Rachel’s Vineyard
Rachel’s Vineyard offers post-abortion healing retreats for women
and men suffering from the emotional and spiritual wounds of abortion.
Upcoming Retreats in 2024:
May 3-5 – Owensboro, Kentucky area
July 19-21 – Cullman, Alabama
October 11-13 – Owensboro, Kentucky area
Contact Rita: (270) 474-4707
Email: retreats@hopeafterabortionky.com
https://www.rachelsvineyard.org/
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Leslie Schaefer presents her family’s story of child loss; information on child loss in general and how the diocesan Redbird Ministries group is expanding to meet the needs of parents who have experienced child loss. The presentation includes a 12 minute video from Redbird Ministries and Q/A. 20-60 minute presentation range.
Redbird Ministries Presentation for Parish Council, Parish Sub-Committees or Commissions, Small Groups |
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– March 15, 2024 – Volume 101
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NATIONWIDE INVITATION TO PRAYER
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| On March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that could impact the widespread accessibility of abortion pills. The USCCB’s president and the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities announced a nationwide invitation to prayer. |
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PRO-LIFE CHAIR RESPONDS TO IVF ISSUES
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| Bishop Burbidge, chair of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, spoke about the gift of life in response to the growing attention to assisted reproductive technologies. Read his full statement here. |
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ACTION ALERT: TINY PRE-BORN LIVES AT STAKE
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| New proposals in Congress threaten human life, the family, and religious freedom. Please ask your networks to tell Congress to oppose bills and resolutions that claim to protect so-called “rights” to IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that result in the deaths of countless human embryos and violate human dignity. |
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CATHOLIC CURRENT: HOPE & HEALING AFTER ABORTION
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| On this week’s episode of Catholic Current, guests Bishop Michael Burbidge, Chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Mary McClusky, Assistant Director of Project Rachel Ministry Development, discuss hope and healing after abortion. |
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| In vitro fertilization (IVF) is marketed as a safe and effective way to help couples have children. However, it is responsible for well-documented injuries to children before and after birth, as well as to the health of women and the well-being of families. Learn more here. |
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STORIES FROM WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED
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| Two short, new videos show stories of moms whose lives were changed by Walking with Moms in Need. See how parish volunteers helped these moms find hope and a better future for themselves and their children: Darkness to Light | Finding Home. |
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| Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be |
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| The ability to cooperate with God’s creative power to conceive and raise a child is one of the most profound gifts that a married couple can receive. Yet sadly, about 1 in 6 people face infertility at some point. For some, the joy of conception never happens. Others suffer repeated miscarriages. Still others experience secondary infertility: after giving birth to one or more children, they experience difficulty having another. When couples are unable to bear children, very often there is an understandable feeling of great loss. It is essential to note that the Church has true compassion for couples suffering from infertility and wants to be of real help to them. Many causes of infertility can be addressed through medical assistance that is fully in accord with Catholic teaching.
The desire to have a child is beautiful and good. At the same time, we are called to cooperate with God’s design for married love and the creation of new life. Some practices, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy, are not morally legitimate ways to address infertility. In addition to failing to respect the dignity of the couple’s marital relationship, of their sexuality, and of the child, some procedures often result in the loss of human life—for example, IVF and surrogacy that involves IVF.
St. John Paul II affirmed to couples who bear the cross of infertility, “you are no less loved by God; your love for each other is complete and fruitful when it is open to others.” It is important that all couples who experience infertility—and those who desire to offer them support—know that their love is still fruitful and their married life remains filled with meaning. We pray that couples experiencing infertility will know Christ’s closeness in a special way and embrace God’s design as they seek to grow their families.
For more information, please visit respectlife.org/navigating-infertility. |
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- Choose one day this week to abstain from sweets or your favorite snack as a reminder to draw close to Christ in times of suffering and trust in His plan for our lives.
- Take time to learn more about the moral problems posed by some reproductive technologies and types of medical assistance that are consistent with Church teaching.
- Offer some other sacrifice or prayer that you feel called to do for this month’s intention.
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| Excerpt from Pope John Paul II, “Homily at the Mass for the Families” on February 13, 1982 © 1982, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved. |
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