St.Francis of Assisi Parish |
"The first right of the human person is his life... [It
is] the condition of all the others. Hence it must be
protected above all others. It does not belong to
society, nor does it belong to public authority in
any form to recognize this right for some and not for
others. It is not recognition by another that
constitutes this right. This right is antecedent to
its recognition; it demands recognition and it is
strictly unjust to refuse it." ~ Declaration on
Procured Abortion, Sacred Congregation of the
Doctrine of the Faith, 1974, n. 11 |
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Equip your student to advocate for the unborn: The
Student Summer
Academy is a FREE three-day program sponsored by
Massachusetts Citizens for Life. It's designed to
educate rising high school freshmen through college
seniors about the pro-life movement and how to defend
our most vulnerable. June 27-29 from 9:00 AM-2:00 PM in
three locations across the state. Learn more and
register at
MAProLife.org/student_summer_academy_2023.
Myrna Maloney Flynn President 617-242-4199, Ext.
224
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Respect Life Office Diocese of
Worcester, MA
Respect Life News & Updates
May 2023
IN THIS ISSUE
•
Upcoming Events • Feature Article and resources for
Mother's Day • Ongoing Resources • Diocesan Prayer
for Eucharistic Revival
UPCOMING
EVENTS
FEATURE ARTICLE
and resources for Mother's Day

"Serving Moms in Need: Living
the Gospel of Life"
In keeping
with this year's Respect Life Program theme,
"Called to Serve Moms in Need", this article
reminds us of the importance of the pastoral
care pillar of the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life
Activities. Pope John Paul II said that the
family is the most vital cell of society.
Perhaps this article can spark ideas to help
recommit parish and personal efforts to support
families, women in difficult pregnancies, and
others who are vulnerable to experience God's
love through the Christ-like service of their
parish community.
CLICK HERE to download the pdf
This
one-pager can be used as a bulletin insert, a
tool for small group discussion, and shared with
friends. For more information on suggested uses
and to view other articles in our monthly
series,
click here.
More resources to
celebrate God's gift of motherhood include
the following:
A Prayer for Pregnant Mothers (printable
text and ordering information)
The Rite of Blessing for a Child in the Womb
A Novena for Life honoring the Feast of the
Visitation (May 31). Utilize the graphic
below to invite others to sign up to receive
daily intentions via email or text message, or
click here to download the entire novena.

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ONGOING RESOURCES

Annual Respect Life Program Materials:
"Called to Serve Moms in Need"
CLICK HERE
Bioethics on Air
Podcast: "Pro-Life Advocacy Post-Dobbs"
CLICK HERE
Interested in
starting a Respect Life Ministry in your parish?
The Diocesan Respect Life Office offers
training programs, resources and support.
Contact us at
aledoux@worcesterdiocese.org to learn more!

Religious Freedom Week
Religious Freedom Week takes place in dioceses
throughout the United States from June 22 through June
29. This year's theme is "Embracing the Divine Gift of
Freedom". More information and parish resources will be
available in the coming weeks.
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Diocesan Prayer for Eucharistic Revival

Diocesan Prayer for Eucharistic Revival
Lord Jesus Christ, who by the gift of your Body and
Blood, are really present in our lives, hear the prayers
of the Church in Worcester.
Give us the faith of
your Church, confident in your presence in our Masses,
our tabernacles and our lives.
Give us the faith
to offer our lives to you, joined with the perfect
sacrifice, which you offered on the altar of the Cross.
Good and loving Shepherd, teach us how to lead
your children home, that we might long together to
glorify your name at the Supper of the Lord. For you are
Lord, forever and ever. Amen.
© 2022, Diocese of
Worcester. All Rights Reserved.
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The House of Representatives is considering whether
to bring the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R.
7) to a vote, and your representative needs to hear from
you to help make it happen! For decades, Americans of
both parties have agreed that it is wrong to force
taxpayers to pay for elective abortions. Policies like
the Hyde Amendment not only protect taxpayers from this
but have saved over two million preborn lives. But these
protections are now at risk every year. The time has
come for a permanent, across-the-board law to prevent
Americans from having to contribute to violence against
our most vulnerable, and for Congress to work on real
solutions for women and children in need. Please tell
your member of Congress to support the No Taxpayer
Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7) and to help bring it
up for a vote in the House of Representatives. To read
the letter from Bishop Burbidge, chair of the U.S.
Bishops’ Pro-Life Committee, in support of this
important bill,
click here.
Messages in your own words can be
more effective. Please consider customizing with your
own story.
Take Action Now
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Photo's of St. Joesph & St.Thomas Becket courtesy of
https://statues.vanderkrogt.net
Church of
St.Thomas-a-Becket and St. Joseph Chapel Are Wheelchair
Accessible
Diocese of Worcester ©Copyright St.Francis
of Assisi Parish 2013-2023. All rights reserved. 398
Vernon Ave., P.O. Box 186 South Barre, MA 01074 fax
(978) 355-0042 • Office phone
(978) 355-2228 |
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